THE BONIFCACE OPTION (Review)

All the usual cliches can be used to describe this must-read book: “It’s hard-hitting”; “it pulls no punches”; “it’s straight to the point”; it’s a wakeup call” etc. How about the ruder and cruder (but more forceful) “it’s a kick up the backside”?

 Christians need to stop drinking the dystopian Kool-Aid and start behaving like Christians. The Bible student will be reminded of some of the words of John the Baptizer, “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.

Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:9). However, the tree Isker is referencing is the one that Saint Boniface cut down, well, the one that as he swung his ax “a powerful wind came out of the heavens and blew the tree over.” p. 1. This was Donar’s oak, a pagan idol. Mount Carmel with Elisha versus Baal’s prophets springs to mind. Anyway, God honours those who honour Him. But first we need to know what to swing the ax at. The first half of the book shows us the trees marked for felling, and the second part instructs us what and how build with all the felled lumber. Yes, Christian, we are to get off the couch and actually do stuff! But, maybe like me you are just hoping that things would sort themselves out:      

“The greatest practical need of the present is to restore an ethos of Christendom from a grassroots way. We cannot expect the orange billionaire to appear and to descend on his escalator to restore Christian civilization. His tumultuous term as president showed just how entrenched the regime is and how even the most modest attempt at reform, setting the clock back to merely mid-’90s-era liberalism, was resisted with ferocious religious zeal. Electing the right president is not going to fix things. Appointing the right Supreme Court justices is not going to fix things. Electing the right Congressmen and Senators is not going to fix things. The only thing that will transform the United States of America and pull it out of its death spiral is continual reformation of the church and revival of the Christian religion in our country and the West as a whole. And this starts with you, in your home, with your family, and extends upward from there.” pgs. 155-6.

There you have it. To use yet another cliché, we Christians don’t get to “rest on our laurels” (or our backsides!). We must study Scripture to discern what the idols of our own age are (Isker greatly helps us here) while we sharpen our axes.

“You must see Donar’s Oaks everywhere that need to be felled. And you must summon the will to fell them.” p. 158.