Journalist Doug LeBlanc writes a well-balanced piece on John Eldredge for the August 2004 issue of “Christianity today” (CT) magazine. Eldredge and a small team of men head up Eldredge’s enormously popular ministry called Ransomed Heart.
Eldredge’s book Wild at Heart has sold more than one million copies, and Eldredge wannabes are popping up all over the country. Here at the Vineyard (in the Winter of 2003), I led a popular, 6-week course using the book. In general, I like Eldredge and the stuff he writes. His heart, and the central thesis in his book is clear: men, as creatures made in God’s image, have a god-given heart for adventure — usually starting with adventures in the outdoors, but working up to the adventures of a woman … and the ultimate adventure of trusting God in uncertain paths.
Eldredge has good things to say. No doubt about it. Naturally, I do not agree with everything he says. I was not impressed with the way Eldredge wrote about his own wife in the book, feeling as if he was somewhat dismissive toward her weaknesses.
The CT piece reveals that Eldredge quit attending church for about a year at one point in the recent past and even now Eldredge meets on Sunday with a few families in his own house church. He says he feels that it would be great if more small house churches started emerging. Well, I guess that’s okay, but listen to what Eldredge said about large churches in the CT article:
Some argue that Eldredge’s theology of church is thin, and thus ultimately inadequate. But Eldredge believes this different approach to church is more spiritually demanding than attending a larger church outside Ransomed Heart’s orbit. “It would be so easy to go to a large church right now. You really don’t have to love people there,” he says. “If you really want to know somebody, go camping with them. Our camping trips have really brought out some great awfulness.”
Why would he say that? I guess I’m happy to give Eldredge his due, but I want mine, too. I’ve been in small, rather dsyfunctional churches, and now I’m in a large church that is pretty healthy — a church that makes me face many of my very personal issues head on.
Eldredge is just plain wrong about what he says about larger churches, and I’m not persuaded that his romantic feelings about his small house church will serve him for the long haul. Why in the world would he say something as nutty about a large church as this: “You really don’t have to love people there…”? That’s just ridiculous. Of course you do.
I think Eldredge speaks some truth with a prophetic voice. He certainly has hit a cord with thousands upon thousands of people in churches around the country. I run into people regularly who love Eldredge’s stuff. I’m happy for him to beat his drum, but I find myself, as they say of advice given in 12-step groups, “taking what I like and leaving the rest.” There’s an awful lot of Eldredge I leave . Anyway, read the piece for yourself:
donfollis.com 