But Evangelicals are kidding themselves if they think their culture is always the result of their theology rather than their theology often following their culture. Of course this isn’t an exclusively Evangelical phenomenon-culture is at least as powerful as theology in shaping a number of groups of Americans. It’s a genius title, and it makes a compelling and challenging argument, especially after we watched a gang of mainly Christian insurrectionists storm the Capitol to save the presidency of Donald Trump.Īt the risk of oversimplifying her book, I’d summarize her argument as follows:įirst, culture (including political culture) is at least as important in defining Evangelicals as theology. It’s called Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, by Calvin University history professor Kristin Kobes Du Mez. But one thing became clear to me that day-and it was clear to me year after year in the decades that followed-that lots and lots of folks were very intent on tying Jesus to the vision of manhood they loved the most.Įarlier this year, I read a book that’s ignited an enormous amount of argument and debate across the length and breadth of the Christian intelligentsia. I really wasn’t all that curious about how Jesus would play sports. “If Jesus played baseball,” he shouted, “he’d slide home hard, with his cleats up!”

I was a teenager, and a Christian coach was talking to a group of young Christian athletes. I remember the first time I was exposed to Christian insecurity about masculinity.

(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images.)

Jesus and john wayne book summary