Book Overview

This book is simply a written Sunday school lesson rather than the oral variety. The primary topic is war and the relationship of a Christian to it. While someday war shall be studied no more, that day has not yet arrived.

Content and Examples

This book chronicles with specific examples how a few Christians like Rev. J. J. Taylor, Alvin York, Vernon Grounds, Franz Jagerstatter, and the author himself have approached the topic. Dietrich Bonhoeffer also makes a guest appearance, as do Tolstoy, Gandhi, and MLK.

Perspective on Pacifism and Peacemaking

The book does not advocate a pure pacifism. The author has not solved all the problems associated with that viewpoint and does not know anyone who has. But it does argue for peacemaking, the likes of which is addressed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and by St. Paul, who urges us to wrestle with principalities and powers, i.e., ideas, and not to wrestle with flesh and blood.

Author's Approach

This the author has tried to do within these peacemaking pages and the comparative safety of his laptop and life in bucolic and pastoral Jamestown, North Carolina.