I hate risk. Confrontations, controversy and risky undertakings, especially involving limbs or finances, are definitely not my comfort zone.

I am a mother. I brought my children up not to be risk-takers. Look carefully both ways before you cross the street. Don’t talk to strangers. Sit quietly in church. Be nice. Isn’t that what a mother is supposed to do?

I thought I was doing the right thing. But according to John Eldredge, who wrote Wild at Heart, perhaps it was not. Especially not for boys.

Eldredge says "adventure, with all its requisite danger and wildness, is a deeply spiritual longing written into the soul of man?It is fear that keeps a man at home where things are neat and orderly and under his control."

Eldredge argues that "aggression is part of the masculine design, we are hardwired for it. If we believe that man is made in the image of God, then we would do well to remember that ‘the Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name’ (Ex. 15:3)." And then Eldredge continues, "One day, you just might need that boy to defend you."

Okay. I am ready to concede. Some risk-taking is necessary and important. Sometimes, but not always, I failed to understand that. And, according to Eldredge, so does our educational system and, to our great loss, the church.

In fact, Eldredge says, "Christianity, as it currently exists, has done some terrible things to men. When all is said and done, I think most men in the church believe that God put them on the earth to be a good boy."

Eldredge suggests the church has portrayed a dangerously incorrect picture of God. "In a man’s search for his strength, telling him that he’s made in the image of God may not sound like a whole lot of encouragement at first. To most men, God is either distant or He is weak?Be honest now—what is your image of Jesus as a man? ‘Isn’t He sort of meek and mild?’ a friend remarked."

Eldredge tries to rescue men from a very, very mistaken image we have of God—especially of Jesus. He agrees with what C.S. Lewis observed about God, "Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course He isn’t safe. But He’s good."

God is a risk-taking, damsel-in-distress rescuing God, according to Eldredge, and He is calling men to be warriors for God—to fight for truth and justice. Then he asks the question, "Are we up to it?"

I think Eldredge has a point. We, as a church, have become too domesticated and without challenge. We have portrayed God, if not as a wimp, then as a grandfather—who talks about, and perhaps even regrets, His wild past. He does not challenge us to warrior deeds today. At least that is the way it has been.

However, our domesticated, mild-mannered church has just been pummelled by a thousand bullies. In Canada, the main bully is the strident gay activist who seems determined to stamp us out of existence.

We’re cowed. We’re bloodied. We’re gasping for breath.

So?where are our heroes? Where is our David to fight this giant? Will our warriors step up to the challenge? Or have they already left to go home and play video games or are they preoccupied in the service of the almighty dollar? Are God and His damsel church in distress just not worth fighting for and maybe even dying for.