Reborn on the Fourth of July: The Challenge of Faith, Patriotism & Conscience

In his first book, Army veteran Mehl-Laituri describes his transformation from gung-ho infantryman to conscientious objector, a journey propelled by his growing conviction that the gospel of Jesus is incompatible with the violence he witnessed while stationed in Iraq. A born-again evangelical, he mingles with and learns to love liberal Christians. A warrior who deeply honors the values of the Army, he becomes, as well, a committed peace advocate who speaks from conscience against wars that violate the very principles the Army is dedicated to upholding. Peace is patriotic, Mehl-Laituri argues, and both peace churches and evangelicals have much to learn from each other. His heart stands with soldiers, who are often either glorified or vilified, but seldom understood. Mehl-Laituri seamlessly weaves church history and facts—e.g., the word “love” occurs in the Bible 584 times, “war” only 133—into the narrative. With a well-crafted story and a compelling narrative, this book is well worth reading and rereading. (July)