A Farewell to Mars

Over the years, I’ve wrestled with what it means to follow the nonviolent Jesus when so much of the Christian culture around me seems committed to the opposite. One of the books that helped me see things differently was A Farewell to Mars by Brian Zahnd (see: Amazon link). And now, I want to invite you to go through it with me.

Starting May 3rd, I’ll be hosting a book study inside my online community, and we’ll walk through Zahnd’s words together. This is an invitation to reimagine what it means to be people of peace in a world addicted to violence.

Zahnd writes as a pastor who once preached patriotic war sermons and now confesses he was wrong. He challenges the myth of redemptive violence, confronts the American obsession with military might, and dares to take Jesus at His word when He calls us to love our enemies. A Farewell to Mars is his personal and pastoral journey of repenting from nationalism and embracing the radical nonviolence of Christ.

At its heart, this book is about the collision between the kingdom of God and the empires of this world. Zahnd doesn’t flinch when he names how often the Church has traded the cross of Christ for the sword of Caesar. He doesn't write as an outsider critiquing the Church—he writes as a disciple who’s been humbled and transformed. His honesty makes this a powerful read.

If you’ve ever felt like Christianity in America looks very little like Jesus, or if you’ve struggled with reconciling faith and violence, this study is for you. We’ll engage the book together—sharing thoughts, questions, and even our discomfort.

The study starts on May 3rd and goes through the end of June. You’ll have space to process in community so you don't have to navigate these ideas alone. I’ll share prompts and reflections along the way, and you’re welcome to jump in at whatever pace you can manage.

So consider this your invitation to come read with me. Wrestle with what peace looks like in a world built on war. Say farewell to Mars and hello to a Jesus who refused the sword.

If you're not already part of the online community, this is the perfect time to join. Let’s dive into this together.

[Click here] to join the online community.