A Book Review by David Bercot

 

A Change of Allegiance

by Dean Taylor

Dean & Tania TaylorA Change of Allegiance There are a number of books available on the subject of nonresistance, but A Change of Allegiance by Dean Taylor is one of the best I’ve ever read. One of the things that makes this book unique is that it is written from the perspective of a soldier. Both Dean Taylor and his wife Tania were soldiers in the U. S. Army when they came to the conviction from reading Scripture that war is wrong.

Much of A Change of Allegiance reads like an exciting novel (with a surprise ending!) as Taylor tells the story of what happened after Tania and he applied to be discharged from the army as conscientious objectors. At that point in time, they were stationed in Germany, and the Gulf War of 1990 was just beginning. All of these events in their lives were happening against the backdrop of the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.

As Taylor unfolds the suspenseful drama of his own situation, he also explains the biblical basis for his decision, together with the facts of Christian history he learned. He discusses the early Christians and their firm stand against war and then describes how things changed with Constantine. He goes on to talk about the Crusades, the endless wars between professing Christians throughout history, and even how German “Christians” fought for Hitler in Nazi Germany.

Taylor also details how various individual Christians, like Erasmus, and various Christian groups through the centuries—such as the Waldensians, Czech Brethren, and Anabaptists—embraced nonresistance. Taylor’s graphic description of the training he went through as an American soldier to kill others should open the eyes of even the staunchest God-and-country patriots.

Rick and I hammering on the Berlin Wall
Rick and I hammering on the
Berlin Wall

One particularly valuable aspect of Taylor’s book is his sensible answers to some of the most common questions that are asked to nonresistant Christians:

A Change of Allegiance is enhanced by photos (including one of the belt buckles worn by Nazi soldiers that say “God Is With Us”). The book also includes an invaluable reference guide for someone who is presently in the military and is convicted to apply for a conscientious objector discharge.

A Change of Allegiance
sells for $9.95 and can be
ordered directly from:

Radical Reformation Books
www.RadicalReformation.com

or

Scroll Publishing Co.
PO Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210
(717) 349-7033
www.scrollpublishing.com

PDF Click the icon to download or print this article.

You will need Adobe® Reader® software installed on your computer in order to view this file. (Adobe, the Adobe PDF file icon and Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.)