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God Is a Grunt: And More Good News for GIs
This eye-opening book invites readers of all political and denominational stripes into a more meaningful conversation and community with soldiers and veterans.
If Jesus is God, then God is a grunt—the humble, hardy folk placed at the bottom of the social hierarchy who are relied on to accomplish the dirtiest, most difficult (and most thankless) work. This is good news for millions of Christian soldiers and veterans in the U.S. because they have had to make an impossible choice, with no perceivable middle ground, between patriot and pacifist.
In his new book, God Is a Grunt , Logan Isaac offers an opportunity for GIs, veterans, and those close to them to read Christian traditions as a soldier would—by and through the lived experiences of military service. This well-researched, meditative guide for Christians who have served their country delves deep into the Bible, while Isaac shares his own beliefs and thoughts on the life-altering experiences of battle. He attempts to fill the void most Christians in the military feel by providing theological resources to discern a better way of discipleship for GIs, affirming the nuance and complexity of armed service and the gifts GIs extend to Christians around the world.
If Jesus is God, then God is a grunt—the humble, hardy folk placed at the bottom of the social hierarchy who are relied on to accomplish the dirtiest, most difficult (and most thankless) work. This is good news for millions of Christian soldiers and veterans in the U.S. because they have had to make an impossible choice, with no perceivable middle ground, between patriot and pacifist.
In his new book, God Is a Grunt , Logan Isaac offers an opportunity for GIs, veterans, and those close to them to read Christian traditions as a soldier would—by and through the lived experiences of military service. This well-researched, meditative guide for Christians who have served their country delves deep into the Bible, while Isaac shares his own beliefs and thoughts on the life-altering experiences of battle. He attempts to fill the void most Christians in the military feel by providing theological resources to discern a better way of discipleship for GIs, affirming the nuance and complexity of armed service and the gifts GIs extend to Christians around the world.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published April 19, 2022
2 people are currently reading
950 people want to read
About the author
Logan M. Isaac
3 books23 followersLogan Isaac, HoSM served in the United States Army as a forward observer in the 82nd Airborne and 25th Infantry (Light) divisions. After six years he was honorably discharged and began using his GI Bill to earn degrees from Hawaii Pacific University (BA, 2010), Duke University (MTS, 2013), and the University of St Andrews (M.Litt, 2015). His work has been featured in the London Sunday Times, Publishers Weekly, The Hill, America Magazine, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, the Armed Forces Radio Network, and more. He has presented his academic research at conferences in the United States, Greece, Italy, Denmark, and Great Britain.
As an author and editor, Logan has over 20 publications to his name, including Reborn on the Fourth of July, awarded a Publishers Weekly Starred Review, and “Ponder Christian Soldiers,” named the Best Article Series of 2016 by the Evangelical Press Association. Following several years as a college professor in North Carolina, he moved to DC metropolitan area to form the #GIJustice civil rights campaign for soldiers and veterans.
Logan is a professed member of the Hospitallers of St Martin (HoSM), an ecumenical monastic community in the Episcopal tradition that focuses on Prayer, Hospitality, and Reconciliation for veterans and all those who have been affected by war, poverty, and violence. He lives with his partner and two children in Walkersville, MD where he operates The Chapter House, a micro-bookshop.
As an author and editor, Logan has over 20 publications to his name, including Reborn on the Fourth of July, awarded a Publishers Weekly Starred Review, and “Ponder Christian Soldiers,” named the Best Article Series of 2016 by the Evangelical Press Association. Following several years as a college professor in North Carolina, he moved to DC metropolitan area to form the #GIJustice civil rights campaign for soldiers and veterans.
Logan is a professed member of the Hospitallers of St Martin (HoSM), an ecumenical monastic community in the Episcopal tradition that focuses on Prayer, Hospitality, and Reconciliation for veterans and all those who have been affected by war, poverty, and violence. He lives with his partner and two children in Walkersville, MD where he operates The Chapter House, a micro-bookshop.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 6, 2024
Came across this book and, as an Army Chaplain, I was immediately intrigued. The premise of the book is meant to underscore God’s ability to identify with the struggles of the Grunt who often feels marginalized and prejudged by society and even the church. A good and worthy subject. The author’s approach however left much to be desired. Although historically insightful, the theological references are often sacrilegious at best if not outright blasphemous. While it is good at times to read a broader perspective than that of your own presuppositions, I’m not sure this is a book worthy of such an expedition. The redeeming factor for me was that this book marks the final book in achieving my 2024 book reading goal… at least it wasn’t a total waste of time.
November 30, 2025
Read this on a whim at my grandmas house (would this be a good book for our friends who are in the Marines?). There are some cool references to oft forgotten faith heroes and some interesting arguments for a “martial doctrine”. In between are irreverent and base comments, assumptions and attributed thoughts to historical figures that are speculative at best. Sometimes the author is jumping from thread to thread and is just hard to follow. I’m not a pearl clutcher about language but I’d think a book arguing for God being near to the downtrodden could have fewer F bombs. Anyway not on a recommend list for me.
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June 7, 2022The author expands on ideas about Christian military service explored in his previous works, Reborn on the Fourth of July (2012) and For God and Country (2013) in this tightly researched and documented memoir. God Is A Grunt: And More Good News For GIs is filled with footnotes and first-hand insights into Army life that combine to display a perceptive grasp of military and Christian history, scriptures and theology. It is an an edgy call to faith for those who believe God loves a noble warrior. The best part is the author does not rationalize killing.
Issac spent more than six years early this century as an Army artillery forward observer. That included duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. After discharge in 2006, he pursued scholarly work that led to a Masters of Theological Studies from Duke University and a 2015 diploma in Systematic and Historical Theology from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
God Is A Grunt can satisfy an interested scholar or lay person. Isaac develops a warrior theology with clarity. He defines terms and offers background on life in the service throughout the first six chapters to establish the basis for the bold title thesis. He sees God (like army grunts) as the lamb whose sacrifice is needed for redemption. In Chapter 4, “If Jesus Is God, Then God Is a Grunt,” he explains:
At certain points, he speaks in a “soldier’s tongue”, but many readers might find the crudity more insightful than offensive. Isaac conveys a passion for the question of why and how a Christian can best serve God and humankind, at points the work sounds like an apologia. A little more research the ideas are a refinement of thoughts in his books published before the 2015 degree, Reborn on the Fourth of July; The Challenge of Faith, Patriotism & Conscience(2012) and For God and Country (in that order): Faith and Service for Ordinary Radicals(2013).
Isaac explains the military as “an extension of human society” whose essential role should be to guard divine intentions. Soldiers have “a higher responsibility” to protect and maintain God’s intent for humankind.
Issac spent more than six years early this century as an Army artillery forward observer. That included duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. After discharge in 2006, he pursued scholarly work that led to a Masters of Theological Studies from Duke University and a 2015 diploma in Systematic and Historical Theology from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
God Is A Grunt can satisfy an interested scholar or lay person. Isaac develops a warrior theology with clarity. He defines terms and offers background on life in the service throughout the first six chapters to establish the basis for the bold title thesis. He sees God (like army grunts) as the lamb whose sacrifice is needed for redemption. In Chapter 4, “If Jesus Is God, Then God Is a Grunt,” he explains:
As God, Christ is the Divine Warrior….But as a human, Jesus chose to be little more than a lowly grunt. As he was arrested, Jesus made clear that, as Commander in Chief, thousands of angels were at his disposal. His choice at that critical moment was to remain
an earthly soldier….giving his life rather than lead others in taking life.
At certain points, he speaks in a “soldier’s tongue”, but many readers might find the crudity more insightful than offensive. Isaac conveys a passion for the question of why and how a Christian can best serve God and humankind, at points the work sounds like an apologia. A little more research the ideas are a refinement of thoughts in his books published before the 2015 degree, Reborn on the Fourth of July; The Challenge of Faith, Patriotism & Conscience(2012) and For God and Country (in that order): Faith and Service for Ordinary Radicals(2013).
Isaac explains the military as “an extension of human society” whose essential role should be to guard divine intentions. Soldiers have “a higher responsibility” to protect and maintain God’s intent for humankind.
May 18, 2022
In God is a Grunt, Logan M. Isaac covered a theological approach of what a solider is and mixed with a history lesson. He defined the term grunt as, “low-ranking or unskilled solider or other worker.” He described how they are the people on the front lines and they do the killing or they are killed. He explained how high the suicide rate is for people who served in the military. He stated, “one solider and seventeen veterans will take their lives every day, or one every eighty minutes.” He begins the book by first exploring Cain and how many people only chose to see him as killer who killed his own brother. He looked at how he was cursed by the ground. He revealed how killing effects grunts. He looked at how they have to deal with the stereotypes they face. He explored how God is a grunt and how He is a divine warrior. He also included words from Hebrews and Greeks that readers can easily look up online by their strong concordance number.
I would recommend this excellent book on what our soldiers faced and what they are dealing with daily. I liked how he shared personal heart touching stories and they will make you have tears in your eyes. I liked how he looked at stories from scriptures and historical key characters, such as, Francis and Pilgrimage, George and Martyrdom, and Ralph and GI Justice. I liked how throughout the book he shared how Jesus is like a grunt. I like how he took apart the military service in the New Testament and what this says about our earliest attitudes towards soldiers. This book is written and geared to appeal to GI’s and to help them navigate through life.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”
I would recommend this excellent book on what our soldiers faced and what they are dealing with daily. I liked how he shared personal heart touching stories and they will make you have tears in your eyes. I liked how he looked at stories from scriptures and historical key characters, such as, Francis and Pilgrimage, George and Martyrdom, and Ralph and GI Justice. I liked how throughout the book he shared how Jesus is like a grunt. I like how he took apart the military service in the New Testament and what this says about our earliest attitudes towards soldiers. This book is written and geared to appeal to GI’s and to help them navigate through life.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”
August 19, 2023
I love this author's heart in exploring a really important intersection of themes: Christianity, military service, and veterans suicide. It's hard for me to recommend this book because, while there are several great parts, there are several really inaccurate things interspersed randomly that I only caught because of reading other sources. I'm actually concerned there were more that I didn't catch.
March 15, 2025
While it is well written and addresses a wide range of issues that some veterans and active military may face from a view that honors scripture and history, this work has its share of faults, needless to say, those faults I found were enough to seriously hamper my enjoyment and edification from Isaac's work, but not remove it altogether. I would suggest it for any service member or close family who can understand the culture of the military.
November 22, 2023
I wanted to like this book a lot more. I did not like the use of his profanity even though I got where he was coming from with it. I have to give him credit for some outstanding research and historical context throughout the book. I guess I thought it would be more about the "little guy" and how God uses the little guy and workers to do more in his kingdom.
April 10, 2022
This book is not for me. It is geared towards military men. I think they would appreciate this book more than I did.
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April 18, 2022Perhaps giving the prologue the title WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT was a bad idea. Seriously? Didn't care to read any further.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews