Like most Americans, I spent some time on Memorial Day contemplating the sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces. In fact, I got to spend some time with my nephew, who was home on leave after serving with the Air Force in Africa. But I also spent a good portion of the day reading Brian Zahnd's new book, Farewell to Mars: An Evangelical Pastor's Journey Toward the Biblical Gospel of Peace.
Zahnd, pastor of Word of Life Church in Saint Joseph, Missouri, describes how his thinking changed when he "encountered Jesus in a fresh and new way" and he "began to take the 'words in red' seriously." He repented of his voyeuristic cheerleading during the broadcasts of the events of the first Gulf War, and of his "war prayers and war sermons," particularly after 9/11. It is not unusual to hear theologians and pastors on the theological left decrying war and preaching peace, but Zahnd seems to be otherwise in line with more a conservative, evangelical theological grounding.
The problem he points out is that "the gospel of peace is being obscured by a church that has long been more interested in serving as a chaplain to its host superpower than embarking about the risky path of following Jesus as the Prince of Peace." Christians have tended to overlook, ignore, water down, or outright reject those parts of Jesus' teachings that decry war and violence. Justify our interpretations of the Sermon on the Mount as we might, but "at some point, you have to decide what Jesus did mean with his kingdom imperatives on nonviolence and enemy love."
Zahnd makes a convincing case, forcing any follower of Jesus and believer in the Bible to carefully consider what he says. By focusing on the words and character of Jesus, and pointing out the church's tendency to ignore Jesus' peacemaking, "relegat[ing] [Jesus] to the hyperspiritualized role of personal Savior," Zahnd leaves little room to argue against what is so self-evident in Jesus' teaching.
Yet I wish he would have addressed the centuries-long debate over the issue of peace and war. He never mentions just war theory. He doesn't engage justifications for violence, whether by individuals or the state. Is it just to use violence to defend a child against an aggressor? Is it just to use military force to defend innocent people against a warlord? When one nation attacks a neighboring nation without provocation, is another nation justified in intervening militarily?
I found myself agreeing with Zahnd on every point. Yet I am still troubled by the duty of a Christian, for that matter of any person, not to stand by in the face of violence. If my nephew's next tour of duty takes him somewhere to take up arms against, for instance, a band of terrorists plotting to attack a peaceful country, or an opposing sect in their own country, should I not support him in that, and rejoice when good triumphs over evil? Even more, should I pray for him to have the victory? Should I pray for the terrorists to be utterly destroyed? These types of questions certainly do come up in A Farewell to Mars, but aren't explored to the extent that he probably should have.
Even so, Zahnd will challenge even the most red-blooded, flag-waving evangelical, assuming he or she is willing to take seriously the words of Jesus. Unfortunately, Mars, the god of war, has sneaked into our theology. In addition, Zahnd goes so far as to say that "the moment the church took to the Crusades in order to fight Muslims, it had already surrendered its vision of Jesus to the model of Muhammad." Ouch. I, for one, want to follow Jesus, and to take his words seriously. I know that won't look like Mars or Muhammad, but I'm also fairly certain that, as Zahnd argues, it won't look like what we see taught and practiced in evangelical churches today. I am grateful that Zahnd has challenged my thinking with Farwell to Mars.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
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