“In 2008, the election of Barack Obama ratcheted up evangelical fears. Initially, the culture wars appeared to be lost and the power of the Christian Right seemed to have reached an ignoble end. But conservative evangelicals had always thrived on a sense of embattlement, real or imagined, and this time would be no different. Donald Trump appeared at a moment when evangelicals felt increasingly beleaguered, even persecuted. From the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate to transgender bathroom laws and the cultural sea change on gay marriage, gender was at the heart of this perceived vulnerability. On the foreign policy front, the threat of terrorism loomed large, American power wasn’t what it used to be, and nearly two-thirds of white evangelicals harbored fears that a once powerful nation had become ‘too soft and feminine.’” —Kristin Kobes Du Mez
I started a new series this past weekend called Church in the Wild. It is our deep dive into the book of Acts. In Sunday’s message, we introduced the concept of nationalist fantasy, which represents (especially in the American imagination) a deeply ingrained belief that God’s purposes must align with national restoration, cultural dominance, and political sovereignty.
To continue the conversation, I’m recommending a sobering but insightful read: Jesus and John Wayne by historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez. I read it earlier this year, and it rocked my world. It offers a critical account of American evangelicalism over the last several decades and its impact on our country and our faith.
Here are three themes that stood out to me:
1. The Rise of Christian Nationalism
Du Mez explores how a vision of America as a “Christian nation” became entangled with the gospel. This fusion isn’t just theological, it’s political and emotional, shaping how many Americans see power, enemies, and even salvation itself. The result is a gospel wrapped in the flag, where allegiance to Jesus and loyalty to country become indistinguishable.
“For conservative white evangelicals, the ‘good news’ of the Christian gospel has become inextricably linked to a staunch commitment to patriarchal authority, gender difference, and Christian nationalism, and all of these are intertwined with white racial identity. Many Americans who now identify as evangelicals are identifying with this operational theology—one that is Republican in its politics and traditionalist in its values.”
2. The Cult of Masculinity
One of the most noteworthy aspects of the book is how it traces the rise of a hypermasculine ideal within the church. Leaders, authors, and media personalities began promoting a version of Jesus and Christian men who were more cowboy than carpenter, more militant than meek. This distorted image has deep consequences for the country and the church, especially in how we see gender, power, and leadership.
“But evangelical support for Trump was no aberration, nor was it merely a pragmatic choice. It was, rather, the culmination of evangelicals’ embrace of militant masculinity, an ideology that enshrines patriarchal authority and condones the callous display of power, at home and abroad.”
3. The Influence of American Culture on Theology
Whether through movies, political campaigns, or bestselling books, the theology many Christians absorbed was often downstream from culture. Du Mez challenges us to examine how much of what we believe about Jesus actually comes from Scripture and how much comes from the stories we’ve been told by culture. Or as one writer brilliantly frames it, "Is our Jesus too American?”
“The products Christians consume shape the faith they inhabit. Today, what it means to be a “conservative evangelical” is as much about culture as it is about theology.”
All in all, Jesus and John Wayne is a compelling and important read. However, let it be known, as an intellectual, I am never in full agreement with any author. Intellectual integrity isn’t measured by full agreement but by one’s willingness to wrestle with ideas.
Like me, you may not align with all of Du Mez’s conclusions, but it’s difficult to dismiss the historical rigor and cultural insight she brings to the table. Her arguments are carefully researched, historically situated, and thoughtfully presented.
Agree or not, the impact of this evangelical movement, its theology, and politics is real, and she understands the terrain well. That alone makes the book worth your time.
Happy trails.
On My Shelf
On My Shelf is the third newsletter from the “with Sean Dreher” Substack. It focuses on the books that shape my life. As a pastor and public thinker, I believe we must be shaped before we are sent. And no tool has shaped me more consistently than books. In these writings, I’ll share my honest reflections and recommendations on books ranging from theology to culture. If you’re a curious, committed learner looking to grow deeper, this newsletter is for you.