Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Feb. 16/58

Contributor - D.J. Geerling

Title - Christianity Goes Into Action - Boniface

Topic - Church History

In our previous letter, dealing with the life and missionary work of Willibrord, we made reference to Boniface, who will be the sul)ject of this week's letter.

Measuring by his immense performance, he undoubtedly surpassed Willibrord as a missionary. Particularly his martyr's death in a forest near Dokkum and the heroic attitude with which he met his last hour leave an indelible impression on the minds of posterity. He planted the Gospel among four distinct people, the Frisians, Hessians, Thuringiens and Bavarians, where he left a lasting influence.

The exact year of Boniface's birth is lost in oblivion. Most likely it was the year 675. The Irish missionaries brought the Gospel to England and preached in the homes. As a child Boniface was moved by their message and it left a deep impression upon his soul. His father destined a mundane and honourable position for his son. Boniface, however, desired to serve the Lord Jesus.

After a serious illness his father consented and Boniface left for a monastery in Exeter near Southampton. He received his Christian education in several English and Irish monasteries.

Soon he came under the SP of an irresistible urge to wander and preach, that marked the life of all English and Irish monks. In 716 he crossed the English Channel and landed in the vicinity of Katwijk, sailed upstream the river Rhine to Dorestad (Wijk bij Duurstede) and journeyed to Utrecht, where he met the dreaded enemy of Christianity, Radbod, King of the Frisians. Recently Radbod had destroyed the Christian churches built by Willibrord. Boniface must have been a man of great stamina and courage. Personally he demanded of Radbod not to interfere with the furtherance of the Christian faith. It is almost inconceivable that he survived the first encounter.

Soon Boniface was to learn that if his work should prosper, he could not stand alone. As Willibrord before him, he needed a powerful protector, who gave him access to the courts of kings and Other leaders of the people. Such a protector was the Pope. In 718 Boniface journeyed to Pope Gregory II in Rome. Commissioned with the papal charge together with a recommendation for the great Frankish King Charles Martel, he made a roving expedition. Through Thuringa, Bavaria and France he returned to Germany, where he settled in Hesse. According to his biographer Willibald, on this missionary expedition B o n i f a c e baptized people by the thousands. It is regrettable, however, that the papal charge explicitly forbade Boniface to communicate with bishops, whose work was not in agreement with the stipulations of the Church fathers. With these bishops the Pope meant the Irish and Scottish missionaries, who did not acknowledge the Pope as Head of the Church, because they professed that Christ was the only Head of the Church. Nor did they worship saints and relics. It is deplorable that Boniface strove so fanatically to obey this charge, for the Irish and Scottish missionaries were in many respects closer to Scripture than the Roman Catholic Church.

Boniface never rested until he destroyed with fiery words and deeds their influence forever.

Whenever we as Protestants study Boniface's life, then along with our appreciation for his work we also have our suspicions. One could present a one-sided picture of Boniface. However, in being one-sided the Church of today does not benefit any more. It is true indeed that Paul dared to depend on the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone. Boniface, however, built a bridge between the Gospel and the power of the State, which is always and inevitable done at the expense of the true Gospel. By so doing he promoted the idea Of Christianizing the people by force, through the authority of the State. This idea soon became a reality after his death. The great mediaeval King Charlemagne implemented this idea of Christianizing his subjects by force.

Charles Martel, the ruling Frank ish King at the time, was very pleased with Boniface and promised him all possible help. In Hesse Bonface received the news that Radbod, the archenemy of Christianity, had died. Willibrord who still lived in Utrecht, reorganized the work among the Frisians. Boniface was quick to seize the opportunity and immediately he left for Friesland. For three years he worked in harmony with Willibrord and baptized many Frisians. Willibrord intended to appoint Boniface as his successor, but he refused. The Pope had assigned Germany to him as his mission field, where he returned and laboured for many more years. After Willibrord's death, however, he traveled northward again to the northern extremities of Friesland, where the people still worshiped the pagan god Wodan.

This was to be his last expedition in the service of his Lord. He preached to many Frisians gathered beneath huge oaks near Dokkum. In the year 754 came the end. A gang member of Radbod II cleft his skull with an axe. More than 50 of his companions were slain with him. They were mown down as ripe wheat in the harvest time. Obeying the command of their master, they offered no resistance.

Boniface's body was interred in the gardens of his beloved monastery near Fulda, in the German province of Hesse. As a preacher and man, Boniface was truly great.

In life, his silver grey hair and beard gave him a majestic appearance. To him the honour is due that he gave the Church in Germany a so lid foundation. Second to the Pope only, he was the greatest prelate in the eighth century.

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