Jesus, John Wayne, and the Christian’s Political Dilemma
Kristin Kobes Du Mez’s Jesus and John Wayne continues to shape how I see American evangelicalism—and more specifically, the uncomfortable marriage between faith, nationalism, and a particular brand of masculinity. The book tells the story of how we got here: how the church ended up championing a political figure like Donald Trump, and how many believers framed his rise to power as a God-ordained miracle.
Now let me be clear from the outset: If you voted for Donald Trump because of your fiscally conservative beliefs or your views on limited government, that is your right. In fact, I would argue that democracy is healthier when it includes a diversity of perspectives and honest debate over how best to govern a nation.
What’s difficult, however, is framing Trump as the “moral” or even “Christian” choice for president. That’s where many people—especially those outside the church—begin to feel deeply confused. It’s one thing to support a candidate for policy reasons; it’s another to elevate him as a kind of spiritual necessity.
To be fair, I don’t believe it was inherently immoral to vote for Trump. I know many Christians who were driven by a sincere conviction that abortion is the defining issue of our time. They saw Trump’s judicial appointments and pro-life promises as a potential answer to decades of prayer and advocacy. That’s a valid position, and it comes from a deeply held belief rooted in Scripture.
But I also know faithful followers of Jesus who were—and are—equally compelled by the Bible’s call to care for immigrants, the poor, and the marginalized. They couldn’t reconcile Trump’s rhetoric or policies with the teachings of Christ. And they, too, found their convictions in the Word of God.
This is the real tension for Christians in the political arena: We are often asked to choose between issues that all matter to God. But instead of weighing each issue carefully, many believers align themselves with a party and then begin to baptize the entire platform. That’s where we go wrong.
The solution, I believe, is not to withdraw from politics—but to approach it differently. We should stop letting political groups define our faith, and instead let our faith define how we approach the issues. That means being willing to agree with one party on one issue and challenge them on another. It means not defending every action of a leader simply because they’re “on our side.” It means being willing to stand alone, when necessary, for what we believe to be true.
Jesus wasn’t a Republican. He wasn’t a Democrat. He wasn’t a nationalist, nor was he a revolutionary in the way political parties often define it. He came proclaiming a different kind of kingdom—one that calls us to love God, love our neighbor, seek justice, walk humbly, and speak the truth in love.
If we’re going to follow Jesus well, then our political engagement should reflect that kingdom first. Not power. Not party loyalty. Not cultural dominance. Just Jesus.
