Follow a former soldier’s journey from worldly allegiance to wholehearted devotion to Christ. Hear early church and Anabaptist testimonies and a call to bold non-resistance.
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A Change of Allegiance is a free audiobook following Dean Taylor’s journey from military service to a conviction that allegiance to Christ must govern even questions of war, enemies, citizenship, and self-defense. The lessons move between personal testimony, biblical reflection, and historical examples.
Taylor begins with his own struggle as a soldier in Germany, including his request for conscientious objector discharge, then turns to the words of Jesus, the Old and New Testaments, early Christian writers, Constantine, Augustine, Anabaptist martyrs, and the two-kingdoms question. The later chapters press the subject inward: excuses, family fears, trust in God as defender, martyrdom, and the danger of centering on a cause rather than on Christ Himself.
The appendix gives practical counsel for those facing Selective Service or conscientious objection applications, while urging a respectful and law-abiding Christian witness.
The forward frames the book as Taylor’s testimony of leaving worldly allegiance for devotion to Christ. He introduces the purpose of the book: not merely to argue for non-resistance, but to call readers to hear and obey Jesus’ words.
Taylor recounts presenting a request for conscientious objector discharge and describes the fears surrounding that step. He also traces earlier patriotic assumptions and the first serious confrontation with Jesus’ words in Matthew 5.
This chapter reflects on the fall of the Berlin Wall and Taylor’s realization that political decisions could quickly turn enemies into allies. He begins asking whether Christian love should be governed by human borders and national commands.
Taylor turns to Augustine, the Donatists, and the development of just war reasoning, arguing that the church’s use of state power marked a serious departure. He also compares historical religious violence with his own military formation and asks how Christians should handle Old Testament war texts.
Taylor wrestles with the God of the Old Testament, the commands and wars found there, and the New Testament teaching of Jesus. He argues that God’s character did not change, but that the battle plan for God’s people changed in Christ.
Taylor describes his search in early Christian writings while the Gulf War approached. He cites early voices such as Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen as witnesses to enemy love, prayer, and refusal to fight.
This chapter examines Constantine’s influence on the church’s political standing, theology, and relationship to imperial power. Taylor presents Constantine as a bridge between the persecuted church and the powerful church of later centuries.
Taylor begins with Francis Xavier’s mission in Japan and the later suffering of Japanese Christians, then turns to the deeper question of why wars and fighting arise. He uses James and biblical examples to contrast human means with trust in God.
Taylor addresses common objections and hypothetical scenarios, especially questions about protecting family. He argues that obedience to Christ cannot be set aside by fear, consequences, or arguments built away from Scripture.
Taylor describes the loneliness of questioning war in a military church setting and then finds encouragement in the wider pilgrim church. The chapter highlights Anabaptist figures and martyrs, including Menno Simons and Dirk Willems.
Taylor explains the two-kingdoms framework through his conscientious objector process and biblical passages about Caesar, God, and Jesus’ kingdom. He emphasizes respect for earthly authorities while locating ultimate allegiance in Christ’s kingdom.
This chapter studies Romans 13 as a test of biblical non-resistance and submission to government. Taylor distinguishes between government being ordained by God and government being blessed in all it does, while urging obedience where it does not contradict God.
Taylor reflects on childhood lessons about strength and then contrasts worldly defense with trusting God. He argues that non-resistance is not passivity, but requires spiritual weapons such as prayer, fasting, faith, and gospel witness.
Taylor presents the cross as the central weapon of Christian warfare and reflects on suffering, persecution, and martyrdom. He connects Jesus’ image of sheep among wolves with Paul’s teaching that believers are more than conquerors through Christ.
Taylor recounts the final conscientious objector hearing and the later approval of the discharge request. He also warns that peace or non-resistance can become an isolated cause unless Christ Himself remains the center.
The closing chapter calls listeners to hear Jesus’ voice, repent, believe the gospel of the kingdom, and give Him full allegiance. Taylor applies the book’s message personally, asking whether the listener’s loyalty belongs to Christ or to the world’s values and weapons.
This appendix gives practical counsel for young men facing Selective Service questions and for military members considering conscientious objector applications. Taylor stresses documentation, sincerity, lawful process, prayer, and a respectful Christian witness.
One soldier's journey from the U.S. Army to Christian nonresistance
What should a Christian do with Jesus' words, 'Love your enemies'? Is it all right for a Christian to go to war? Doesn't a Christian have an obligation to defend his country? Dean Taylor and his wife Tania were both in the U.S. Army when they realized that, as committed Christians, they had to come to grips with these questions in a new and sincere quest for truth.
They were determined to follow Jesus Christ under the banner of no compromise. As they began to search the Scriptures and church history, they came to the startling discovery that the Christian Church originally was uniformly opposed to Christians going to war or joining the military.
In A Change of Allegiance, Taylor takes the reader on a moving journey through the Scriptures, Christian history, and his own life's story — demonstrating the incompatibility of Christianity and war. Ultimately, Taylor challenges the reader to consider where their allegiance really lies.
What readers and reviewers have said about A Change of Allegiance. These are short, attributed quotes from public reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, the publisher's site, and independent book reviewers.
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 conviction of a man who came to that conviction from reading Scripture.
— Editorial review, Amazon editorial review
An intriguing and eye-opening account of one couple's journey from the military to the full realization of the meaning behind Jesus's words 'love your enemies'.
— Taneil, Goodreads review
This book has a powerful message. Are we willing to die for Christ and His Kingdom?
— Kathryn Judson, Goodreads review
Solid read. I enjoyed the way Dean Taylor shared his personal journey to nonresistance and combined it with well-researched Scripture and history.
— Nathan Weaver, Goodreads review
Much of A Change of Allegiance reads like an exciting novel — but it articulates correctly the true Christian's part in worldly wars. Lots of truth.
— Audible listener, Audible review
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