The Oath

I've just finished reading a book called 'The Oath' by Frank Peretti.
I picked it up in a charity shop last year for no reason other than to find some books to read that weren't counselling textbooks!

From the outside it looks like a kind of scary evil kind of book, so I've kind of put off reading it. Until this week that is. Since I've picked it up I've barely been able to put it down! It had quite a slow start and it's a really fat book, so half the time I was wondering what the author was going to do to fill all the pages!

As it went on though, I discovered that it had a really strong Christian message. Whether the author is a Christian or not I do not know, but it screamed out some themes so loudly.

It's about a town that has a secret. The secret is protected by the people of the town, so much so that they'll kill to keep it that way. They especially don't like outsiders. People live in fear, and if they go against the rules then they get sucked in by the 'dragon'. A sore appears above their heart and it turns black. At first it hurts and burns, but as it gets worse and black stuff oozes out the pain goes away and the victim no longer cares. The victim goes wild, boasting about all the bad stuff they've got away with, they don't listen to reason and eventually they wander off and disappear never to be seen again.

The story starts with an outsider being killed. Half of their body is left and it looks like a bear attack. This is the first time that there's been a trace of anyone. The wife of the victim is traumatised and doesn't remember what happened. She is unharmed. (It later becomes clear that she is unharmed because she has Jesus inside her). Her brother-in-law Steve sets out on the task of what happened - not believing in the bear theory. With the help of a sheriff deputy he uncovers all sorts of things. He is majorly hindered by the townsfolk who do not want their dragon uncovered. Anyone who helps him is beaten up and eventually gets the black mark and then disappears.

The only person talking sense in the crazy Christian guy proclaiming that the dragon and black mark is sin, and that unless you accept Jesus into your heart you will die. The town started after a massacre of believers and a new charter was drawn up ending 'If this is sin, let sin be served' - all who signed it were sworn to secrecy. At the start, sin and the dragon were small and ignorable, but it's grown. Not believing this Steve ignores the crazy Christian until he sleeps with the married sheriff deputy and he too gains a mark above his heart. His brother too slept with someone he shouldn't have from the town. It appears that as you sin, the mark appears and gets bigger.

The head of the town believes that the dragon is on his side, even when he too gains a mark. He fights for control the whole way through and eventually it is his death.

About 5 people are eaten by the dragon as the story goes on. The dragon is almost invisible, but it's there and almost impenetrable. As the story comes to an end, the crazy Christian is killed and Steve runs for his life. In his absence, the town leader orders all the Christians to be evacuated and their homes plundered. As the townsfolks' black marks get bigger and start oozing they stop caring. They steal and set fire to things, there are riots and everything turns into chaos.

As Steve climbs to the dragons lair he discovers that in praying to God and asking for help, things start to go right. Twice he manages to blow up the dragon eventually damaging him almost fatally. Steve goes to shoot the dragon, but as he gets closer he falls in love with it. Maybe it can be tamed, maybe they can come to an agreement, he so lovely, so amazing, so tempting, he can't kill it, that would be wrong. Only when Steve is almost killed do his sense come back and he realises that since he's link to the dragon by the mark, he's being pulled in, tricked into a false sense of security. He runs for his life.

By this time, the town is a scary place to be. Steve makes it back, dragon follows, more people die and eventually Steve leads the dragon to an empty mine. Here he sets up a trap planned by the crazy Christian guy whereupon the dragon will hopefully impale himself and eventually die. Steve is followed by the townsfolk and they're in the way. Steve remembers that the dragon was afraid of the crazy Christian because he'd got Jesus. Steve tells the dragon to back up (which will impale him) and get away. Three times the dragon breathes fire at Steve throwing him about, but miraculously he is unharmed. He declares Jesus' name and asks him into his heart and eventually the dragon moves back. Steve has won - or rather God has won.

Finally, when you think the dragon is dead he grabs the cocky head of the town and eats him. At this point there is a flash of light and the dragon disappears. Sin has been conquered.





Does this story seem similar to anyone? ;)