Christianity and War: And Other Essays Against the Warfare State [Paperback]

Laurence M. Vance (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2006

These thirteen essays, organized under the headings of Christianity and War, The Evils of War, Specific Wars, and The U.S. Global Empire, have one underlying theme: opposition to the warfare state that robs us of our money, our liberty, and in some cases our life. Although many of these essays reference contemporary events, the principles discussed in all of them are timeless: war, militarism, empire, interventionism, the warfare state, and the Christian attitude toward these things. It is the author s contention that Christian enthusiasm for the state, its wars, and its politicians is an affront to the Saviour, contrary to Scripture, and a demonstration of the profound ignorance many Christians have of history.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Truth has an unhealthy habit of confronting lies. In my case, it came in the writings of Laurence Vance. His writings used the wisest military tactics, on the one hand, scrambling my communications with military doctrine, and on the other, attacking my religious beliefs with a brilliant flanking maneuver. My concurrent discovery of lewrockwell.com worked together with Vance's writings to challenge my rather weak public education and strong military indoctrination. I found both my Christian faith and my understanding of the state confused and uncertain. My first reaction was anger and disbelief. Vance is nothing if not a persistent Christian. Indeed, he is running the race to win, and has refused the world s attempts to silence him. Each essay unsettled my military view, my theology, and my understanding of the history of the Christian Church. I found myself running to history books, historical Christian writers, and the Bible to disprove him. Most describe it as a loss of innocence that moment of enlightenment when we discover a painful truth of life. My loss of innocence is still ongoing. Vance has caused me to open my eyes. The result has been a discovery of the wonderful truths and economics of libertarianism, and a correction and deepening of my faith in and understanding of Christianity, and most importantly, the orthodox, historical, and biblical views of war. Growth does not come without price, nor does following the teachings of Christ. Inspired by Vance, I have set about trying to reach my Christian brethren who support war and the military due to their confusion over key passages in the Bible. To some degree I have found myself ostracized; yet, rather than discouraging me, it tells me that I am on the right course, for Christ himself predicted such for those who followed him in obedience. In this most commendable work, Vance greatly expands upon his previous edition. It will be my goal to get a copy into the hands of every military comrade and fellow Christian that I know well enough to reach with my concerns. Let me not suggest that the reader must be military or Christian. Indeed, this book is a perfect antidote for the poison being slowly fed through the media, our public schools and universities, conservative and fundamental Christian churches, and the military. Within its pages, the reader will surely be challenged in his prior understanding of history and the biblical view of warfare. Vance pulls no punches; I cringed the first time I found myself being called a Christian warmonger. As I have said, growth can be painful. I will be forever indebted to Vance for his clear understanding of history, Christianity, and libertarian thought. I challenge the reader to not simply accept what he writes, but to test what he writes by holding it against the pale of orthodox Christianity, the Bible, and history itself. This book is a clarion call that challenges the modern American church, the military member, and all citizens as to their beliefs concerning the historical and moral aspects of warfare. For me, it was literally life changing. --From the Foreword by Mike Reith (USAF, Major, Ret.) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

These thirteen essays have one thing in common--they were all published on the premier anti-state, anti-war, pro-market website, LewRockwell.com. Ten of them were written exclusively for that website and have never appeared in print until now. Each essay is reprinted verbatim.

LewRockwell.com is the brainchild of Lew Rockwell, the founder and president of the Ludwig von Mises Institute in Auburn, Ala., and a leading opponent of the central state, its wars, and its socialism.

Because they were published on the Internet, most of the essays originally contained numerous links to documentation and further information on the Web that the reader could click on if he desired. Because this feature is not possible in a printed format, the reader is encouraged to consult the online versions of each essay at LewRockwell.com, where, thanks to the wonders of technology, they are archived. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers (January 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597524972
• ISBN-13: 978-1597524971
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,173,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laurence M. Vance is an author, a publisher, a lecturer, a freelance writer, the editor of the Classic Reprints series, and the director of the Francis Wayland Institute. He holds degrees in history, theology, accounting, and economics. The author of nineteen books, he has contributed over three hundred articles and book reviews to both secular and religious periodicals.

Vance's writings have appeared in a diverse group of publications including the Ancient Baptist Journal, Bible Editions & Versions, Campaign for Liberty, LewRockwell.com, the Independent Review, the Free Market, Liberty, Chronicles, the Journal of Libertarian Studies, the Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, the Review of Biblical Literature, Freedom Daily, and the New American. His writing interests include economics, taxation, politics, government spending and corruption, theology, English Bible history, Greek grammar, and the folly of war. He is a regular columnist and blogger for LewRockwell.com.

Vance is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Grace Evangelical Society, and the International Society of Bible Collectors, and is an adjunct scholar of the Ludwig von Mises Institute.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant writer, December 25, 2004

By 

Alan (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christianity and War and Other Essays Against the Warfare State (Paperback)

Just read of the 'Silent Night' truce between the Germans and British 90 years ago for a stunning, tear-jerking account of the inherent goodness and lack of ill-will in man's heart. The massive slaughter of war is not found in such hearts, it is shoved upon us as a few old men barter with the lives of many young men. As humans let alone Christians we should reject the few warmongers, close our ears to their calls for killing, maiming and war.

Don't let the few rot the rest of us.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christian's viewpoint on war, March 23, 2006

By 

M. W. McKinney "Bibliomane" (Columbia City, IN,USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christianity and War and Other Essays Against the Warfare State (Paperback)

Very informative and scripturally truthful. As a Christian minister,I knew my view of war, and this book helped support it. It also supported the direction in which I want to lead my congregation. I highly recommend this book to anyone wondering whether this, or any other war, is moral and just. If you know where you stand, this book will help support your belief. If you are unsure, this is a great tool to use in forming a position.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Serious Religious View of the Warfare State, December 2, 2007

By 

James E. Egolf "James E. Egolf, MA" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christianity and War and Other Essays Against the Warfare State (Paperback)

Laurence Vance's book titled CRISTIANITY AND WAR is an informative little book that should urge those who claim to be Christians to think. The book is also to those who are of different religions or have no religious affiliation at all. The book provides a careful yet scathing denounciation of well known clergy who support the current disasters in Western Asia, a good assessment of the Anti-Federalists' fear of standing armies,and a good assessment of George Washington's and Thomas Jefferson's warnings against "entangling alliances." This termed was coined by Jefferson rathet than Washington even though Washington made similiar warnings. The book ends with the horrors of war and a detailed presentation of the vastness of the American empire.

The first essay of this book is a biblical refutation of those teleision clergy who breathe and shout for war using weak biblical arguements to support their wild claims. Vance cites other biblical references to cancel these statments. One should ask how many of the televison pastors ever went to war or heard gunfire fired in anger. One gets a good view of them in George Orwell's HOMAGE TO CATALONIA. One should also refer to Andy Jacobs THE 1600 KILLERS:THE IRAQ EDITION. Mr. Jacobs is the former member of the House of Representatives who was a battle decorated Marine during the Korean War. He calls such clergy and arm chair patriots as War Wimps and Chicken Hawks.

The second set of essays consists of excerpts from THE ANTI-FEDERALIST PAPERS challneging the establishment of standing armies. Vance quotes some of the ANTI-FEDERALIST authors. These men were learned and thoughtful and presented good examples of members of representative bodies who voted for standing armies only to have the leaders of these armies force legislators out of office at the point of a sword or end of a gun. Those who dismiss the Anti-Federalists as obstrepeous men who tried to stop progess by opposing ratification of the U.S. Constitution are decidedly wrong. The Anti-Federlists were crucial to ratification of the U.S. Constitution. One of their main objections was the lack of a bill of rights. Had The Bill of Rights not been promised for ratification, the U.S. Constitution would not have been ratified. The historical formuls is that without the Anti-Federalists, there would have been no Bill of Rights. Without The Bill of Rights there would have been no U.S. Constitution.

Along with comments on the Anti-Federalists, Vance presents thought excerpts from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson about an intrusive foreign policy. These excerpts were written by intelligent men who studied history and could articulate their views in clear, logical, and concise language. One can read these excerpts and easily distingush intelligent political writing from the current stupid, ad hominem current presentations that are passed off by current media ignoramuses.

Vance makes a good transition when he includes essays on the horrors of war based on the warnings of the Founding Fathers. Vance gives vivid examples of combatents and observers who write of the tragedies of war. Some of these comments were written by observers and nurses. Some were written by soldiers on both sides of the conflict. These comments reveal the effects of war on character, moral codes, and destructive behavior.

The most graphic are those of soldiers and civilians caught in combat zones. The horrors of death, maiming, and fear are well worth noting.

The last part of the book is a good look at the vastness of the American Empire. Vance documents that the U.S. has armed forces in at least 136 nations and may have armed forces in as many as 150 countries. This section of the book has amusing anecdotes. For example the present Administration denied having a huge military base in Kosova even thought Pres. Bush recently gave a speech there. Vance obtained a document titled "Active Duty Military Personnel Strenghts by Regional Area and by Country." When he questioned military and poltical leaders about this document, they said no such document existed. Yet, these liars got angry when he presented it to them. They refused to discuss the document or answer telephone calls.

This book has another important consideration. The question is who and how will an American Empire be financed without ruinning the economy. So far, there has been serious discussion of the potential for ruinning the economy. If such economic ruin ever occurs, it will be too late to do anything about.

Laurence Vance's book is not a large book. However it is an important book for anyone concerned that a warfare state can and will destroy individual liberty and economic welfare. The book is written by an honest, conscientious Christian who is well read and informed. Mr. Vance does not preach to his readers. He makes them think.