The Christian Imagination

It can be easy to either romanticize or dismiss a person like Chris McCandless. People have done both. In this post, I’m going to focus on why his choices are not as easy to dismiss as we might think.

As a Christian, I could talk about Hebrews 10:25 and the need for community. Christianity is meant to be lived in a context of community. I believe that, but even then, it’s not so easy, because evangelicalism stresses individualism so much, our personal relationship with God, and such. How much do we really deal with conflict, commit to each other, seek the best for others? We could chastise McCandless’ parents for a lack of transparency, yet how often do we fail to be transparent? How often do Christian leaders not admit mistakes or fail to be authentic? Does our Christian culture provide a context where people can be real, and work out their issues?

In studying the spiritual disciplines, there disciplines of simplicity and solitude. We have the example of the desert fathers, for example, who spent time alone in the desert, to be with God, to be away from people. Some of them returned to civilation at times and served. Some of their writings were influencial long after their lives ended.

We are often so caught up in other people’s expectations, and a variety of addictions and idols relating to people and culture. God commanded us to rest once a week from our normal routine. And in the life of Jesus, there was solitude, as he spent time alone at times, to pray, to be refreshed. Those who desired to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, like St. Francis of Assisi, lived very simple lives, and his Canticle of the Sun is a wonderful poem shows his love of nature and the God who created the world. People dismissed St. Francis in his time. Sometimes the way to be the greatest influence is to be the servant of all.

Rich Mullins is a more modern example of someone who loved to spend time in nature, live simply, and walk his own path. Rich didn’t do the things a Christian musician is supposed to do to be successful. He didn’t take advise to lose weight and learn dance moves. He moved away from Nashville, went back to college, and moved to an Indian reservation. Many loved him. Some, no doubt, questioned the way he did things, and the wisdom behind them.

My point is not to endorse monasticism, ascetism, or any other -ism. It’s too say that we sometimes too easily dismiss those who walk a different path and fail to see the truth in parts of their lives, if not he whole. We, as Christians, sometimes get too caught up in the common sense of our culture. Sometimes we create our own equally false frameworks of what a Christian is supposed to look like in contrast to the culture.

McCandless had a disdain for the facades and materialism of our culture. By his actions, he showed a desire to among the poor. There are examples of him serving the poor on the streets, and he gave his money to the poor. Now, maybe, by being a lawyer, he could have served them in a greater capacity, possibly, or maybe he, like many people, would get caught up in the business and lose sight of his vision once he arrived. McCandless, though, pulled away from community and commitment to people. St. Francis and Rich Mullins not only identified with the poor and hurting, they were committed to friends, and they were rooted themselves in community. It’s one thing to be among the poor, another to be committed to the poor as one of them in an ongoing basis. Therein lies the challenge…to not only serve…but to commit to those we serve, so that is is no longer US/THEM, but WE.

I first heard the story of Chris McCandless and the story told in Into the Wild in Pittsburgh when I first heard the folk duo, Harrod and Funck, and their song, Walk into the Wild. By far the best song on the subject, in my opinion.

Recently, I decided to see the movie, and having seen the movie, thought I should read the book. The book provided some good detail, but I actually thought the movie told the story better, helping us to better understand Chris. I’m going to be commenting on the story from here on out, so be aware there are spoilers ahead. This is my interpretation…

In 1990, after Chris finished college, he dropped out of sight and out of contact with everyone he knew, including his family. He gave his life savings to OXFAM, abandoned his car, burned the rest of his money, and hitchhiked around the country, working as necessary, even changed his name. Ultimately, he ventured to Alaska to live in the wild, and while he did do his research, his lack of actual wilderness experience coupled with a few key mistakes were his undoing. He was disenchanted with facades he unearthed about his parents and with much of the materialistic society, and this coming from an affluent family near DC. He was someone who distrusted what came easily, and found meaning in going beyond what was comfortable.

“Long captivated by the writings of Leo Tolstoy, McCandless particularly admired how the great novelist had forsaken a life of wealth and privilege to wander among the destitute. In college McCandless began emulating Tolstoy’s asceticism and moral rigor to a degree that first astonished, and then alarmed, those who were close to him.” (Krakauer, Author’s Note)

Some admire him, some think him an idiot. I think that cutting himself off entirely from his family and everybody he knew was selfish, running, taking the easy way out. Yet, I relate to him too. I’m idealistic myself, and there is a lot of modern society that can be disenchanting. And let me tell you, it’s a lonely road being an idealistic. Chris was very intelligent, and could likely see through a lot of people’s facades. It’s the kind of thing that can make you more easily cynical.

Chris had a keen sense of adventure, loved a good challenge, and took his fair share of risks. We sometimes let society hold us back when, really, it’s our choice to go with the flow. Chris went so far as to spurn society, though he seemed to enjoy the people he met in his journey. He loved nature, and the idea of surviving in the Alaskan wild had a romance to it. It was also a way to escape the pressures of society for awhlie, perhaps a retreat of sorts.

At one point on his journey, he wrote a man he had connected with a letter that included the following:
“You are wrong if you think Joy emanates only or principally from human relationships. God has placed it all around us. It is in everything and anything we might experience. We just have to have the courage to turn our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconventional living.” (Krakauer, 57)

As a Christian, I can say that Joy emanates from God. As for what can make us happy, the two commandments, intertwined, are love God and neighbor. In that sense, Joy is more the result of giving of our lives to God and others, rather than what we get from life. The Bible is very much about community. Faith is lived out in community, we shape each other, are encouraged by each other. I really like God’s world, it itself speaks, but I am reminded of a statement by Freeman Miller, an Amish man who moved to Philadelphia, who said that when he really started thinking about it, he realized God’s most beautiful creation is people.

Before Chris died, he was reading a passage of one of his books, and wrote, “Happiness only real when shared.”

He seems, to me, to have been a seeker. Perhaps he would have found his way, had he made it out of the wild.

Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. New York: Anchor Books. 1996.

If you have ever read Tolkien, or seen the Lord of the Rings movies, then you’ve heard of the Ringwraiths, otherwise known as the Nazgul, Black Riders, Dark Riders, or the Nine. The Fellowship of the Ring Special Edition DVD had a great special feature on Tolkien, the Ring, the Ringwraiths, and the nature of Evil.

The ring itself is an outside force, created by Sauron, and is pure evil. Yet, part of its allure is that is it a ring of power. Baron Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt.” 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Money and power can, and are, used for good in this world. There’s a problem with money and power though. Once we have them, we want to keep them, and we want more. So, they corrupt.

The Ringwraiths in Tolkien’s lore were kings of men. The nine kings were given rings of power, and they accomplished great things. This power was intoxicating, addicting, and the kings ceased to rule, but instead became bondservants of Sauron, doing whatever he willed. They could have removed the rings, but they wanted to keep the power they had, and after awhile, they became shadows of their former selves, losing any sense of self, till their physical form faded from view.

Tom Shippey summarizes Tolkien’s view of evil as it relates to the Ringwraiths quite well on the DVD:

The nature of evil in the 20th century has been curiously impersonal. It’s as if, at times, nobody particularly wants to do it. In the end, you get the major atrocities of the 20th century being carried out by beaurocrats. Well, the people that do that kind of thing are wraiths. They’ve gone through the wraithing process. They don’t know what’s good and evil anymore. It’s become a job or a routine.

You start off with good intentions, but somehow it all goes wrong. So it’s a curiously distinctive image of evil, and I should also say, it’s a very unwelcome one. Because what it says is it could be you, and in fact, under the right circumstances, or should I say, under the wrong circumstances, it will be you.

When people say that this kind of fantasy fiction is escapist and evading the real world, well I think that’s an evasion. It’s actually trying to confront something that most people would rather not confront.

That, to me, is a very Christian-inspired view of evil. What do you think?

Ringwraith photo by Seth W. Daire

Paste Magazine is one of the fastest growing entertainment publications in the US. Based in Decatur, Georgia, the magazine was founded as a quarterly in July 2002 by Josh Jackson, Nick Purdy, and Tim Porter. The magazine’s mission is to discover and champion Signs of Life in Music, Film & Culture, introducing its readers to inspired and inspiring music, books, film, games and other art forms. In 2005, Paste was listed at #21 on The Chicago Tribune’s list of “50 Best Magazines.” It was also named Magazine of the Year by the PLUG Independent Music Awards in both 2006 and 2007.

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They had a vision for something a lot better than a photocopied fanzine, and a vision for engaging the culture as Christians. They didn’t put out a “Christian” magazine. That was never their intention. But they put out a magazine that was true to its tagline: “Signs of Life in Music, Film, and Culture.” By focusing on what was excellent, creative, thought-provoking, beautiful, challenging — wherever it might be found — they tried to raise the level of general cultural discourse.

Paste Magazine. Quality publication. Founded by Christians. Part of the conversation with the culture at large.