A Review of The Boniface Option

​The Boniface Option: A Review
 
As a pastor of 26 years, I have preached through more than 50 books of the Bible, many of them multiple times. I've read the Bible cover to cover in various translations, and I am a Biblical conservative with a Calvinistic understanding of salvation. I believe wholeheartedly in the sufficiency of Scripture and affirm the Five Solas of the Reformation. This background is important because it shapes my perspective on "The Boniface Option" by Andrew Isker, and I know that critiquing a book like this can raise eyebrows, particularly given its popularity in certain Christian circles.
 
Thesis: While "The Boniface Option" attempts to provide a response to the cultural decay many Christians see in society, it ultimately presents a worldview driven by conspiracy, postmillennialism, and Christian nationalism. Worse yet, it minimizes the centrality of the Gospel, offering social change and human strength as the solution to the world’s problems rather than the power of God’s grace through the Gospel.
 
A Hypothesis of Conspiracy
 
At the core of Isker's argument is a conspiracy theory akin to those who argue for systemic racism, except he claims that a global elite is orchestrating a "systemic globohomo" agenda. According to Isker, this agenda seeks to make men effeminate, invert gender roles, and turn us all into what he calls "bugmen." His thesis is not merely that society is drifting into immorality, which I would agree with, but rather that a secret, organized plan exists to carry out these changes. What Romans 1 describes as a natural progression of a society under God’s judgment, Isker argues is the work of evil “globohomo lords”.
 
Isker frames this idea as a hypothesis, admitting it is only "reasonable" but not proven. However, throughout the book, he treats his hypothesis as fact, leaving no room for alternative explanations. The reader is left with two choices: either you accept this hidden knowledge, or you are complicit in the agenda. This approach smacks of Gnosticism, where salvation comes not from faith in Christ alone but from special knowledge. As someone who holds to the sufficiency of Scripture, I find Isker's framework troubling. The Bible is no longer enough in his worldview—you need his conspiracy theories to truly understand what is happening.
 
A Distortion of the Gospel
 
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of "The Boniface Option" is its treatment—or lack thereof—of the Gospel. Postmillennialism and Christian nationalism form the foundation of Isker's worldview, and both are presented in their most extreme forms. At best, the Gospel is a footnote in this book, and as I reflect on the content, I cannot recall a clear presentation of the Gospel at all.
 
References to the Bible are rare and often misused, twisted to fit Isker's narrative rather than expounded in their proper context. As an expositor who values the integrity of Scripture, I cannot overlook this misuse. The book replaces the Gospel with social change and human effort, encouraging readers to reform society through physical strength, dietary changes, and reading classic literature like Homer and Shakespeare. While these pursuits may have some value, they are not the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16).
 
Isker advocates for a kind of social gospel, not in the progressive sense of wokeness, but on the opposite end of the spectrum. His goal is to build Christ’s kingdom through social change rather than through the transformative power of the Gospel. This is a fatal error, as it shifts the focus from God's work to man's efforts.
 
Anger as a Driving Force
 
There is a palpable anger that underpins "The Boniface Option." It feels like a book written by someone who is not just frustrated with modern society but deeply enraged by it. While many of us share frustration with the direction our culture is heading, Isker's solution is to make anger into something Christian, similar to how prosperity preachers twist covetousness into something godly.
 
Throughout the book, Isker champions actions that Paul explicitly condemns in Galatians 5:20—"enmity, strife, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions." These are not fruits of the Spirit, yet Isker paints them as righteous responses to a decaying world. His hermeneutic is not far from that of prosperity preachers like Joel Osteen, who distort biblical truths to fit a personal agenda.
 
A Misguided Appeal to Young Christians
 
My concern is that "The Boniface Option" will resonate with younger Christians who are frustrated with the state of the world but lack deep Biblical knowledge. This book will validate their frustrations and give them a path to express those feelings through social action, physical toughness, and disdain for secular society. However, none of these remedies are rooted in the Scriptures. They will make young believers think they are serving God when, in fact, they are pursuing fleshly desires masked as godly righteousness.
 
What Is the True Christian Response?
 
How are we to respond to the challenges we face in a broken world? What are our marching orders? The Bible provides clear answers. The early church in Acts did not seek to overthrow pagan empires but lived out the Great Commission, sharing the Gospel and living as a light in a dark world. The epistles instruct believers to pray for their leaders and to live peaceful, godly lives (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Our response to a fallen world should be centered on the transformative power of the Gospel, not on societal reform through human strength.
 
The Gospel, not social change, is the power of God for salvation. We are to be harmless as doves, not angry warriors seeking to tear down worldly systems by force. Our hope is in Christ, not in physical strength or dietary changes.
 
Conclusion
 
In conclusion, while I understand the frustrations that led to the writing of "The Boniface Option," the solutions it proposes are deeply flawed. They are not rooted in Scripture, and they offer social change where the Gospel should be central. If you choose to read the book, I urge you to triple-check everything with Scripture and approach it with discernment. Above all, let us remember that God’s Word is sufficient, and the Gospel remains the power of God to save, transform, and renew both individuals and society.
 
Verify Isker’s claims not just with history, but more importantly, with the Bible. When in doubt, trust the Word of God and employ good, old-fashioned common sense.