Wild Goose Chase

Every once in a while, you are pleasantly surprised by a book that challenges you in ways you have not been before. Such is the case of the book WILD GOOSE CHASE by Mark Batterson. The title is intriguing enough, and the content doesn’t disappoint. Batterson is the lead Pastor of National Community Church in Washington D.C. This book is a presentation about how believers can more thoughtfully recognize and embrace the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and a challenge to consider how we should go where He may be leading—the title comes from an old Celtic Christian name/term for the Holy Spirit, literally translated: “the wild goose.”

Now, as soon as I use terms like I just did in the first part of the last sentence, we in the conservative wing of the evangelical church start to get a little squeamish and our doctrinal radar system kicks in (can’t you just hear the bleeps going off in your head right now?).

Batterson is a pastor writing from a Pastor’s heart. He is not trying to present a “theology of the Holy Spirit” in this text. What he is trying to do, however, is to help us learn how to be more open to the Spirit’s work and leading in our lives. If I had to label it, I would call it a “practical theology” of how the Holy Spirit should be involved in our life.

Needless to say, I found it very enjoyable and, at times, convicting, to read. I encourage you to read it as well. And it would also be a great small group study tool (there are study questions at the end of each chapter). My one criticism would be that he meanders in the text at times and I found myself flying through certain sections (maybe that was intentional—do geese do that?—pun intended).

Nonetheless, Batterson is a smooth writer, and his prose contains many outstanding quotes and references from other sources that enhance his own work. He uses appropriate biblical models to illustrate each of the six “cages,” and draws from his personal and Pastoral experiences to further explain and illustrate his points.

There is much more I could say, but I will refer you to the review I found about it that I have copied and pasted below. It is thorough and represents most of my personal sentiments regarding the book.

As I said, I do encourage you to read it, consider how it could be used for either personal or groups study. I think you’ll be please you did.

The publisher has created a website to learn more about the book. And if you want to get a taste of it, the first chapter is available there as a PDF download.

Blessings
Bill H

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Mark Batterson has a heart for God, a fact apparent to anyone willing to delve into his written work, whether his books or his blog. Wild Goose Chase is his second non-fiction title, which Batterson describes as a sequel to his first book, In the Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day. Not having read his first title, I can assure that Wild Goose Chase stands on it’s own – complete within itself.

Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit, the Gaelic phrase – “An Geadh-Glas” which translates into “The Wild Goose” in English. This clever synchronicity provides the premise for a book that revolves around the need to pursue the Holy Spirit. We are very familiar with the notion of a Wild Goose Chase in our culture, but unlike the chase we commonly associate these words with — a fruitless escapade that ultimately leads nowhere of importance — chasing the Holy Spirit is vital to the Christian life. When He is pursued much fruit will result and a sense of spiritual adventure will pervade each believer’s life.

Batterson doesn’t dig into the foundations of knowing the Holy Spirit, or elaborate much on how to hear His voice. While he encourages prayer and contemplation of God’s word, the focus of Wild Goose Chase is in identifying common excuses that we use to avoid following the Spirit. Batterson identifies six ‘cages’ or areas of restraint in the lives of Christians, based mainly on his own experience as a pastor working with real people, rather than being strictly informed by scripture. To each cage — responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure and fear — Batterson devotes a chapter.

In these chapters each cage is identified and explored. A Bible hero who broke free from his own cage, or who was possibly never subject to that weakness is shared with us in each chapter. From these examples, along with those from Batterson’s life, and those of friends, a vision forms of the possibilities that abound for those able to break free of the restraints the Enemy has placed around them. Probing, personal questions are included at the end of each chapter, leading readers to the places in their lives that God may be calling them to change.

Wild Goose Chase is a clarion call to pursue the Holy Spirit and is written in a personal, high-energy and upbeat style. The pace is rapid, the reading smooth, preventing readers from stalling out mid-way. Batterson is driven to equip believers with the motivation to break free from whatever is holding them back from serving God whole-heartedly, from whatever is preventing them from pursuing the Goose with wild abandon.

Moreover, Batterson and his church have been praying that this book will touch the lives of those who read it in a mighty way. Translation? They sincerely hope that this slender volume will serve as a spiritual kick in the pants to get an often-apathetic church moving into the world for Christ. Batterson is surprisingly gentle in his reprimand and call to action; I was expecting a much more strident and radical manifesto. That he is able to communicate passionately while avoiding personal offense speaks to his popularity as an innovative young leader in the church today.

I resonate with his desire, to see a world on fire for Jesus – ironically, reading a book will not accomplish that goal, only the Holy Spirit Himself can perform that work in the hearts of those who seek Him. However, it’s quite likely that the challenge put forth in the book — to break free of the cages of restraint — will resonate with many, resulting in self-examination, the desire to deepen personal relationships with the Lord, and hopefully end with believers putting feet on their faith.

Reviewed at http://quiverfullfamily.com/
Jennifer Bogart