Jesus and John Wayne - Book Review

Here is the most important statement in the book. Forget the history (which I think is a questionable), this is current - and we should be concerned enough to ponder this statement. She has written a chapter about the strange support Donald Trump gained in the evangelical church even though he is a man who's life stands in stark contrast to the values you would expect evangelicals to promote. She writes - (p272)

Within their own churches and organizations, evangelicals had elevated and revered men who exhibited the same traits of rugged and even ruthless leadership that President Trump now paraded on the national stage. Too often, they had also turned a blind eye to abuses of power in the interest of propping up patriarchal authority.

If evangelical men have been so concerned to hide their own sin and the sin of their leaders, perhaps that helps explain why they supported Trump - an act that made no sense to many Christians around the world. (Du Mez does give a fuller context to what led to this, but it still leaves a bitter taste.)

Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez is a book with an interesting title, a disturbing message, and a terrifying revelation in the closing chapters. On the front cover is the phrase "A book that America needs now." As an Australian, I don't know how true that really is, but before we get to that let's take a look at what the book has shown me about American Evangelicalism.

But even here I find a difficulty. Du Mez is revealing a form of evangelicalism that is foreign to me. She quotes from the National Association of Evangelicals to show their understanding of what 'evangelical' means (p5)

To be an evangelical is to uphold the Bible as one's ultimate authority, to confess the centrality of Christ's atonement, to believe in a born-again conversion experience, and to actively work to spread this good news and reform society accordingly.

Only the final statement seems to be shown in the people mentioned in the book.

On the whole, I am very critical of this book. The subtitle reveals, I think, her thesis and I can't help but feel she has determined to make everything fit into that thesis and conclusion. "How white evangelicals corrupted a faith and fractured a nation" is certainly a provocative statement to have on the cover, but does show this? I think not. 

What I read seemed to be a collection of moments in history which have been put together to create a story line that I don't believe was in the minds of those she refers to - although there might have been some keen to take it on. Here's one example - 

James Dobson is a name well known to people of my generation. His writings on family and children influenced more than one generation of Christians who were looking for help to raise children in a world that was changing rapidly. His book, 'Dare to Discipline' would be on many shelves. Why did he write such a book? As a response to the problems that were coming to him in his rooms as a child psychologist. Later, he founded 'Focus on the Family' an organisation with a Christian perspective on a changing world.

Was he aiming to be political? Du Mez comments 'Early on, Dobson took great pains to appear apolitical," (84)  Was he working hard to 'appear' apolitical, or was that in fact his desire? She goes on - "Dobson initially denied the political nature of his work, but his teachings had clear political implications. When he did begin to engage directly in politics in the early 1980s, he brought his enormous and devoted following with him."(86) 

This kind of language and inference runs all through this book. Anyone who has done anything that might be considered 'conservative' or 'biblical' in regards to issues of morality are tarred with the brush of corrupted evangelical. It is not just men she writes about in this way. She gets the tarred brush out for a few women too - women who became leaders in their own right!

I'm frustrated that for all the good things that people have done to serve their country and have made a significant difference, she seems to write as though it was all part of a great plot of the Illuminati to oppress people. I'm also frustrated that everything is shown as happening through the careful and devious planning of people. God seems to have no part to play in this story. 

If you are one of those who feel that white evangelicals have corrupted the Christian faith and fractured a nation, you will love this book. It will affirm everything you feel and give you more and more reason to turn away from these men and the faith they seek to proclaim. This is one of my great fears of this book. I don't know that evangelicals will read it and think, "She's right. We have made some terrible mistakes we need to repent of." I am more afraid that people will read this and determine that if this is what the people of Jesus do, then they will also reject Jesus. And to do that is to reject far more than a lifestyle or a political party.

If you are a true evangelical, borrow a copy and just read the last two chapters. These are important and helpful in understanding how the church in America supported Donald Trump - something which still leaves me wondering. She highlights the role of Russel Moore who seems to have been a lone voice against the tide. Thank God for such a voice. 

Postscript - 

I read this book a week before a report into the Southern Baptist Convention was released. This report was rightly damning of the SBC leadership and their response to allegations of abuse. Perhaps books like this might help to confront the next generation of church leaders to see that they are not privileged and that sin will eventually be revealed. If it does that, it will be a good book.

I visited your church on Sunday - here's why I'd come back.

After visiting a church on a previous holiday, I wrote this blog - I visited your church on Sunday - and I'm not coming back

On this holiday we visited a different church and had a very different experience. If I was in the area, or needed to recommend a church to someone in the area, I would recommend you. 

What made this church so good? 

When we arrived, we were still in the car park when we were warmly greeted by someone. He wasn't on duty in the car park, he was with his young son. But he still took a moment to greet us with a smile and a hand shake and an introduction.  

As we came into the building, we were again greeted by an old bloke with a big smile. He handed us the pew-sheet and chatted for a while. 

After the worship service, a couple who were sitting in front of us turned around to speak to us. Then they invited us to stay for morning tea. So we did. And there people spoke with us and made us feel very welcome. 

The building is clearly a church building in its structure and seating. And there is a lot more 'blue' than necessary. 😁 BUT, the chairs were comfortable enough and, more importantly, it was warm. It was chilly outside, but warm inside.

No one will buy a CD of music from this church. I don't say that to be rude in any way, but there was a keyboard used for hymns and the minister playing an acoustic guitar for other songs. (I remember the days of being a minister playing the guitar as the only music. So I salute him for doing this.)

So the music was almost as simple as it could be. But we were able to sing well, in time and in tune.

The preaching was solid and helpful. We were reminded of the importance of unity in the church and the role we all have in that. Importantly we were reminded of God's grace revealed in Jesus. 

The children's talk was also rock-solid and connected to the sermon. Brilliant. 

There was absolutely nothing fancy about this church. Indeed, it was church in it's simple form. And it was wonderful. 

If I was in Wangaratta, I would certainly visit the Presbyterian church again.