A Farewell to Mars: An Evangelical Pastor's Journey Toward the Biblical Gospel of Peace

Founder and pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, MO, Zahnd was a typical conservative evangelical cheering on the first Gulf War. Here, he shares his personal odyssey away from blind patriotism and toward the gospel of Jesus. Offering a brief analysis of the Bible and the modern evangelical worldview, the author contends that Jesus Christ is not simply a "prop" in our world of war or a "coming king," but is a radical Prince of Peace ruling over a new and present kingdom. He states: "Nothing unites a nation like war. But what's so tragic is when Christian leaders pretend that a rally around the war god is compatible with worshipping the God revealed in Jesus Christ." He then discusses the practical implications of devotion to the gospel of peace and exposes the danger of trying to make Christianity conform to any political agenda.