Book Review: The Benedict Option
Rod Dreher’s The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation talks about how Christians should live in today’s world, where more and more people are moving away from faith. Dreher believes that the culture is becoming less friendly to Christian values, and he suggests that Christians need to rethink how they live. He calls for a new approach based on the life of St. Benedict, an ancient monk. For many Christians, especially those in the evangelical community, Dreher’s ideas are both a challenge and an invitation to rethink their faith in a world that is changing fast.
Dreher’s main idea is that the Western world is becoming less Christian. He argues that in schools, politics, and even in the media, Christian beliefs are being pushed aside. Instead of just complaining about these changes, Dreher thinks Christians should create strong, faith-centered communities. These communities would help believers stay true to their faith, encouraging each other to live out Christian values even when the world around them is growing more secular.
The name of the book comes from St. Benedict, a monk from the sixth century who created a rule for monks to follow. His way of life was all about community, stability, prayer, and work. Dreher believes these principles can be a guide for modern Christians. Rather than retreating completely from the world, Christians should build communities that focus on living out Christian values. These communities would be places where people can grow in their faith, share life with other believers, and find strength to face the pressures of living in a secular society.
One of the strengths of The Benedict Option is its challenge to rethink how Christians engage with culture. Many evangelical Christians have tried to change society by becoming involved in politics or cultural activism. Dreher is not against these efforts, but he believes there is a better way. Instead of focusing on trying to “win” the culture through power, Christians should build communities where they can grow spiritually. This will help them be a positive influence in the world by showing others what it means to follow Christ.
Dreher also talks about how important it is for Christians to practice their faith through things like prayer, hospitality, and worship. These are practices that can strengthen believers’ relationship with God and with each other. Evangelicals will find much to appreciate in Dreher’s focus on Scripture, prayer, and worship as essential parts of a Christian life. He believes that churches and Christian families should be places where people not only talk about their faith but live it out every day.
However, The Benedict Option might be difficult for some evangelical readers to fully accept. Dreher suggests that Christians should focus on creating close-knit, faith-based communities, which might seem like pulling away from the world. For many evangelical Christians, outreach and sharing the gospel with others is a big part of their mission. They might feel that Dreher’s idea of retreating into smaller communities goes against this mission. Additionally, some of Dreher’s criticisms of evangelicalism may seem too harsh, as he generalizes some of the movement’s flaws.
To conclude, The Benedict Option offers a thought-provoking challenge to Christians in a changing world. It encourages readers to rethink how they live out their faith and provides a vision for building stronger, more intentional Christian communities. While it may not answer all questions or work for every Christian, it encourages readers to consider how they can be faithful to God in a world that doesn’t always share their values.
