SPECIAL NOTE ON ‘OUR DREAD CHAMPION:’ REFLECTIONS ON JESUS AS JOHN WAYNE VS. THE LION OF JUDAH (WITH VIDEO)

THEOLOGY

SCRIPTURE. “On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the bank of the great river Hiddekel [which is the Tigris], I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose loins were girded with [a belt of] pure gold of Uphaz. His body also was like beryl [with a golden luster], his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and his feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the noise of a multitude [of people or the roaring of the sea] …

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the midst of the lampstands I saw someone like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching to His feet, and with a golden sash wrapped around His chest. His head and His hair were white like white wool, [glistening white] like snow; and His [all-seeing] eyes were [flashing] like a flame of fire [piercing into my being]. His feet were like burnished [white-hot] bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was [powerful] like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword [of judgment]; and His face [reflecting His majesty and the Shekinah glory] was like the sun shining in [all] its power [at midday].

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God], and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead).’” – DANIEL 10:4-6; REVELATION 1:12-18, AMP

NOTE. “The Man seen by Daniel was a heavenly being. Some commentators [including this writer] believe that this was an ‘Appearance of Christ’ (see 7:9; Revelation 1:13-15), while others think it was an angel … In either case, Daniel caught a glimpse of the ‘Ongoing Battle between Good and Evil supernatural powers’ (For more on the Supernatural Battle we all face, see Ephesians 6:10-17).” DK: ‘Silence is Consent.’

KEY TERMS.

“THE EVER LIVING ONE.” ‘Zaó’ [ζῶν]: “A Primary Verb [Selah] meaning, ‘Life itself,’ that which is Quick or which Quickens; describes Existence of physical reality in direct opposition to Death or Nonexistence; that which Sustains all of life.’NOTE: “The verb ζάω frames ‘Life as originating in God’s Creative Act and Sustained moment by moment by His Will.’ ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28). The word therefore underscores creaturely dependence; human breath and heartbeat stand as daily testimonies to Divine Providence.”

“THE KEYS” (OF DEATH AND HADES). ‘Kleis’ [κλεῖς]: “From a Primary Verb meaning, ‘To close or shut up; thus, the Holder of this Key literally determines who Lives and who Dies at the End of the Age.’ NOTE: “In the Biblical World a key was typically an iron or wooden bar designed to slide bolts within heavy doors or gates. ‘Possession of such an object assumed responsibility for the Security of a house, a city gate, a royal treasury, or even a prison.’ Because only a limited number of trustworthy persons carried keys, the image naturally conveyed delegated Authority and exclusive Access.”

QUOTATION & COMMENTARY. “‘Christ’s Fourth Indirect Claim [of Eight] was to JUDGE the World.’ This is perhaps the most fantastic of all his statements. Several of His Parables imply that He will come back at the End of the World, and that the Final Day of Reckoning will be postponed until His Return. He will Himself arouse the dead, and all the nations will be gathered before Him. He will sit on the Throne of His Glory, and the Judgment will be committed to Him by the Father.

‘He will then SEPARATE men from one another as a Shepherd separates His Sheep from His Goats.’ Some will be invited to come and inherit the Kingdom prepared for them from the Foundation of the World. Others will hear the dreadful words, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ Not only will Jesus be the Judge, but the Criterion of Judgment will be men’s attitude to Him as shown in their Treatment of His ‘brethren’ or their Response to His Word. ‘Those who have Acknowledged Him [ὁμολογήσω, ‘homologeó,’ ‘Confessed openly as promised’] before men He will Acknowledge before his Father: those who have Denied Him, He will Deny. Indeed, for a man to be excluded from Heaven on the Last Day, it will be enough for Jesus to say, ‘I never knew you.’” ― JOHN R.W. STOTT, Basic Christianity, 1965; edited

TEACHING

Without even realizing it, I began discerning and speaking about, often off-handedly, something derisively called, “THE AMERICAN JESUS.” Back in 2020, I was not sure about who or what that Person was, but I became increasingly and passionately convicted that he had nothing to do with the BIBLICAL MESSIAH Who came to the Earth to save Mankind.

So for the first time, I decided to deep-dive the ‘Astonishing Differences’ between that Americanized Christ and the One I had been reading and hearing about for the past 10 years. And oh my, what we discover when we truly look closely!

The Significance of this gravest of matters cannot be overstated. Consider the severity of the Words of The Great Apostle.

GOD’S WARNING. “For [you seem willing to allow it] if one comes and preaches ANOTHER JESUS whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted. You tolerate all this beautifully [welcoming the deception] … But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a GOSPEL CONTRARY to that which we [originally] preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction!” – 1 CORINTHIANS 11:4; GALATIANS 1:8, AMP

With these Words of ‘Divine Fire’ clearly in mind, let’s turn our attentions to the work of Indian Bible scholar and pastor, JOASH P. THOMAS. His unique Résumé deserves special scrutiny as we have a non-American, Globalist View of Christ and Canon.

“‘Thomas is a Masala Chai St. Thomas theologian, challenging the Church to PURSUE JUSTICE.’ Blending his Indian heritage, Western political experience, and a Jesus-Centered passion for people who are Marginalized, Joash P. Thomas provokes the Church toward a more Holistic and Decolonized approach to Faith. As a sought-after speaker and emerging author, Joash invites communities worldwide to Pray, Partner, and Advocate on behalf of those at the Margins—embodying a Faith that is truly Good News for everyone.” – Online Autobiography, edited

CONTRASTS. I cull the following analysis from Mr. Thomas’ article titled: “Biblical Jesus vs. American Jesus” (Medium, June 26, 2021; edited). This promises to be quite a ride, so buckle up. CAVEAT: I don’t agree ‘Literally’ with all he recommends but I do agree with the ‘Spirit’ in which they are made.

OPEN. “Full disclosure: I’m not a fan of the phrase, ‘Spiritual Deconstruction.’ For the Christian, Deconstruction shouldn’t be the end goal. For the Christian (or for anyone), the end goal must always be the ‘PURSUIT OF TRUTH.’ And Truth can only be achieved via Reconstruction that is informed by Scripture and the Global Christian Community.

DUTY. “That being said, I do believe this: ‘For the Christian, it’s important to constantly Deconstruct the things from our Cultural contexts that we assume to be a part of our Christian Faith.’ For example, if your Christian Faith teaches you to mistreat a fellow image-bearer of God (especially in the forms of Racism, Sexism, Ethnocentrism, Nationalism, Inequity & Abuse), you probably need to Deconstruct your Faith off of your Cultural Influences and Reconstruct it with what Scripture teaches — Teachings that have been believed by the Global, Historic, Orthodox Church everywhere and always.”

AMERICANISM. “Here’s something that is going to offend some Christians: ‘Many of us need to Deconstruct the AMERICAN Jesus and Reconstruct it by forming a better understanding of the BIBLICAL Jesus — the Jesus who has been believed and worshipped by our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Global Church throughout time and history.”

ICONISM. “‘But who is this “American Jesus” and how is he different from the real, “Biblical Jesus”?’ I could write a million words on this but I’ll sum it up by referring you to someone much smarter who has put in a lot more time, research and thought into this. If you haven’t yet, take the time to read DR. KRISTIN KOBES DU MEZ’S book — ’Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation’ [2020].’ Fair warning if you’re a White Evangelical: You’ll be challenged and possibly offended, but you’ll still be grateful for it.”

SUMMARY. “‘If your Jesus looks like JOHN WAYNE, your Jesus is not the Biblical Jesus!’ If your Jesus is more Truth-filled than Grace-filled, your Jesus is not the Biblical Jesus. If your Jesus is more about making whips and flipping tables [of the ‘Unsaved]’ than loving the poor, oppressed & marginalized, your Jesus is not the Biblical Jesus. If your Jesus cares more about the Second Amendment than the Second Commandment[‘You shall make no idols!’], your Jesus is not the Biblical Jesus. If your Jesus cares more about ‘Fighting for OUR rights’ than advocating for the rights of immigrants, marginalized ethnic groups, orphans and women, your Jesus is not the Biblical Jesus. If your Jesus cares more about fighting CRT and Marxism than bringing down systems that perpetuate the sins of Racism and Sexual Abuse, your Jesus is not the Biblical Jesus”

CONTRASTS. “American Jesus is all about preserving and protecting the temporal Earthly Kingdom of the United States of America. Biblical Jesus is all about advancing and building His own Kingdom — a Kingdom that is already but not yet here — a Kingdom that will be fully established on Earth as it is in Heaven when He Returns.”

THE QUESTION. “‘Which Jesus are you all about? – American Jesus or Biblical Jesus? But how do we Deconstruct our Faith of American Jesus and Reconstruct it with Biblical Jesus? I’d like to leave us with THREE WAYS to do just this.

Engage With Voices from the Global, Historic, Orthodox Church. “If you’re an American Christian who is only reading 21st Century US White, Male theologians, you’re doing theology wrong. Take some time to read and experience Biblical Jesus through the eyes of Historic Global Church theologians. Some of my personal favorites are the Early Church Fathers, Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Spurgeon, Kuyper, [Bonhoeffer], Padilla, Guiterrez, Escobar, etc. Read their Biblical Commentaries, systematic theologies and sermons to get a better glimpse into the real, Biblical Jesus that these Giants of the Faith worshipped and lived their lives for.”

Engage With Voices from the Black Church. “We miss out on so much when we neglect the voices of our brothers & sisters in the Black Church. As Dr. Esau McCaulley points out in ‘Reading While Black, the Black Church in North America, has a rich history of honoring both ‘Orthodoxy’ (right belief) and ‘Orthopraxy’ (right living). Truth be told — despite being a person of color, I’ve been conditioned in White Evangelical spaces to be suspicious of the Black Church. I was explicitly taught that Black Church voices were either too theologically liberal and too prosperity-oriented. Learning from the works of Black theologians such as Dr. Esau McCaulley, Dr. James Cone, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Tony Evans, Thabiti Anyabwile & Charlie Dates has neutralized the anti-Black Church fear and suspicion that was discipled into me.”

Engage with the Voices of Female Theologians. “Similarly, we miss so much when we neglect the voices and experiences of our Sisters in Christ. I’ve learned so much from the voices of female theologians such as Beth Moore, Dr. Beth Allison Barr, and Tish Harrison Warren (among so many others)! I’ve learned even more from faithful female saints in my daily life including but not limited to my wife, my sister and my mother (who led me to the Biblical Jesus at the tender age of 5).”

CLOSE. “‘What Voices are shaping your understanding of the Biblical Jesus? Are they predominantly White, Male and American?’ Is your understanding of Jesus being shaped more by social media, blogs & devotionals than the Bible? If so, don’t be surprised if your understanding of Jesus is more American than Biblical.”

TAKING DOWN THE HIGH PLACES. Now if that has not made you angry, then what I am about to do next may send you scurrying back to the Religious Right’s View of Reality. Why? ‘Because now we are going to discover the DIFFERENCE between the American John Wayne and the Real Mr. Wayne.’

I heard this: “Proceed with caution.”

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN WAYNE

When I began drafting this essay, I hadn’t even a hint of John Wayne in mind but was clearly led here. As a boy growing up on Westerns in the 1950s, I had always looked forward on the next “John Wayne Movie!”

But here I want to dive a little deeper into this “American Gospel” that so many of us were bred to believe by a stellar 40-year career of playing the ‘Consummate Cowboy.’

‘And who thereby laid much of our Romanticized Foundation of presuming that American Patriotism and Christian Faith are made of the very same stuff.’

JESUS AS JOHN WAYNE. I am going to pick up where Mr. Thomas’ brief introduction of Dr. Du Mez left off, since her book was and still is the Definitive Indictment of the vast majority of the White American Church today.

I cull this last section from an excellent Review of Dr. Du Mez’s work by DR. JOHN D. WILSEY in a piece titled, “Jesus and John Wayne: A Review” (Ad Fontes Journal, Feb. 9, 2022; edited). Dr. Wilsey is Professor of Church History and Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Church History and Historical Theology. He is a Georgia native whose research specialization is in the History of American Religious Nationalism, and American Conservatism.

OPEN. “Du Mez has given us a History of Evangelicalism going back to the early Twentieth Century. Her history is troubling. She lives and teaches in Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of the most significant centers of Evangelicalism in America, and her book reads as an anguished and prophetic cry of the heart to her own people. I would guess that my own awareness of a personal stake in this history is multiplied exponentially for Du Mez, who, I suspect, claims White Evangelical Christians as her own people, too.”

THESIS. “Du Mez’s overall Argument is that White, Conservative, Evangelical Christians in America since the early Twentieth Century have been at least as influenced by Culture as they have by Theology. ‘For her, JOHN WAYNE serves as a Paradigmatic Figure illustrating this enduring dynamic. A militant, masculine, Ameri-centric Ethos, inspired by mythical and gendered ideals of American Exceptionalism, White Supremacy, the nuclear family, and Law and Order came to define White Evangelicalism from Theodore Roosevelt (d. 1919) to Donald Trump.’ Combined with this Ethos, Evangelicals adopted and cultivated a continuous attitude of Embattlement and a sense of Suffering Persecution … The Effect has been that Conservative White Evangelicals have consistently and increasingly betrayed the Faith that they purportedly claimed by embracing Anti-Christian Standards such as oppressive Patriarchy, Racism, Nationalism, and Militarism, both explicitly and implicitly. In Du Mez’s words, ‘Like [John] Wayne, the Heroes who best embodied militant Christian masculinity were those unencumbered by traditional Christian Virtues … For many Evangelicals, these Militant Heroes would come to define not only Christian Manhood but Christianity itself’ (11).”

FOUNDATION. “Du Mez bases her Thesis on a Narrative that begins with Theodore Roosevelt’s move to become a cattle rancher in Dakota Territory in 1884 and ends in the middle of the Trump Administration with its correspondent reckonings among Evangelicals with the consequences of #MeToo and #ChurchToo. She unweaves an ugly tapestry of Evangelical complicity in the creation of ‘CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM’ (a conflicted term at present), disregard for the plight of African Americans, uncritical glorification of war (especially in Vietnam and the War on Terror), creation of a unique subjugating Sexism that resulted in widespread trauma, celebration of abuse of power in Church and Secular contexts (e.g. Bill Gothard and Oliver North), and tears over perceived threats to Religious Freedom. ‘Du Mez concludes her book by arguing that Evangelicals created a Culture that culminated in the Rise of Donald Trump.’ While she acknowledges that such a culmination was not inevitable, the inescapable, logical end point of her history is Trump’s Election to the Presidency, in which he rode a wave of immensely enthusiastic support from a broad Evangelical Base.”

OPPRESSION. “‘Abuse is an enduring theme of this book.’ I was never a victim of sexual abuse, but I did suffer physical and verbal abuse as a child and as a teenager. It took me years to realize that the things that happened to me in my youth were not my fault, that they were not normal, and that forgiveness did not mean that I had to maintain relationships with people who abused me, as if nothing had happened. ‘As an historian who studies the history of the intersection between Nationalism and Theology in the context of war, diplomacy, and political thought—and as a person with painful memories of abuse, who recognizes that abuse is deep and widespread in our communities—Du Mez’s book is often compelling.’ To say that this book is important, that it should be widely read, that it should be taken seriously, is obvious.”

SIGNIFICANCE .“‘The most singular value that Du Mez’s book has for us as Christians seeking to submit our lives to the Scriptures—those of us who would classify ourselves as Complementarians, Conservatives, Evangelicals—is this: The book forces us to EXAMINE OURSELVES!’.Just as Paul encouraged the Philippians to examine themselves for the sake of their Eternal Salvation (Phil. 2:12-13), we must understand our daily duty to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and to follow Christ. We must die to ourselves, our sinful desires and ambitions, our need to be pure and righteous through our own sheer acts of will, and our wish to see our opponents destroyed. Du Mez has reminded us that we have not always been concerned with self-examination. How do we Conservatives respond to criticism? Do we have the Courage to listen to our critics, especially those from our own ranks? Do we allow that some of the criticism is fair? Are we willing to change those things in our attitudes and actions that are informed by the Evangelical Magisterium [Protestant, Papal-like Authority], and submit ourselves to Scripture, even when it goes against how we have conducted ourselves in the past? ‘Du Mez’s book is a look into the Mirror, and we would do well to admit that she is telling Our Story.’”

LAST THOUGHTS

“With a lot of Blacks, there’s quite a bit of resentment along with their dissent, and possibly rightfully so. But we can’t all of a sudden get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the Blacks. I believe in White Supremacy until the Blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don’t believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people …

“I don’t feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from [Native Americans], if that’s what you’re asking. Our so-called stealing of this country from them was just a matter of survival. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.” – JOHN WAYNE, Playboy Magazine, “Interview,” May 1971; edited

Let me close with a painfully insightful episode that I experienced during the writing and publication of my first book, The Sixth Seal (2017). I had the book endorsed by some of the leading lights in American Christendom [e.g., Dr. David Aikman, Time journalist], another of whom is a famous, prolific author known for her series on the history of Israel, The Zion Chronicles.

DR. BODIE THEONE. “Cliff Kelly has crafted a masterpiece in his book, The Sixth Seal! This riveting story should come with a warning on the cover: CAUTION! DO NOT READ IF YOU NEED TO SLEEP OR EAT OR WORK! Kelly’s Sixth Seal is a spellbinding work written for such a time as this!! It will stick with you for days after you read the final page and lay the book down!”

My First Reason I mention this inarguably brilliant scholar, author, and lover of Israel, is because between this stirring endorsement in 2017 and 2020 when I launched the Digital Circuit Ride Mission largely to stand against Trump’s budding Nationalism movement, she completely ‘Reversed Course’ (as did Dr. Aikman) who will have nothing to do with me or my theology. Selah.

Second: ‘Her favorite American Icon is JOHN WAYNE!’ Here is her testimony about ‘The Duke’ from an article from Movieguide just published this past September 10, 2024 (edited).

“Bodie Thoene, a writer and researcher at John Wayne’s Batjac Productions, recently shared how the famous actor, whose friends called him Duke, followed Christ. ‘So many people ask me if John Wayne was a confessing believer in Jesus Christ,’ or ‘Will Duke be in heaven?’Thoene wrote on Sept. 5 [2024]. Thoene shared that the answer is YES. ‘Part of my privilege when I worked at Batjac Productions, was to read through copies of Duke’s letters of encouragement to fans who were going through cancer. In every case he spoke of his own strong faith as helping him get through cancer,’ she said …

‘He was a wonderful, deeply caring Christian man in his personal life; he cared for orphans in Mexico and for those in need everywhere he met them. I knew many of those who were blessed by him,’ Thoene wrote. ‘He was not perfect but I can tell you he truly lived his faith. There are too many stories to tell here, but his family is now proudly promoting his legacy.’”

CODA. ‘So, beloved, which John Wayne is the Real John Wayne? Vastly more importantly, which Jesus Christ is the True Jewish Messiah:’ The Americanized Version brought to us by the Movies, 100,000 White Pastors over the past ten years, or the Biblical Christ, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the All-Consuming Fire, the Dread Champion about to Return to the Earth to Judge the living and the dead?

To Be Clear:I will take the Jesus of Scripture over the John Wayne of ‘The American Gospel’ any day of the week – even if it means that I forfeit my natural life. How about you, beloved: How shall you choose in these Final Hours of Man?

Selah.

MEDIA

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/VXAyyguKeRM