U.S. Christians always have wrestled with the tension between loyalty to the nation and loyalty to the gospel. In the wake of 9/11 tragedy, we face this tension anew and with greater urgency. In what ways ought Christians live their patriotic duties to the U.S.? Is it right for us to support the war on terrorism, and if so, to what extent and by what means? Will the war on terrorism damage the testimony of the gospel? Should Christians fight to defend their way of life? What is appropriate Christian patriotism?

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MR. GARY BAUER, President, American Values, has become one of America's most well-known and leading voices for conservativism. He has been instrumental in developing two of America's most prominent conservative groups, The Campaign for Working Families and the Family Research Council. He is a frequent guest on a wide variety of political talk shows and is widely viewed as one of the most effective spokesmen for an unapologetically pro-life, pro-family, pro-growth message. Mr. Bauer served on the Reagan Administration for eight years. His latest book is Doing Things Right, based upon his presidential campaign experience.

“Anything less than absolute victory will signal our internal weakness and produce our eventual defeat... the only remedy to terrorism is to so completely crush the enemy that his will and ability to wage war is eliminated.”

DR. TONY CAMPOLO, President, Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, is professor emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He is founder and president of the EAPE, which creates, nurtures, and supports programs for “at risk” children in cities across North America, and helps establish schools and universities in several developing countries. Dr. Campolo is a media commentator on religious, social, and political matters, and has authored 28 books, the most recent titles are Revolution and Renewal: How Churches are Saving our Cities and Let Me Tell You a Story: Life Lessons from Unexpected Places and Unlikely People.

“You get rid of malaria by destroying the swamps in which the malaria mosquitoes are bred. There's a swamp out there called poverty and injustice. If we're going to win the Muslim world to Christ we cannot make stupid statements about their religion and we cannot, in fact, engage in a holy war against them.”

PAIGE CUNNINGHAM, J.D., Chair, Board of Directors, Americans United for Life, is a Senior Fellow with the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity and a Fellow of the Wilberforce Forum and the Council for Biotechnology Policy. She will be joining the CACE National Advisory Council this fall.

 

Bauer, Gary. “Victory in Spite of Terror”. American Values, June 26, 2002.

Press Release from American Values: “Bauer Announces Citizens’ Committee to Win the War”. November 26, 2001.

Wallis, Jim. “Hard Questions for Peacemakers: Theologians of nonviolence wrestle with how to resist terrorism”. Sojourners Magazine, Jan.-Feb. 2002.