Few books in the past decade have packed as potent a prophetic punch, or carried such ‘piercing, singeing truth’ (as one commendation puts it), as this intriguingly-titled book (actually applicable to women as well as men!). The writer is a 40-year-old blogger and pastor of the independent Therfield Chapel in Hertfordshire. Elijah Men Eat Meat comes in the form of 80 (or so) short chapters, each comprising a thoughtful study on a particular aspect of the life of the Prophet Elijah, followed by its relevance to the Church today.

In these studies, Jones provides pertinent reflections on a wide range of issues of a spiritual or moral nature, including marriage, the plague of powerless preaching, God as Father (not Mother), foreign missions and what it means to say ‘God is love’. A brief survey of chapter titles reveals further topics; ‘Prophets and the Poor’, ‘The Lost Art of Truth Telling’, ‘The Cancer of Spiritual Passivism’, On Freedom and Foodolatry’, ‘Zealous for His Name’, etc.

Jones devotes considerable space to dealing with the illogic and corruption of LGBTQ+ ideology, and these focused and uncompromising sections make for essential reading. So, too, do his writings on prevailing intercession.

One chapter that I found especially pertinent was the self-explanatory ‘Job Vacancy – Prophet’, whose clarion call for “broken, godly men to break the hearts of wicked men” makes me think I’m reading a chapter from Why Revival Tarries, penned by that pungent prophetic voice of last century, Leonard Ravenhill.

In fact, the sharp (though not harsh) prophetic tone that runs through this book has strong echoes of men of faith like David Wilkerson, Ravenhill, and EM Bounds. Indeed, Jones not infrequently quotes from the latter two (as well as from Catherine Booth and Andrew Murray). But it is Jones’ own pithy statements that resonate most poignantly with this reader:

• “We’ll never understand God’s patience and mercy if we don’t first understand His wrath.”
  
• “Many whimsically quip that all roads lead to God. That may be. But many of those roads lead to Him as Judge. Only through Jesus can we meet God as Father.”
  
• “We’re obese on spiritual junk food and unfit for God’s mission.”
  
• “Those who are willing to be broken in prayer are the ones who will break hellish fortresses”
  
• “If our generation is going to see revival and reformation, it will be because men set themselves to call down spiritual rain upon a dry land and pray until it comes.”
  
• “We will not see the fruit of Elijah’s boldness if we do not know the fellowship of his tears”
  

Jones does not mince words and some of his phraseology might offend politer sensibilities. But it is enormously encouraging to observe that God is raising up strong, clear prophetic voices in the Western world at this hour. Inspired and mentored by similar voices of past generations, and more especially by their biblical precedents, they are prepared to speak the word of God fearlessly to a sin-hardened nation that has turned to a multitude of lesser gods. Jones’ hope is that a network can be raised of “those with ravenous hearts for the things of God”.

Because of its uncompromising nature, this book may never become ‘popular’ Christian reading. But to those who long to see spiritual reformation and a revival of pure Christianity in our nation, Elijah Men will be eagerly-sought meat indeed. Unquestionably, one of the most vital, relevant and incisive books I’ve read in many years.

‘Elijah Men Eat Meat’ is available from Amazon for £12.50 (paperback). Also on Kindle. A free sample of the book can be read here.