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Reborn on the Fourth of July; The Challenge of Faith, Patriotism & Conscience
For decades now, the United States has proudly claimed the mantle of "the world's only superpower" based on military might and the scope of military interventions throughout the world. As a result, whole generations are growing up with the understanding that war is the norm, that perpetual conflict is a way of life. But is it the way of Christ? Logan Mehl-Laituri grew up in a community that celebrated military service. His faith reinforced his love of country and his sense that that love was best expressed by fighting its battles. Then he went to war, and then he was born again. In Reborn on the Fourth of July you'll learn through Logan's story the real cost of war to military personnel, the real challenges to Christians that are raised by military service on and even off the battlefield, and the real questions that each of us must wrestle with as we hold in tension our love of country with God's love for the world.
Read the starred review from Publisher's Weekly: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0...
Read the starred review from Publisher's Weekly: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0...
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
About the author
Logan M. Isaac
3 books24 followersLogan Isaac, HoSM served in the United States Army as a forward observer in the 82nd Airborne and 25th Infantry (Light) divisions. After six years he was honorably discharged and began using his GI Bill to earn degrees from Hawaii Pacific University (BA, 2010), Duke University (MTS, 2013), and the University of St Andrews (M.Litt, 2015). His work has been featured in the London Sunday Times, Publishers Weekly, The Hill, America Magazine, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, the Armed Forces Radio Network, and more. He has presented his academic research at conferences in the United States, Greece, Italy, Denmark, and Great Britain.
As an author and editor, Logan has over 20 publications to his name, including Reborn on the Fourth of July, awarded a Publishers Weekly Starred Review, and “Ponder Christian Soldiers,” named the Best Article Series of 2016 by the Evangelical Press Association. Following several years as a college professor in North Carolina, he moved to DC metropolitan area to form the #GIJustice civil rights campaign for soldiers and veterans.
Logan is a professed member of the Hospitallers of St Martin (HoSM), an ecumenical monastic community in the Episcopal tradition that focuses on Prayer, Hospitality, and Reconciliation for veterans and all those who have been affected by war, poverty, and violence. He lives with his partner and two children in Walkersville, MD where he operates The Chapter House, a micro-bookshop.
As an author and editor, Logan has over 20 publications to his name, including Reborn on the Fourth of July, awarded a Publishers Weekly Starred Review, and “Ponder Christian Soldiers,” named the Best Article Series of 2016 by the Evangelical Press Association. Following several years as a college professor in North Carolina, he moved to DC metropolitan area to form the #GIJustice civil rights campaign for soldiers and veterans.
Logan is a professed member of the Hospitallers of St Martin (HoSM), an ecumenical monastic community in the Episcopal tradition that focuses on Prayer, Hospitality, and Reconciliation for veterans and all those who have been affected by war, poverty, and violence. He lives with his partner and two children in Walkersville, MD where he operates The Chapter House, a micro-bookshop.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 27, 2012
In Reborn on the Fourth of July, Logan Mehl-Laituri speaks truthfully about his experience of war in the midst of a cultural climate that often turns a deaf ear to the reality of war and the lives of veterans. In contrast to the simplistic platitudes which surround conversations about war and military service, Mehl-Laituri throws open the doors to his own experience and invites the reader into a complex picture of what it might mean to truly struggle with questions of war, violence, patriotism, and faith; “[H]ow might soldier saints, and patriot pacifists form our faith, particularly in times of war?” he asks (104).
Mehl-Laituri describes his own struggle with this question. After a deployment in Iraq and a period of contemplation on his Christian faith, he files for conscientious objector status, requesting permission to return to Iraq with his unit as an unarmed non-combatant. When his application for CO status is turned down, Mehl-Laituri embarks on a journey of healing and theological clarity. The book is at once lucidly written, accessible to a large audience, and compelling, while accounting for the complexities of faith, service, and combat.
This book deserves to be read carefully and reflectively, bit-by-bit. Especially good are the chapters “Baptism & Rebirth,” an account of Mehl-Laturi's baptism, and “I Can’t Save Everyone,” a narration of the significant experiences in Iraq that ultimately constitute the turning point for his reflections on war. Also of note are Mehl-Laituri’s first experience with PTSD in “Foreshadowing the Shadows”; and his conversations with mentors and friends while in the process of filing for CO status in “Love and War”.
Finally, the book concludes with a series of helpful appendices including annotated bibliographic information, frequently asked questions, and information about the process of filing for CO status.
Mehl-Laituri describes his own struggle with this question. After a deployment in Iraq and a period of contemplation on his Christian faith, he files for conscientious objector status, requesting permission to return to Iraq with his unit as an unarmed non-combatant. When his application for CO status is turned down, Mehl-Laituri embarks on a journey of healing and theological clarity. The book is at once lucidly written, accessible to a large audience, and compelling, while accounting for the complexities of faith, service, and combat.
This book deserves to be read carefully and reflectively, bit-by-bit. Especially good are the chapters “Baptism & Rebirth,” an account of Mehl-Laturi's baptism, and “I Can’t Save Everyone,” a narration of the significant experiences in Iraq that ultimately constitute the turning point for his reflections on war. Also of note are Mehl-Laituri’s first experience with PTSD in “Foreshadowing the Shadows”; and his conversations with mentors and friends while in the process of filing for CO status in “Love and War”.
Finally, the book concludes with a series of helpful appendices including annotated bibliographic information, frequently asked questions, and information about the process of filing for CO status.
July 5, 2012
Is it ever appropriate for Christians to kill in the name of Jesus?
Church history has a long tradition of debating this, with everyone agreeing that mostly the answer is No. We diverge at the question of war: many Christians ascribe to some version of Augustine’s Just War theory, which claims that under some circumstances, war may be necessary and good (hence “Just”). Many other Christians follow the more ancient tradition of the earliest Christians in confessing Pacifism. Pacifism holds that it is never appropriate for one who follows Jesus to take the life of another person, and usually entails a complete refusal of violence as an option for resolving conflict.
Increasingly, American Christians cannot dialogue about the justice of war. One must either be a radical pacifist or jingoistic pro-war. Is there a better third way?
Logan Mehl-Laituri’s excellent, eye-opening book Reborn on the Fourth of July seeks to chart out that third way. Logan shares his story, his journey from kid to soldier to Christian to conscientious objector to (now) Christian peacemaker. While he doesn’t offer his story as a normative example that everyone should follow, his words are a powerful witness to what it means to be a Christian patriot.
Logan’s voice offers a picture of someone who loves God and country in that order.
Before his conversion, Logan served a tour in Iraq as an artilleryman. He narrates his journey from the frontlines to the baptismal pool clearly and simply. His journey wasn’t a one-time, Damascus-road type moment. Rather it was a series of small steps, of realizing he had domesticated God. But Logan found his pacifism hadn’t replaced his patriotism.
When Logan realized that he was more like his enemies than he was like God, everything changed for him. He could no longer kill for God or country. But he still loved his fellow soldiers and his country.
Perhaps the most interesting and well-presented aspect of Logan’s journey was his exit from the military. Even though he could no longer in good conscience carry a weapon, Logan wanted to remain a part of his unit. He applied not for the conscientious objector status that would have him withdraw from the Army altogether, but for 1-A-O status, which would allow him to return unarmed to combat with his unit. As Logan explained:
"By applying for 1-A-O status, I was actively trying to return to combat. I didn’t see Christians as being prohibited from being present in war, only perpetrating it."
Unfortunately, Logan was rejected by both his fellow enlisted soldiers and Christians who objected to his desire to remain in the Army. Despite his earnest desire to continue to serve his country the way his God would permit, Logan was dismissed from the military.
Ironically – and this withering critique is central to Logan’s message, the Church had not prepared Logan to dialogue effectively about his desires – both to serve God and his country. Logan wasn’t content with an either-or dichotomy. As he says,
"I found very little satisfaction in the two ideological extremes – strict obedience or absolute objection – currently available to me. Without any substantive theological training, I didn’t know how to respond in faith to the call to love my enemies… All too frequently we fail to engage meaningfully with how church history informs us about war."
Unfortunately, most churches are ill-equipped to help soldiers understand the ramifications of their choices, or to provide them a healthy space to heal from the trauma of war.
Today, Logan serves as a Christian peacemaker, and also works with soldiers and veterans to help them find peace in the wake of their service.
The Church’s debate over war and violence has – ironically – never been overly peaceful. Logan’s story bears evidence that we’re no closer today to being able to come together as brothers and sisters to wrestle together with such an important issue.
Could we find a middle third way to love the country that has undeniably shaped us without uncritically embracing and celebrating everything that country has done? Could we imagine a way to serve our country that does not compromise our first commitment to God?
If Logan’s story is any indication, that third way does exist. We would do well to hear his story.
Bottom Line: Logan’s story is sure to infuriate and inspire both sides. All the more reason that any Christian who seriously questions the role of violence should read this book. The Church needs this conversation.
YOUR TURN: Do you think violence is ever appropriate for Christians? Is there a place for pacifists in the military?
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review purposes from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Church history has a long tradition of debating this, with everyone agreeing that mostly the answer is No. We diverge at the question of war: many Christians ascribe to some version of Augustine’s Just War theory, which claims that under some circumstances, war may be necessary and good (hence “Just”). Many other Christians follow the more ancient tradition of the earliest Christians in confessing Pacifism. Pacifism holds that it is never appropriate for one who follows Jesus to take the life of another person, and usually entails a complete refusal of violence as an option for resolving conflict.
Increasingly, American Christians cannot dialogue about the justice of war. One must either be a radical pacifist or jingoistic pro-war. Is there a better third way?
Logan Mehl-Laituri’s excellent, eye-opening book Reborn on the Fourth of July seeks to chart out that third way. Logan shares his story, his journey from kid to soldier to Christian to conscientious objector to (now) Christian peacemaker. While he doesn’t offer his story as a normative example that everyone should follow, his words are a powerful witness to what it means to be a Christian patriot.
Logan’s voice offers a picture of someone who loves God and country in that order.
Before his conversion, Logan served a tour in Iraq as an artilleryman. He narrates his journey from the frontlines to the baptismal pool clearly and simply. His journey wasn’t a one-time, Damascus-road type moment. Rather it was a series of small steps, of realizing he had domesticated God. But Logan found his pacifism hadn’t replaced his patriotism.
When Logan realized that he was more like his enemies than he was like God, everything changed for him. He could no longer kill for God or country. But he still loved his fellow soldiers and his country.
Perhaps the most interesting and well-presented aspect of Logan’s journey was his exit from the military. Even though he could no longer in good conscience carry a weapon, Logan wanted to remain a part of his unit. He applied not for the conscientious objector status that would have him withdraw from the Army altogether, but for 1-A-O status, which would allow him to return unarmed to combat with his unit. As Logan explained:
"By applying for 1-A-O status, I was actively trying to return to combat. I didn’t see Christians as being prohibited from being present in war, only perpetrating it."
Unfortunately, Logan was rejected by both his fellow enlisted soldiers and Christians who objected to his desire to remain in the Army. Despite his earnest desire to continue to serve his country the way his God would permit, Logan was dismissed from the military.
Ironically – and this withering critique is central to Logan’s message, the Church had not prepared Logan to dialogue effectively about his desires – both to serve God and his country. Logan wasn’t content with an either-or dichotomy. As he says,
"I found very little satisfaction in the two ideological extremes – strict obedience or absolute objection – currently available to me. Without any substantive theological training, I didn’t know how to respond in faith to the call to love my enemies… All too frequently we fail to engage meaningfully with how church history informs us about war."
Unfortunately, most churches are ill-equipped to help soldiers understand the ramifications of their choices, or to provide them a healthy space to heal from the trauma of war.
Today, Logan serves as a Christian peacemaker, and also works with soldiers and veterans to help them find peace in the wake of their service.
The Church’s debate over war and violence has – ironically – never been overly peaceful. Logan’s story bears evidence that we’re no closer today to being able to come together as brothers and sisters to wrestle together with such an important issue.
Could we find a middle third way to love the country that has undeniably shaped us without uncritically embracing and celebrating everything that country has done? Could we imagine a way to serve our country that does not compromise our first commitment to God?
If Logan’s story is any indication, that third way does exist. We would do well to hear his story.
Bottom Line: Logan’s story is sure to infuriate and inspire both sides. All the more reason that any Christian who seriously questions the role of violence should read this book. The Church needs this conversation.
YOUR TURN: Do you think violence is ever appropriate for Christians? Is there a place for pacifists in the military?
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review purposes from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
July 9, 2012
The subtitle of Logan Mehl-Laituri's newly published Reborn on the Fourth of July is: The Challenge of Faith, Patriotism, and Conscience. Throughout his gripping account of his journey from patriotic combatant in Iraq to conscientious objector, the roles played by faith, patriotism, and conscience intertwine; but it is faith that ignites Mehl-Laituri's evolution and determines the balance between patriotism and conscience.
In his "Epilogue" the author speaks of learning to "inhabit the middle ground between patriot and pacifist," but actually he is both patriot and pacifist. His book shows us that, despite ingrained assumptions to the contrary, patriotism and pacifism are not mutually exclusive. In fact, his application for conscientious objector status was for a category identified as "1-A-O," under which he would have remained in the military as a noncombatant conscientious objector. And writing his book as a pacifist no longer serving in the military, he still identifies as a soldier. In a note near the end of the book referring to the parable of the Good Samaritan, he writes: "Sometimes soldiers are not the heroic Samaritan; sometimes we are the voyager in distress."
At a climactic point in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck, whose antebellum Southern upbringing has taught him that helping a runaway slave would condemn him to hell, struggles over whether or not to turn in his slave friend Jim, who has escaped from his owner. Huck, following the dictates of his socially constructed "conscience," even writes a letter to the owner telling her where to find Jim, but finally tears up the letter and vows that he will go to hell rather than betray his friend. In commenting on this key scene, Mark Twain spoke of it as "a struggle between a sound heart and a deformed conscience" in which Huck's sound heart wins. In Logan Mehl-Laituri's case, both heart and conscience, each informed by his faith, are sound. In fact, it is a dramatic, faith inspired "crystallization of conscience" that frees Mehl-Laituri from the deformed societal conscience that equates pacifism with cowardice. Mehl-Laituri is a patriotic pacifist and a courageous Christian, and his book is an inspiring read.
In his "Epilogue" the author speaks of learning to "inhabit the middle ground between patriot and pacifist," but actually he is both patriot and pacifist. His book shows us that, despite ingrained assumptions to the contrary, patriotism and pacifism are not mutually exclusive. In fact, his application for conscientious objector status was for a category identified as "1-A-O," under which he would have remained in the military as a noncombatant conscientious objector. And writing his book as a pacifist no longer serving in the military, he still identifies as a soldier. In a note near the end of the book referring to the parable of the Good Samaritan, he writes: "Sometimes soldiers are not the heroic Samaritan; sometimes we are the voyager in distress."
At a climactic point in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck, whose antebellum Southern upbringing has taught him that helping a runaway slave would condemn him to hell, struggles over whether or not to turn in his slave friend Jim, who has escaped from his owner. Huck, following the dictates of his socially constructed "conscience," even writes a letter to the owner telling her where to find Jim, but finally tears up the letter and vows that he will go to hell rather than betray his friend. In commenting on this key scene, Mark Twain spoke of it as "a struggle between a sound heart and a deformed conscience" in which Huck's sound heart wins. In Logan Mehl-Laituri's case, both heart and conscience, each informed by his faith, are sound. In fact, it is a dramatic, faith inspired "crystallization of conscience" that frees Mehl-Laituri from the deformed societal conscience that equates pacifism with cowardice. Mehl-Laituri is a patriotic pacifist and a courageous Christian, and his book is an inspiring read.
March 29, 2015
This is not just an excellent read and a page turner (even though I needed to wake up early the next morning, I couldn’t go to bed while finishing the last 3rd of the book), it is also an important book. In an era when Christianity is deeply intertwined with right wing politics and when it seems patriotism cannot be divorced from supporting military campaigns, narratives by Christians on the front lines are all the more important. The author’s goal is not to convince the reader to think one way or another about war or military service, but rather to tell a story of what it is like to try to grow as a disciple of Christ while “the military seems to have a kind of monopoly on the language of sacrifice, honor and obedience, among other virtues.” Logan’s story is intense at times, sad at times, and doesn’t always resolve as we want our hero’s journeys to end. However, amidst the confusion, complexity and horror of actual combat and service, in a war founded on ambiguity, Logan’s narrative reveals Christ in the gray area of life, even when the bureaucracy of military, the hierarchies of the church and the zeitgeist of culture only deal in black and white. I’d recommend this book, not only to Christian servicemen and servicewomen, but any Christian who is also an American.
August 2, 2012
I am still reading this awesome book! His wording is simply poetic. I have the pleasure of working with the author's sister, and she lent me the book to read. I keep reading out loud passages that I love! Right now my favorite one is: "I found that the thin red line between sinner and saint is not always so easy to discern, that the violence in the world is directly correlative to the violence in each of us."
I am looking forward to reading the rest of it!
I am looking forward to reading the rest of it!
August 6, 2012
Wow. This was so good. Logan is a friend of mine and sent me an advance screener copy of the book. I went into it thinking "I pretty much know Logan's story and it'll be cool to see it written down." What I found blew all of my expectations out of the water. Amazingly powerful story and expertly crafted. Shook me to my core. I want to say "If you are..." or "If you care about..." but I could list pretty much everything.
I recommend this to everyone. My favorite book in years.
I recommend this to everyone. My favorite book in years.
June 26, 2012
Very insightful and poignant memoir of a Christian who felt compelled to no longer take up arms yet wished to remain faithful to his service in the military. Raises provocative theological questions with a very practical and compelling first-person account.
Read
October 10, 2012Ran out of time with this one. Message and story were quite good, the writing didn't pull me in so much which explains why my time with it from the library ran out. Would highly recommend this book for any military personnel who are considering becoming conscientious objectors.
January 9, 2013
I've never been a soldier, so I knew little of what they go through. I was intrigued and inspired by this book as it recounts the author's crisis of conscience which led him to apply for conscientious objector status while he was in the military, after he was in combat in Iraq. Very well done.
January 18, 2013
Powerful memoir of Mehl-Laituri's experience of being a soldier in the US army and becoming a conscientious objector while still in service. It's also a very heart-moving plea to support veterans.
February 19, 2018
An interesting and fairly quick read by an Iraq veteran sharing his experience and leading us to ask questions around the intersection of faith, war, and military service. I appreciated Logan's approach, detailing his journey without making his lessons universal in nature. My biggest takeaways:
• As Christians, our service is first to Christ, second to our nation
• The question of military service and conscientious objection is more nuanced than the two-option narrative we often hear
Questions I still have
• Why aren't there more options for those who object to warfare or to specific wars?
• How has the Christian faith come to revere military service so much that we're often unwilling to wrestle with the hard questions it presents?
• Why do we feel that asking hard questions is disrespectful to or somehow invalidates the sacrifice of the individuals who have served?
• As Christians, our service is first to Christ, second to our nation
• The question of military service and conscientious objection is more nuanced than the two-option narrative we often hear
Questions I still have
• Why aren't there more options for those who object to warfare or to specific wars?
• How has the Christian faith come to revere military service so much that we're often unwilling to wrestle with the hard questions it presents?
• Why do we feel that asking hard questions is disrespectful to or somehow invalidates the sacrifice of the individuals who have served?
January 3, 2016
While I've read many accounts from non-passive pacifists regarding the biblical reasoning for nonviolence, it was good to finally read a book by a modern soldier turned nonviolent activist. Very good read and very helpful resources!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews