Rewilding the Way by Todd Wynward (Book Review)

Last updated on: April 1, 2017 at 7:18 am by Chuck McKnight

Rewilding the Way by Todd Wynward (Book Review) 2017-04-01T07:18:09-07:00 Chuck McKnight

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We all recognize that there is supposed to be more to this Christianity thing than singing songs, saying prayers, and talking about God. We see in the Gospels a Jesus who calls his disciples to radically changed lives.

Yet our teachers, preachers, and spiritual guides tend to fall into one of two extremes. They either downplay the wild side of Jesus—merely adding Christian theology to our comfortable lives—or they embrace the wild Jesus so wholeheartedly that few there be who can follow their examples.

At this point, I need to admit two things. One, I gravitate toward those radical heroes of the Christian faith. I would far rather fail in attempting to follow their examples than succeed at apathy. Two, I’m not always able to live up to my radical aspirations, and it can at times be discouraging.

In real life, it’s just not always possible to live according to simplistic ideals. This is especially true when raising a family. Don’t get me wrong—that’s not a complaint. Far from it! I am so incredibly thankful for my wife and kids. I wouldn’t trade my life with them for the world! But I have to be honest about the needs of my family that must be met.

At the same time, I want myself and my family to follow the radical Christ into whatever he may call us. So how do we find that balance? How do we live a radical Christian life as a family?

Todd Wynward and his family have had plenty of experience asking these questions and seeking to live out such a life. In Rewilding the Way, he describes the shifts his family started making five years ago. Among other changes, they’ve chosen to live in a yurt, rather than a traditional house, and they use a composting toilet. But he’s quick to add a clarification:

If you’re daunted by our example, don’t be. We’re pretenders. Yes, we’ve cultivated a slightly parallel existence, but don’t be fooled: we’re still solidly embedded in American consumer culture. … Though we dabble with homesteading in the high desert, we’re still enmeshed in the economy of empire, deeply conforming to the system. (p. 16)

The book is filled with such refreshing honesty. Wynward gently pushes us toward a more radical lifestyle, while fully acknowledging how difficult it can be, and with no pretense that he has it all figured out himself. Still, he has made tremendous strides in the right direction, and he’s able to offer many helpful practical tips, along with numerous stories and anecdotes to tie it all together.

There is much more that could be said about this book, but I’ll leave it there for now. Suffice it to say that Rewilding the Way is one of the most enjoyable, insightful, and challenging-yet-hopeful books I’ve read in some time. I wholeheartedly recommend it to you.

Pick up your own copy of Rewilding the Way: Break Free to Follow an Untamed God as a paperback or a Kindle eBook.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from SpeakEasy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviews

Social Justice

Theology

Previous Post

April 27, 2016

Interview with Jeremy Myers, Author of The Atonement of God

Next Post

June 12, 2016 It’s Time to Speak Out as a Gay-Affirming Christian

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Church Personal Reviews Scripture Social Justice Theology

Select a Month August 2021 September 2020 August 2020 July 2019 March 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 July 2016 June 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What famous prophecy is given in Isaiah 53?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Plague in Egypt Cyrus the Great's reign Destruction of Edom The suffering servant Messiah