Book Blurb: Chivalry

Book ranking – 6 out of 10

Book Title and Author

The book was written by Zach Hunter, who at the time he wrote it, was a college student and fairly accomplished author. He has written , and . He is a highly sought-after speaker in subjects like modern-day slavery and other areas of social justice.

Author’s Main Purpose

The main purpose of the book is stated on pg. xii: “This book is built around a code I’ve crafted from ten of the principles the knights live by. If lived out today, this code would change us so dramatically that those around us would have to take notice. Chivalry is about we should be – the transformation that takes place internally as we open up every area of our lives to be conformed to something that is not of this world: the image of an amazing, terrifying, all-consuming, and all-loving God who gives without limit and sacrifices without end. This is where we will lose ourselves and fine a code that is higher and longer lasting than any pledge we may make.”

Each of the ten chapters are based upon a knight code that was studied and extracted by the author and then the attempt was made to combine both the moral virtues of knighthood and the teachings of Jesus in order to live justly in a world of oppression.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 (I Will Not Go On This Journey Alone) discusses the nobility of doing things with others. In other words, there is strength in numbers and it is wise, the author suggests, to always take on challenges with others at your side.

Chapter 2 (I Will Never Attack from Behind) is a chapter that confronts the use of gossip and slander and unneeded criticism.

Chapter 3 (I Will Practice Self-Control and Selflessness) is the author’s covering of the topic of being selfless and submissive to those who live around us and how we can be people of character with humility.

Chapter 4 (I Will Respect Life and Freedom) is the author’s expression of disdain for slavery and the emotional, spiritual, physical and psychological baggage that comes with the term.

Chapter 5 (I Will Fight Only for the Sake of Those Who Are Unable to Defend Themselves, or in the Defense of Justice) discusses the need for every person to stand up for those who are likely to be abused or forgotten in society: a minority race, the orphan, the widow, etc.

Chapter 6 (I Will Honor Truth and Always Keep My Promises) gives a defense of being truthful at all costs and shows illustrations for how lies can relationships.

Chapter 7 (I Will Fear No Evil) is the author’s “pep talk” about abolishing all the fears in our life so we can be more effective for God in the long run.

Chapter 8 (I Will Always Follow the Law Unless It Goes Against What is Moral and Good) is a fairly self-explanatory chapter whose subject is covered in the title of the chapter. It is a book distilling when it is permissible for a Christian to disobey the government.

Chapter 9 (I Will Live and Die With Honor) is about the commitment to live with purpose and how to deal with disappointment and pain that will inevitably come.

Chapter 10 (I Will Never Abandon My Quest) takes a hold of some imagery from medieval times and the knight’s quest that was never over until it was met or he was killed. In other words, knights don’t give up. The author expresses that neither should we ever give up on our quests or journeys.

Why You Should Read This Book

First, Chapter 2 on the dangers of gossip and slander is very well written and one of the better illustrations I have ever read in any Christian book on their destructive nature. The stories are very well placed and I will find use for them in my own ministry for years to come.

Second, Chapter 9 is the highlight of the book and is a reflection of real honesty about the reality of pains and offers real help to those who are looking for purpose in their pain. For a young man in college, the insights and wisdom shared here are very encouraging. No doubt, the author demonstrates well in this chapter why he is worth listening to. He comes across a discerning, helpful counselor.

Third, the discussion questions in the back make this book extremely useful. The author did a fine job of coming up with a format for using this book in larger or smaller groups by verbalizing questions that help take the principles he is teaching to a very practical and life-altering level. If you are going to read this book, make sure you use the questions in the back to help guide you to practice everything being taught.

Why You Shouldn’t Read This Book

First, I would prefer to see more of the virtues that are elevated to be more biblically defined and unpacked. While I know the author never professes to be a theologian, I do believe his readers would be better suited if the Scriptures referred to in this book were dealt with in their context.

Second, I am not convinced melding the teachings of Jesus with anything less than inspired or inerrant is going to accomplish the desired goal. Perhaps a better approach would have been to use some of the virtues of knighthood that support that teachings of Christ and keep them in that role: as subservient to Jesus’ teaching. To put them on equal footing with the teachings of Jesus is to flirt with elevating man to a divine level.

Third, in Chapter 4 the author really swings too far in his discussion on slavery. While, there are abuses of slavery that run rampart in our modern era and historically in our own country, “across the pond,” and all over Asia and Africa, the author fails to really show biblical balance by giving credence to the synonym of slavery as Christians. In others words, slavery can be and should be an honorable title for every Christian as Paul repeatedly called himself a slave to Christ (Rom 6:16). Slavery is not always wrong; sometimes it is a good description of who we are before Christ.

Fourth, in Chapter 7 the author really misses the point about why none of us should fear evil, as David writes in Psalm 23. The reason we are to not fear evil is because God is with us. It is not something we can just overcome because we think we can or just by trying hard. We fear no evil because we know God will never leave us or forsake us. Just ask the Apostle Peter about his experience of feeling the presence of God and not fearing evil (e.g., walking on water).

Is It a Book I Would Recommend to Someone Else?

I am uncertain whether I would recommend this book to anyone. I didn’t really find anything overtly incorrect that the author stated, but I am left with a definite level of discomfort in forming life principles from the influence of the combination of a perfect man in Jesus and imperfect men in knights. I would suggest the author take these life principles only from of the teaching and example of Jesus, show how in medieval history, virtuous men like knights applied them to their quests and missions and then how we can do the same thing in our spheres of influence.