Thanks for the last paragraph, Greg. That was the most helpful aspect of this review, for me.

I love hummus and I love carrot cake, but they do not belong together.

Like my appreciation for my country and my love of God's kingdom. Two different loves. And in this case, integration is not a good thing.

Isn't it possible to serve God while serving your country in the military?

"Whatever you do, do heartily as unto the Lord," writes Paul. I assume that applies to the employee behind the counter at Starbucks as much as to the soldier in Iraq. Or in the trenches in WWI or in the rice paddies of Vietnam.

Just because the employer is part of a fallen world doesn't mean the service done by the employee isn't done "heartily as unto the Lord."

Can't military service be done as unto the Lord? In Acts 10, Cornelius the Roman centurion was considered a faithful believer, and he certainly served a flawed empire with his day job. God went to dramatic lengths to show that Corneliuis was "graced" even in his "unclean" day job. He was a brave soldier God approved, even though Peter had scruples against Roman soldiers, just as you, Greg, have scruples against an "unclean" U.S. military. But God's grace is larger than your scruples.

That's what we're celebrating on Memorial Day. And I think that's what this Bible is celebrating. Patriotism, per se, is not "unclean."

Greg, serving your nation, and even fighting her wars is, at times, called incarnating our Christian faith in the nation God placed us, whether it's the U.S.A. or Germany or Uganda. We can't detach our allegiance to Christ from our service to our country. Unless you're a Platonist or a Gnostic, neither of which did Christ endorse.

Yes, Greg, this is truly sad. Words fail me to describe how wrong-headed this whole concept really is. My thoughts echo your final line: it's because I too love America and love the Bible that I find this farce to be so sad.

Jarrod, you wrote that "serving your nation, and even fighting her wars is, at times, called incarnating our Christian faith in the nation God placed us, whether it's the U.S.A. or Germany or Uganda."

So Christians can kill Christians and non-Christians and they are "incarnating" their faith in Christ? Which part of that faith? The part in which we're called to lay down our lives for others? We can choose to say that the 'others' are our own country-folk but I don't believe Jesus allows us to do that. The Body of Christ is multi-ethnic, multi-national and worldwide so those who are in other nations are as much the 'others' as those in our own nation. Where does Jesus align himself and his purposes with the state? If America attacks Canada, can we both be doing what Jesus wants when we try to kill each other because our governments told us this was 'right' or 'justified'? What if you just happen to be offended by something I do on the street? Can you kill me for it? How about just beat me up? What if what I did was really, really sinful? Justifications for war dwindle into immature silliness, let alone being maintained in the absence of Jesus' support.

Though we disagree, Jarrod, I won't kill you. Even if you try to kill me. Hahahaha.

Coming from an Anabaptist background military service is always seen as being questionable at best. For some Anabaptists, this stems essentially from the notion that violence is always wrong, and it indeed may be. To be honest, I would do all I could to protect and defend my family, including the use of violence. It may be my spiritual immaturity or a God given drive to protect those I love. In one sense I can see that same love cast over a larger body including my neighbors and friends. I suppose police forces and military make sense to me in this protective, defensive mode. Now, attacking someone else or another country in the name of protecting my family and friend is an different matter, do we attack every possible and potential threat in the name of loving our family and friends? Yet, Jesus said, "love your enemies." It is indeed hard to reconcile these two different positions, how can I love my enemies and kill them too? They seem at odds to me.
Now to raise the level of the debate, can we trust the state to be doing God's work? From the time of Constantine to the reformation it was assumed that the state and the church were one, and therefore the state was holy?
Those of us in the free church tradition do not assume that the government is holy, divinely appointed, yes, but then so was Babylon and Pharaoh. Divinely appointed does not equate with being godly or Christ-like, it simply means that at times God raises up nations to do his bidding, regardless of those nations honoring the God of the bible or not.
When we tie Christ to Nation, we create a problem, do we subject the nation to Christ or Christ to the nation. It seems to me that when we engage in this folly we end up subjecting Christ to the Nation. Imagine if you would how the course of western history would be different if Christians had simply refused to kill other Christians. But no, we bow to the state and assume that the sate has this right, they know best?
The Patriot bible has the potential to be destructive to both the church on a whole and the individual believer. It was an ill-conceived project. I will affirm that people, Christ-followers can serve in the military with honor and integrity, as my father did. I will also ask, is serving the military going to do a great deal to mature men and women in their faith?

"Not long ago I saw fifteen or more boys drilling. They assumed a military air, and went through the evolutions of trained soldiers. This was to teach them patriotism, but what incentive with our ideas of patriotism is there for the young man of to-day to shoulder his gun and fight for his country! I can imagine one situation -- even under the present state of affairs -- where a man could feel that he ought to fight for his country. That situation might be an invasion. In such a case a man should fight, but he should fight under protest, and for this reason: When a country is invaded it is because it has done some wrong to another country -- some wrong like the United States did in taking the Philippines -- a stain upon our flag that can never be effaced. Yet to-day in the public schools we teach our children to salute the flag, and this is our idea of instilling in them patriotism. And this so-called patriotism we mistake for citizenship; but if there is a stain on that flag it ought not to be honored, even if it is our flag. The true citizenship is to protect the flag from dishonor -- to make it the emblem of a nation that is known to all nations as true and honest and honorable. And we should forever forget that old phrase -- 'My country, right or wrong, my country!'"

Mark Twain

Point well made, and well taken, Bart. Yes, wars are often misguided, and they're always tragic.

But unless you're a pacifist, you'll also recognize war as sometimes sadly unavoidable. And God sometimes brings good out of war (whether it's David and Goliath, or the Emancipation Proclamation, or the liberation of Auschwitz).

So yes, I honor those who fight for their country, even in morally ambiguous wars (are there any other kind?). Just as I honor those who choose not to fight on moral grounds and pay the price for their radical faith.

I'm just repulsed by the smugness of those who are too morally superior to salute Patriotism.

I, too, share the concern over "nationalizing" the gospel. The evangelical church has become far too comfortable with an almost jingoistic expression of faith that seeks worldly power and conflates America with the Kingdom of God.

At the same time, one can love both Jesus and one's country. In fact, God tells the Jewish exiles to seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon, of all places, and to pray for its prosperity (Jer. 29:7).

If we're looking at Jesus' example, let's remember that he came with a very specific and unique mission in salvation history. Let's also remember that he's coming again in power and glory with the hosts of heaven to wage violent war, and that he will tread the winepress of the fury of God's wrath. He didn't condemn the centurion for his job, but rather commended his life and faith. When soldiers asked John the Baptist what fruits they should produce in keeping with repentance, he told them to be good soldiers, not to quit being soldiers. And Paul reminds us that the government wields the sword as an agent of God's wrath.

While it seems clear that The American Patriot's Bible goes too far in its simple nationalism, I think some of the comments have gone just as far in the opposite direction.

I don't understand the obsession with every group getting their own Bible - The teen boy Bible, the teen girl Bible, the Couples Bible, the Patriotic Bible, the Worship Bible.

I don't get it. Do we really have to market the Bible that badly to get people to read it?

JT
http://redeemingriches.wordpress.com

Obviously this group of Christians who felt the need to publish a "patriot's" Bible do not believe in the efficacy of the Scriptures. Because there is certainly nothing in the Hebraic worldview that would correlate to commending patriotism in a modern liberal-democratic nation-state.

This post reminded me that just yesterday on Facebook I noticed "The Bible" listed as a "consumer good."
I guess we have to face it that many members of our society lack a category for understanding the Bible as anything but a product that can be (re)packaged and sold. Though I do find the patriotism packaging especially distasteful.

Ok, I, too, think this Bible is in bad taste.

However, the tone of this review, and of several of the comments, seems to be saying that Christians cannot (or should not) be soldiers.

What kind of military would we have if all Christians abandon military service? I submit that our military, as flawed as it is, is better because of the presence of Christians within the ranks.

And how can Christians, who hold such pacifistic views, rightly enjoy the freedoms that have been won by men in arms?

As long as evil exists on this earth, and as long as evil men and women assume power over others, war will continue to be a necessary evil.

I think Pastor Greg needs to respond to this issue. It's easy to criticize the military, but how about some balanced treatment?

I love my country but patriotism does not supersede my love for the Lord Jesus. I am curious to see how the Patriot's Bible handled passages having to do with slavery and the genocide of Native Americans.

This "Patriot's Bible" will do nothing more than create an even greater number of Atheists by proving to them their point that the Christian religion is a racket that is into creating a jackbooted nation of thugs.

All this reminds me of seeing those swastikas at the front of Nazi German churches.

If we named the other countries throughout history that might be likely to embrace a Patriot's Bible, would we want to be in that company?

Jarrod,

You stated, "'Whatever you do, do heartily as unto the Lord,' writes Paul. I assume that applies to the employee behind the counter at Starbucks as much as to the soldier in Iraq. Or in the trenches in WWI or in the rice paddies of Vietnam."

Does this also apply to prostitutes, drug traffickers, and porn stars? Should not their profession be taken into account as they "Do it unto the Lord?"

I think Boyd's penetrating words reveals the heart of the matter very well. He says, "This [intense glorification of national violence] simply reveals how thoroughly the Gospel of Jesus has been co-opted and redefined by the Gospel of American Patriotism in this Bible."

We must reinforce that the danger of such a bible is that it is not merely a catalyst for skewing the central message of the Christian Gospel, but that the American Patriot's Bible is a consequence of a worldview which has unfortunately been increasingly prevailing among Christian Americans, and is hopefully rejected thoroughly by American Christians, and Christians living in any other nation-state.

If America has anything worth celebrating, it is that "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone [including Americans] to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

Thank you Greg Boyd for your thorough critique of this Bible. Jesus modeled for us how to live and love each other. His "Good News" was a threat to the government of his day. Jesus did not repay evil with evil when threatened by his enemies but rather laid down his own life in the ultimate act of peace. This is scary for us as Christians since it does not promise us safety here on earth. Faith requires courage, while guns and bombs do not.

I further look at the context of the article and further have to ask a question. Even though I agree that as followers of Jesus Christ who should stand as non-violent in our approach to those whom would be enemies to the cross, well in regards to this what would be the stand of a people in the face of their family being attacked, or a friend? Would we just back and just give it all to GOD at that moment? Or would we interfere and protect them? I firmly believe that as a follower of Jesus Christ that the first act in any situation would be to stand and seek GOD in regards to it. I would go further in saying that praying the "Lord's Prayer" daily, seeking GOD's face and then his hand in matters of life and the lives of other nations should always be our first priority. Then being a witness to others and demonstrating who CHRIST is through our actions. War is never a good thing in any way nor being a part of it. Sometimes it cannot be avoided and you are thrust into it. I say this from first hand experience. When your family is in danger and there is no place for escape then you must stand and fight. Even JESUS grew angry in the temple when HE saw the money changers engaged in profit in the House of GOD. He made a whip and ran them out of the temple. HE stood for what HIS father is.
What further bothers me is the use of the term, "white Europeans," as this is a bad thing. I have read and listened to those who have revised text books in public schools use that very same term in regards to the evil bad things that these Europeans have done to this country. Real history says otherwise to this. Even revised texts about Christopher Columbus never mention his faith in GOD or his desire to spread the Gospel. Yes he did make mistakes and terrible things occurred but just remember that he did have a crew and not all of them went with him for the gospel's sake.
Instead of looking at the fact that we have so many "personalized" Bibles look instead at what they are targeting. From Women's Bibles, Men's Bibles, Teen Bibles, etc. these personal Bibles make the the Word more personal to particular groups and helps them to understand just how the Word can be applied to them. Some people think there should just be the KJV version and nothing else. The developers of the Patriot Bible have heart in what they are trying to do. It is not perfect nor is it a bad thing. There is a relationship between what our American history and the Word of GOD is. The founders had such a relationship and their many quotes demonstrate this fully.
It is not this particular Bible which will further add fuel for those who deny the very existence of GOD for they will always find reasons for such. Look not to what appears but instead for what does not appear.