Hell’s Abyss, Heavens Grace

Lawrence D. Hart
Cowley Publications (2006)
ISBN 1561012416
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (7/06)

In “Hell’s Abyss, Heavens Gate” Lawrence Hart focuses on the theme of war and Christian spirituality.  His purpose is to show that when faced with a choice, there is only one for the Christian, the way of peace.  He goes on to examine the holy or just war within the context of American history.  He uses the current war in Iraq as a case study.  He then explores the conscience of a Christian pacifist. 

Hart discloses the workings behind the scenes that have influenced our involvement in Iraq. He forcefully questions the motives of U. S. business interests and their impact on the political decisions made during the Korean Conflict, the war in Viet Nam, and now the action in Iraq. 

Hart draws heavily from other writers using their works to reinforce his conclusions.  He has credited their works and has provided extensive notes for each chapter.  I personally appreciated Hart’s broad base of sources as a resource list for future reading.

During my high school years I was too young to be drafted but as I turned 18 and registered for the draft, I listened to friends who talked about becoming "conscientious objectors".  I thought I would be doing the patriotic thing by serving my country in the service. In the year 1951 about to be drafted during the Korean conflict, I selfishly, was looking out for my own safety.  Rather than waiting for the imminent draft call and the risk of being sent to the front lines in the army infantry, I joined the Navy.  I was never assigned combat duty while in the Navy. I don't think I ever considered what I would do if confronted with killing an enemy. 

I am now faced with a new sense of compassion that calls for a life of reconciliation, justice, and peace.  Hart reminds the reader of the instruction in the Catechism from the Book of Common Prayer that reads: “The mission of the church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.”  The unifying theme of Hart’s writing calls for “…a conscience that compels…the Christian to do their best to love as God loves, to champion the cause of the poor and vulnerable, to pursue peace, to overcome evil with good, to insist on integrity and truth, and to vigorously oppose injustice and violence.”

Hart sums up his concerns in a clarion prophetic wake up call to the American people. “Unacknowledged avarice, arrogance, and aggression will lead to the inevitable decline and fall of the American Empire as it has with all others before it.”

This is a moving call to examine nonviolent resistance and should be read by Christian leaders, educators, and opinion makers.  It is a book destined to leave an impact on the readers of this generation and generations to come.

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