In today's world it is altogether too easy to become alarmist or escapist. In fact, it is difficult not to overreact when surveying a culture that is nihilistic, post-Christian, politically divided, and which increasingly embraces (one could say assumes) government intervention in the lives of private citizens. Rod Dreher, however, presents a case and strategy for living calmly and strategically as we watch Western Civilization crumble around us. Without mitigating the seriousness of our situation, Dreher advises Christians to live faithfully, boldly, and separately, without becoming cultish or tribal. The Church, after all, will be here long after Western Civilization falls, and we are called to be the salt and light of the world.
The Benedict Option begins by acquainting the reader with St. Benedict of Norcia, the founder of the Benedictine Order of monks and the author of the monastic Rule that now bears his name. Dreher compares our day to Benedict's, emphasizing several points of similarity. Benedict's primary contribution to the Church, and to Western Civilization in general, is forming centers of Christian and cultural retention as the Western world was beginning to lose the stabilizing effects of the Roman Empire.
Dreher continues by drawing out principles from Benedict's Rule that remain pertinent in our own day. The Benedictine practices of prayer, fasting, and labor, to name a few, are as important and fundamental today as they were when Benedict was establishing monasteries across Europe. Dreher shows how these same ideas can be pulled from the monastery and applied in local communities of committed Christians in our own day.
This book is impactful and important for several reasons. Firstly, Dreher pulls no punches, acknowledging the dire status of our culture, not merely in the United States, but throughout what is traditionally termed Western Civilization. He proffers statistics and cites studies that demonstrate the precarious position in which we find ourselves. He calls much-needed attention to issues, but he does so constructively, an approach that is much too rare in modern religious and political discussions.
Secondly, Dreher demonstrates why we're in this position. The second chapter basically outlines 1000 years of philosophy and explains how different movements have brought us to this moment in history. Understanding history is absolutely crucial in order to face the future with hope and sobriety. Dreher embraces heritage and tradition, both of the Church and Western Civilization (despite being Eastern Orthodox), without drifting into idyllic fantasies of bygone eras. His goal is not that we would return to a former age of the Church, but that we would apply ancient principles to our modern context.
Thirdly, Dreher reminds Christians that we need to stick together. He comes from a Roman Catholic background and converted to Eastern Orthodoxy (big O) a few years ago, but he is respectful to all orthodox (small o) traditions and advocates forming communities and ministries outside of denominational lines. The key here is orthodoxy, which mainline denominations in the West have slowly abandoned over the last century. Our culture no longer believes in objective truth, so anyone can claim to be whatever they want. In a world where men can have babies and women can grow beards, it makes perfect sense that someone can claim to be a Christian without confessing the truths or following the moral standards of traditional Christianity. Those of us who remain committed to the Nicene Creed and the moral standards of the Bible need to put aside other differences and work together.
Fourthly and finally, Dreher thinks holistically. Chapter after chapter deals with real, pertinent issues, from pornography to vocation to worship. He rightly teaches that our faith, if it is to be genuine and survive the coming storm, must be ingrained into every aspect of our lives. Our culture is pervasively corrupt, and so our response must be pervasively Christian. The way that we entertain ourselves, educate our children, choose where to live and which career path to follow, etc., must be informed and guided by our religion. As societal norms complete the transformation from Christian to secular to anti-Christian, nominal Christianity will largely disappear, and only those truly committed to following the way of Jesus Christ will continue to claim His name.
This book is challenging, compelling, and enjoyable. I recommend it to anyone, whether you're a Bible-believing Baptist or a baby-baptizing Byzantine Catholic. The bottom line is this: read this book!
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