The Christian Warrior
By
Gabriel Suarez
The Christian Warrior is a new book by Gabe Suarez. Suarez is a firearms and tactics trainer based out of Arizona. Called controversial by some due to his outspoken belief in force on force training and his preference for the Kalashnikov as a civilian defense rifle, Suarez is a name normally associated with combative training, not matters of faith. Suarez has no issues with this, he admits in the book’s introduction that he is not a graduate of any school of theology and failed religious studies in high school.
Nowadays, Christianity and the Warriors Path are two subjects most folks believe to be at odds. Many, myself included, when they first took their faith seriously, wondered if they should hang up their guns. Some careful Bible study should show anyone that this is not the case. There are ample reasons, in fact, to stay on the Path. In The Christian Warrior, Suarez examines the topics that impact those in the profession of arms on both the practical and the spiritual level.
The book begins with an examination of the concept of Christian Pacifism. He shows through reasoned argument and biblical examples that true pacifism (peace at any price) is truly at odds with Christianity. Suarez also explains, in detail, the difference between pacifism and seeking peace. The explanation and reasoning is spot on and should be convincing to anyone, except those that don’t want to believe it.
Suarez applies the same thinking to subjects such as The Politically Correct Christ, Unconditional Submission and why it is wrong, Political Liberalism and Christianity, Tolerance, Forgiveness, and the differences between Pride and Arrogance. Before you start to think that this is going to be all things lofty and uber spiritual he also takes a hard look at such practical subjects as Revenge, Leadership and Discipline. To all of these subjects, he applies Biblical principles from both Testaments as well as logical, reasoned thought.
So, why am I recommending this book to you? Several reasons, first if you are in a profession of arms be it the military, law enforcement or any other that puts you in harms way you are carrying on a noble tradition. The tools have changed over the centuries, but to really do the job honorably and well you have to have things squared away inside your head. Nowadays, the pacifistic rhetoric from many pulpits have caused some good men to believe that they should not physically resist evil. Just pray about it and everything will be alright, and if you die as you sit there clasping your hands together you’ll end up in heaven, and that’s good, right? Because of this kind of nonsensical thinking many in the warrior professions believe that being a Christian makes you weak, not realizing the true strength that comes with faith. They have either forgotten or never learned what Edmund Burke said ‘The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.’ Finally, in case no one told you, we are in a war that has a very real spiritual aspect to it. If we do not take advantage of our spiritual heritage and the strength that it gives, we go into battle at a serious disadvantage. You see this on the home front where we are divided and do not have the political will that was evident on September 12. If we do not use the tools that we have and remember who we are and where we came from I fear we will lose the war, our country and ourselves.
