Book Notice: Michael Wilson on Unburdened

Michael Todd Wilson

Unburdened: The Christian leader’s path to sexual integrity
Wheaton, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2015.
Available in Amazon.com

Reviewed by Felicity Clift

As a woman writing, it is unsurprising perhaps that this book gets a mixed review from me. Its cover claims it is for ‘Christian leaders’ yet the blurb and its contents make it plain that Michael Todd Wilson believes this role belongs to men. Believe me, I am aware there is debate around women in Christian leadership, but Michael Todd Wilson doesn’t clearly define what he means by ‘Christian leadership’ and consequently risks misunderstanding – it seems he is either targeting a very narrow audience or has extremely patriarchal views which don’t allow women into any form of church leadership at all.

Not only do I struggle with the impression he gives of Christian leadership: I don’t agree with Michael Todd Wilson that gender and sexuality are at the core of our reflected image of God (p. 33). Furthermore, I find his suggestion that male, linear thinking tends less towards ‘mental chaos’ (p.38) to be slightly shocking. It seems only to perpetuate an unhelpful patriarchal attitude towards women. Michael Todd Wilson also speaks of sexual corruption as something ‘inherited’ from previous generations that we need to take responsibility for (p. 38), and while he pins his ‘pathway of recovery’ on an idea of grace, I wonder if this suggestion, along with his belief that this historic culture is worse than those before us, undermines the fact that we are all sinful from birth; equally corrupted before God.

Despite my exclusion from this book by way of my gender, I think Michael Todd Wilson offers some valuable ideas for those struggling with sexual integrity. Even though he doesn’t have women in mind, and seems confident in his understanding of the female psyche, I found points in his writing useful for my own experience – make of that what you will. For example, he starts with encouraging surrender to God before any further steps towards sexual integrity. His suggestion that the lifestyle of the introvert allows more room for secret and unaccounted for habits (p.69) resonates with me and serves as a good warning, as does his reminder that those in ministry must maintain ‘nonministry’ God time in order to progress against their struggle.

Michael Todd Wilson says his purpose in writing is to give permission to (male) Christian leaders struggling with sexual integrity to work through their fear and internal resistance (p. 14), and his suggested disciplines of radical honesty with self, ‘nonministry’ God time, body maintenance, and intimate relationships contain ideas that appear to me to be valuable not just for male Christian leaders but for Christians in general. I can only hope that those who read this book are able to see past the unhelpful gender assumptions scattered throughout in order to glean the grains of wisdom amongst them.

Flyck Clift studies theology at Ridley College in Melbourne alongside working as a nurse in her local hospital. She is currently involved in leading a home group at church and enjoys encouraging people in integrating their belief in God with their daily living.