Postcards from Babylon: The Church In American Exile

It's tough to know what to say of this book. It is beautiful, passionate, and absolutely convincing in its argument that America cannot be some “Christian Nation”; that it is closer to a New Babylon than New Jerusalem; that the marriage church and state is an idolatry for which we need to repent. And so for that, it is a five star book. It is effective and I believe its argument is unassailable.

Where it loses a star is what happens in the reader as they muse on the book further when they put it down. People (as well as opponents) will inevitably have “well what about...” questions which are never answered in the book. They are not questions which prove the core argument wrong, no matter how hard the critics wave their hands while asking them. But they are still questions worth pondering and exploring, which Zahnd does not do here.

Things like: Where does police action end and military action begin? Can smaller, non-imperial states be “Christian nations”? Can Christians serve in politics? If so, how do they apply these principles in their realpolitik engagements? If lethal police action is okay for the common good, is individual lethal action by private citizens allowed? Why or why not? Etc. Etc.

Granted, Zahnd could say these are beyond the beyond the scope of this book, or (more likely) the questions themselves are unanswerable in generalities and have to be on a case by case basis–that it takes discernment in the course of following Jesus and we need faith in his Spirit to guide us. Those would be valid responses, but they are not offered here.

Instead you get some of the clearest, most robust arguments in favor of drawing a bright line between one's allegiance to Christ and allegiance to a country–and not compromising an inch. I love this book and want you all to read it. It will not answer all your questions, but it will give you a framework from which to ask them.