Fighting Shadows: Overcoming 7 Lies That Keep Men from Becoming Fully Alive

4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars | 667 ratings

Price: 17.51

Last update: 11-02-2024


About this item

Read by the authors.

Discover the satisfaction of becoming the man God created you to be. In a world that’s grown increasingly confused about--and hostile toward--the very notion of masculinity, authors Jefferson Bethke and Jon Tyson send a powerful call to men everywhere: it's time to step into the light of Jesus' vision for you as a man.

There's a shadow that's settled over the hearts of men today. Masculinity is in crisis. Critiques about the dangers of toxic masculinity and the abuses of patriarchal systems have grown louder than ever. The very notions of masculinity and manhood are under attack. In response to cultural shifts, some have doubled down on old stereotypes in ways that just add to the conflict and confusion.

The result? Many men simply feel paralyzed--worried about saying the wrong thing, unsure what to do with their ambitions or strengths, simultaneously tempted and shamed by a hypersexualized and pornified culture. Our models and mentors have failed us. Based on their years of working in men's ministry, Bethke and Tyson have good news for men looking for clarity and courage in this age of quiet desperation.

In Fighting Shadows, they help men:

  • overcome the temptations of escapism, passivity, or overcompensation;
  • combat the most harmful shadows that men battle today, including loneliness, apathy, distraction, lust, and shame; and
  • embrace masculinity as a God-given gift, not a curse to be avoided, suppressed, or battled.

An entire generation of men is being told they should abdicate the responsibility and joy of living into God's calling on their lives—don't be one of them. If you're a man who's wondering what to do with your strength, your longings, and your gifts, it's time to step out of the shadows. Jesus has a vision for you.


Top reviews from the United States

Cybersquatch
5.0 out of 5 stars Masculinity At It’s Finest
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024
This was a very informative read for me in knowing that the struggles I have had as a man are not my own sometimes I think the enemy blinds us into thinking that our struggles are only happening to ourselves and while the struggles are specific to us we can know that we are not alone in the general battles that we face as men this book helps confirm that. I’ll highlight some impactful sections, although the whole of the book is inspiring.

The section “MEN FROM THE FUTURE” in short: I have determined to be such a man! You should to!

“THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS” is a chapter that breaks my heart for most of the men I have met including myself, to quote a line in an old Jimi Hendrix song “Loneliness is such a drag.” it’s always been about relationships and the “what else”…..by in large I believe most men today and in the past have felt isolated and lonely at one time or another, “but I’m here to say for myself at least, that it won’t be that way much longer!” Great chapter!

“THE SHADOW OF SHAME” This chapter is a topic that is the most alarming and revealing to me in the book, I have never done any deep introspection into my feelings of shame this is a subject of deep psychological evaluation for me. The section of this chapter “GOD DELIGHTS IN YOU” has me weeping at this very moment (seriously) The God of all creation is NOT ashamed of me! He is NOT disappointed in me! He DELIGHTS in my presence!!! I admittedly forget these truths in my shame but these statements are the most profound and overwhelming truths I can think of in life it is no wonder the enemy tricks me into thinking the exact opposite on occasions! I will definitely be reading and meditating on this chapter over and over again I have yet to grasp it as intimately as I want!

“THE SHADOW OF AMBITION” no one has ever accused me of being ambitious but this chapter has me convinced to be a man of holy ambition and to ask the right questions. “THE CRYSTALLIZATION OF DISCONTENT” section bottom of pg. 122 and through pg. 124 is currently where I am and where I’ve been for a while, I feel that ambition (holy) has already been in action for some years now and the Holy Spirit has been directing me on this trajectory of “holy ambition” (After all I read this book!) I have a lot to learn still, I’m diving deeper!

“THE SHADOW OF APATHY” “The CALL” section of this chapter has been admittedly a subject of convolution for me most of my life but really only in the specific sense, my wife and I our in a season of change real soon like in a month or so as of this writing we are planning to move out of state for the first time in our marriage and in our lives! Culture shock is inevitable, but we are feeling “called” to go, we do have some specific things we think God is leading us to but a little foggy on the details but the CALL is our priority and I do NOT want to surrender any fierceness in this and I want to resist being lethargic in my (our) response to the Lord, this section has been extremely timely for me as we move forward in this venture I appreciate this chapter immensely!

Overall; every man who values the relationships God has entrusted you with, and who has the desire and intensity to be more like Jesus I implore you to give this a read!

I would love to meet Jeff someday perhaps sooner than later on a retreat or conference as schedules permit, and one day I hope to reconnect face to face with Jon again, we attended church together albeit briefly a long time ago, I saw something in him back in the day and I had a suspicion he was destined for this kind of kingdom work!

Thanks so much Jeff and Jon and to all the men (and women) who have helped shape your lives through friendship and prayers, I am now refusing to drift the rest of my days!

-Mike,
…a man from the future.
John Duffy
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy read, sticky ideas
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2024
Your experience with this book may vary depending on your existing exposure to this kind of literature. If you've existed in the Jon Tyson / John Mark Comer / Jefferson Bethke / Tyler Staton "sphere" within the last few years, you may find many of the ideas in this book familiar ones. But even if that is the case, you are sure to find a few highlights that stick with you after finishing it. If that's *not* the case for you, then I believe this book will illuminate quite a few areas of your life that have felt secretly starved for attention.

Some of the "usual suspect" chapters seemed to be just that: usual. These were the chapters on loneliness, lust, futility. The most surprising chapters that separated as more impactful were those on ambition and apathy.

The style of this book varies from chapter to chapter based on who authored it--Jon Tyson or Jefferson Bethke. I personally feel more engaged in JT's chapters than Bethke's, but my guess is that has more to do with my stylistic preferences than the actual substance of their content. What's odd is that their identifiers only come after introducing a personal anecdote with "I, (Jon)" or "I, (Jefferson)." Their styles are different enough that you don't end up surprised by the author. It affects the flow of the book (a little bit) but not enough to detract from the message.

There are a number of very good word pictures and lasting ideas that will stick with you beyond closing the book, which to me is always indicative of something good being done.
Mark A. Thurman
5.0 out of 5 stars good Subject for Men
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2024
Subject material is excellent for modern men. I enjoyed reading it as I am in between seasons of my life. The book is better read than listened to on Audible.
John O’Brien
5.0 out of 5 stars A roadmap for navigating manhood and being fully alive in our challenging times.
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024
This book gives us a ROADMAP for overcoming the powerful lies that obstruct our vision from becoming the men of courage and consequence
God calls us to be. To become fully alive as men who love and follow Jesus, we need a VISION for manhood that can make us relentless and intolerant of anything that blocks our light, like Diogenes with Alexander the Great. We need to ask and answer the question of what hinders us from becoming the men God designed and redeemed us to be. To become the man the world needs and we long to be, Jon and Jefferson outline seven destructive lies we must overcome and the corresponding VIRTUES we need to cultivate in the context of community.

It provides the arsenal for awakening conviction. Rearmament has never been more enjoyable or edifying! Of particular note is the irenic tone, the depth of insight, and the careful nuance the authors exemplify. The order of topics is provocative and rich with suggestive implications. Other books give us the marks of manhood, the measure of a man, or the disciplines necessary to produce them. These are necessary and important. What was missing was an existential map of the subterranean forces holding us back from pressing into our callings and fulfilling our destinies. Look no further for an adequate diagnosis to the struggles afflicting us and clarity about the way forward. If you want to live fully alive from a whole heart and break free from what ails you, this is the book for you and the power is in the processing with other committed men. See you on the front lines, and a special thank you to the authors for equipping us for the battle.

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