How to Be a Patriotic Christian - by Richard J Mouw (Paperback)

About the Book

What does it mean to love our country? Navigating between the extremes of Christian nationalism and disengagement, Richard Mouw sees healthy patriotism as love of country in the context of Christian love of neighbor. Calling us to build a country where all people can thrive in peace, this guide helps us pave the way toward liberty and justice for all.

Book Synopsis

What does it mean to love our country? Navigating between the extremes of Christian nationalism and disengagement, Richard Mouw sees healthy patriotism as love of country in the context of Christian love of neighbor. Calling us to build a country where all people can thrive in peace, this guide helps us pave the way toward liberty and justice for all.

Review Quotes

"As always, Richard Mouw offers his warmly humanistic thoughts on the state of America and its religiosity. This time, however, his inclusive understanding of Christian duty is especially welcome given the attraction of so many American Christians to an amoral worship of power for power's sake. A most welcome book."

"As I read How to Be a Patriotic Christian, one word kept coming to me: wisdom. Our civic life requires wisdom, and this book by Richard Mouw helps to supply it page after page. The balance in this book and its tone help show the way to be a good loving Christian and a good citizen at the same time. May their tribe thrive and increase."

"At a time of sharp polarities and confrontational discourse, Richard Mouw's, How to Be a Patriotic Christian could not be more timely. Drawing on his profound theological scholarship and his vibrant evangelical faith, he offers readers, in a conversational and respectful tone, a thoroughly balanced and wise discussion of how as believers we can both love our country as our home and, at the same time, be committed to the kingdom of God that embraces all nations and peoples. This is pastoral theology at its best."

"Rich Mouw's reflection on Christian faith, patriotism, and citizenship is essential reading for our times from one of the wisest and kindest voices around."

"Richard Mouw invites us to be Christian disciples whose faithfulness to God helps us learn how to love our nation as true patriots. Rather than encouraging idolatrous nationalism, Mouw urges us to be those who lovingly care for their nation by being willing to live well with others, see the good and bad in our past, and seek the God of the nations where the Lord has placed us. Read, agree, disagree, and put into practice what you find in these pages."

"This is no 'how-to-be-a patriotic-Christian' self-help book; rather, this book provides us with wise Mouw counsel on how to continuously and honestly wrestle with what it means to be patriotic as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ in a pluralistic society. Mouw's example of humility and his common-sense wisdom is desperately needed for our time."

About the Author

Richard J. Mouw (PhD, University of Chicago) is a senior research fellow at the Henry Institute for the Study of Religion and Politics at Calvin University. He previously served as the president of Fuller Theological Seminary (1993-2013) and directed their Institute of Faith and Public Life (2013-2020). In 2007, Princeton Theological Seminary awarded him the Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life. He is the author of over twenty books, including Uncommon Decency, Adventures in Evangelical Civility, Restless Faith, and All That God Cares About.