Men: Let's get dangerous

John Eldredge's Wild at Heart is a Christian self-help book for men that attempts to restore purpose in those individuals who may feel tired, bored, and marginalized by church and secular cultures.

The book has been around for more than 20 years, and it's one of those works that people seem to either love or hate. It contains content from scripture, Hollywood, and writers such as C.S. Lewis and Robert Bly. He even mentions George Thorogood of "Bad to the Bone" rock and roll fame.

Here are some excerpts from the book: "I've talked to many men about the film Braveheart and though every single one of them would love to be William Wallace, the dangerous warrior-hero, most see themselves as Robert the Bruce, the weak, intimidated guy who keeps folding under pressure."

"Man was born in the outback, from the untamed part of creation. Only afterward is he brought to Eden. And ever since then boys have never been at home indoors, and men have had an insatiable longing to explore. We long to return; it's when most men come alive."

In Eldredge's estimation, men--I think it would be fair to say Christian men who are married--are stunted and without challenge. According to Eldredge, they are fenced in by the church and society and encouraged to be nice guys, which he says is a soul-killer.

"Adventure, with all of its requisite danger and wildness, is a deep spiritual longing written into the soul of man. The masculine heart needs a place where nothing is prefabricated, modular, nonfat, zip lock, franchised, on-line, microwaveable. Where there are no deadlines, cell phones, or committee meetings. Where there is room for the soul."

This stance is appealing. Cue up Steppenwolf's "Born to Wild": Get your motor runnin' | Head out on the highway | Looking for adventure | In whatever comes our way. However, I don't know how most men could sustain this lifestyle. We have to buy the groceries and pay the mortage, so we must face deadlines, boring meetings, and the obligations of adulthood. Sacrifice--more than adventure--is at the heart of a Christian man's life.

To break free of the doldrums, Eldredge says men need a battle to fight, a beauty to rescue, and an adventure to live. He threads this thesis with Bible quotes, movie scenes (he really loves rugged, manly films), and literary references.

Some readers might not agree with placing holy scripture next to Hollywood fiction. But be prepared--he uses this structure throughout the book to make his points. Maybe, as Jesus did, he seems to use this parable-like approach so we can grasp his meaning.

Eldredge encourages a return to nature or other pursuits that let men be men so they can basically get down with the dangerous side of themselves.

"The whole crisis in masculinity today has come because we no longer have a warrior culture, a place for men to learn to fight like men. We don't have a need for a meeting of Really Nice Guys; we need a gathering of Really Dangerous Men. That's what we need."

I get it. Most men--and women--probably feel trapped in the roles they have to play on a day-to-day basis. We have to be mindful and prayerful of what God intends for our lives. Though he takes the long way to make his point, he is right that Christians need to do a better job of trusting God and realizing the devil is working tirelessly to unravel their lives.

I rate Wild at Heart three stars. The first two-thirds of the book frustrated me. I struggled to grasp his notion of danger and make it something I could translate into my life. I just couldn't catch his drift. Maybe it's me. I equate being dangerous with being reckless, so his terminology makes me uncomfortable.

Furthermore, while Eldredge's blueprint for the battle to fight, a beauty to rescue, and an adventure to live may work well for him, it's not a universal solution. For example, his "beauty" premise, which is based on being married, doesn't work for someone who is single. He also advocates nature and the outdoors as the main ways that a man can discover his true nature. His push for nature and the wild as a route to self-discovery overlooks those who lack access to or interest in outdoor pursuits.

The last third of the book is better and contains good advice for Christians; however, it takes willpower to get there. His core message is that men want to have a purpose, to belong, and to matter. There is nothing wrong with that. Wild at Heart will appeal to certain men and offer insight and direction for living a manly Christian life. For others, the book's message may not have universal relevance.