Jesus & John Wayne
As I put pen to paper, at the radio station where I work, we have had to delete a song that has received a ton of complaints. (I did not like doing it, but the people really do have a voice.) At the risk of sounding self-righteous in my understanding of the song’s meaning, and putting down people for being narrow minded Christians (certainly not my goal), I do have a few questions that are meant to be my attempt at understanding something that is so basic to the message of the Gospel.
The song is “Jesus and John Wayne,” performed by the Gaither Vocal Band.
The meaning of the song, in my mind, is as follows:
-Christians are just as human as non-Christians
-we live in a fallen world, so when you get 51% right, rejoice!
-our sin is not the issue, Christ’s love, grace, and endless forgiveness is the issue. We obsess so much on our sin, when Christ took care of that on the cross. It’s covered! We instead should obsess on Him.
-God loves us on our good days and He loves us on our bad days
-Sanctification (the process of getting better and better) is the work of the Holy Spirit, not ours. If it’s up to us to get better, I don’t have a prayer.
Now, maybe they don’t like the sound of the song. Maybe it’s not catchy enough. Maybe it sounds elementary. Maybe it’s too country. But, why do some think the song is comparing Jesus to John Wayne (it’s not) or giving a brief for sin (it’s not doing that either)?
“Jesus and John Wayne” is simply an expounded illustration in lyric of Paul’s frustration in saying “the good I want to do, I don’t do and the evil I don’t want to do, that’s what I do.”
This quote from a Bible teacher I heard the other day, Dr. Brown, is quite profound: “The only people that get any better are the ones who know that if they don’t get any better, God will still love them anyway.”
That truth is freeing.
Didn’t our guy say that?
“You shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.”
So my original question: why are so many Christians afraid of that message? Why so much hatred of this song?
I’d honestly like to know. It’s times like these that make me want to run! Or, to quote another line from Dr. Brown, makes me consider going into vinyl repair for a living!
I understand where the listeners are coming from, & I understand where you are coming from. Is it bad to admit that I enjoy the song simply for its tune & Guy’s voice? My theology differs somewhat with that of Bill’s, Guy’s, and the song, but I sort of forget about them for a few minutes just because I like the song. Whether that’s bad or not, I don’t know. But I do understand the point, and whether I theologically agree with the lyrics or not, I have to admit that it’s where most people are. That being said, I don’t go around telling people it’s my favorite song (b/c it’s not), but I’m not deleting it off my iPod, either! =)
Being a huge Gaither Vocal Band fan, as well as a fan of Guy Penrod, when I saw the title of the song before I heard it, I was taken aback. Crazy title for a Gospel song, but after listening to it I really liked it. Like you said it is a clear presentation, of the Gospel. The song is just an illustration, and I would imagine sums up Guy’s image. If any other Gospel singer sang it, I wouldn’t enjoy it. Sounds like many people just didn’t listen to song, or may not realize who the singer is. It seems more like to me a testimony song. Sin is an issue, but God’s grace is given when we ask for forgiveness.
Daniel,
The song isn’t too simple. Your listeners are.
I’ve heard two people complain and they both thought the song was comparing John Wayne to Jesus. I guess they missed the “somewhere between” part…lol.
Being from your listening area, I’m kind of glad the people exercised their voice. Thanks for doing what they asked, by the way. Some DJ’s wouldn’t bother doing that. This song is very country. I have this project, and although I do like the song, its message is kind of watered down to sound like a country song and keep and country feel. We, in the times, we live in, can’t afford to water down the message of the Gospel. It wasn’t a watered down Gospel that I sat under. It was the “Power of God unto Salvation”…now more than ever, the clear presentaion of the Gospel needs to be on the airwaves and over the Internet…. i applaud your sensitivity to this subject. Really this song comes down to a personal preference…and obviously the people have spoken.thanks for all your hard work, Daniel.
When I first heard the GVB was planning to include a song with the title being “Jesus and John Wayne” for their new cd, I was suspicious. When I heard it, the song was exactly what I thought it would be. To be honest, I know the song describes our experiences as Christians when we may not go to the extreme of willfully sinning, but we may have a time that we are not quite exemplifying the character of a true Christian at the same time far away from characterizing a rank sinner. It’s basically saying (like Mike Bowling’s song said), “I’m somewhere the solid Rock and shifting sand.” “Jesus and John Wayne” is not a favorite of mine because its idealization of John Wayne/the cowboy theme, but because it gave Guy a song only he could sing and a song that would identify Guy as an individual. If I were Gaither, I wouldn’t have released it to radio because of the potential controversy the song could raise. It’s a good song, but not the type of song you’d see breaking the Top Ten or possibly the Top 40.
I have yet to make up my mind on the song….
Howdy,
1ST of all the song is stupid. no where close does it come close to being biblical. The Lord didn’t ask us to get it 51% right. he asked us to be like him. now i have opened up a can of worms. when a person get the right HOLY SPIRIT living in them ******(this living above sin is possible)**********. Jesus said he would save us from our sin, not in our sin. when you get saved, you get out of the sinning business. gaither has long polluted many things, that will not stand up to the word of God. he just keeps watering down the gospel. he will have to answer to God for this, and think of all the people who follow it.
Howdy,
Once again when people get saved there is a change that comes with really being born again. there are alot of gospel songs out there today and in the past that are not biblical, but people take them as true doctrine(teaching) of the bible. Karen peck has had a few of them. Hold me while i cry. This song just makes me want to puke. they (song writer) never read the bible. i agree some battles may make us cry, but the Holy Spirit equips us to go through it. God by giving us the Holy Spirit makes us able to stand, not be naby pamby wishy washy christians. there’s only 1 kind. not a crybaby.
howdy,
you said in your sanctification-if it is up to us we don’t have a prayer. Sir God does not do it all. he said keep yourself in the love of God, you have to do something. bible says shun the very appearance of evil, flee youthful lusts, you are not ignorant of his devices. you sin because you want to. ever read james 1:14+15. notice the words (every man) when he is drawn away, he (the man or woman) allows this to happen. The Holy Spirit will help with this when a person has him. Maybe if we read the bible more and see what God says it will help us as an individual.
Howdy,
….is simply an expounded illusration in lyric of Paul’s frustration. Let me help if i can. this was Paul battle before he got saved. read Romans 8:1+2. this sums it all up. once again, Jesus does not save you for you to keep on sinning. he saves you, gives you power to get the Holy Spirit and get out of the sinning business. Let read the bible and get on the same page. you got my email address. feel free to contact me, and i’ll even give you my phone #. your friend a. kees
I’m partial, but something tells that when a song like this gets people uncomfortable maybe it’s getting nearer to the truth than we would like to believe. If we look into our hearts and we are very, very truthful about our motivations and our human failings… we’re all not worthy to be compared to the perfection of Christ. To me, this song is another way of saying what Jesus said centuries ago… “”Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Of course, the religious community didn’t appreciate much of what He had to say back then either.
I don’t have a problem with Jesus and John Wayne because:
1) It sounds like a testimony song and therefore a more personal story than an ideal, let’s strive to attain this attitude, kind of lyric.
2) The song is perfectly suited to Guy’s voice and cowboy image
I do find it strange that people don’t pay close attention to the “somewhere between” lyric when they say the song is comparing Jesus and John Wayne–to me it’s kind of obvious that the song illustrates the daily walk of a believer and the struggles we can face each day.
I wondered how long it would take before someone who thinks they can live a perfect life on earth (and therefore you should too) came along.
It’s interesting that it took four comments to say the same thing.
Jesus would have got it right the first time.
I’m reminded of a Shakespeare play…
“Much Ado About Nothing.”
The real problem with the song is saying the singer is better than John Wayne. John Wayne was a giant, and an icon. It is okay to say you are not as good as Jesus, but to imply that you are better than the Duke? Blasphemy!
Sounds about right to me Dean…
Daniel, thank you for your well written and well reasoned post concerning this song. I think you’re right on in your assessment.
What a shame people actually feel the need to call and complain about such an innocent song. Since reading this post I went back and listened to the song several more times looking for something, anything that would draw the ire of so many. Surely there would be a hidden message that I missed calling for the burning of all bibles or a secret code from Bin Laden laying out his plans to bomb all churches. However all I came away with was a harmless little song not worthy of near the angst it seems to be causing out there in some circles.
Let’s move on shall we.
So how many complaints make a ton?
Susan, that’s a good question. I guess it depends on how weighty the complaints are.
I agree with Dean, Much Ado About Nothing because the featherweights don’t really listen to the song. They just hear the words Jesus and John Wayne and go nuts. IMHO it would take a bunch of them to make a ton. I would want at least two or three tons before I’d take Guy Penrod off the air.
I guess those who complain have never read Romans 7. The great Apostle Paul shared how he struggled with war going on inside him between the Spirit-led life and the flesh. That is exactly what “Jesus and John Wayne” is all about.
If the song is wrong, then I guess Paul was wrong, too. So are the complainers going to ask us to remove Romans 7 out fothe Bible? Sheesh!
And how do you know it isn’t one or two people complaining several times?
Well, I went to listen to the song on Youtube cause I hadn’t heard it before now.
The only problem I see is the line “since there’s a little bit of both of them (his parents) in me then maybe that’s the best I can ever hope to be.” The best I can ever hope to be is like Christ…it just sounds like he’s a little too comfortable with where he’s at.
Having said that, I wouldn’t call a radio station and ask them to take the song off. I don’t care for the song personally but that’s just me. If others enjoy, that’s fine.
To a kees,
You said: “Hold me while i cry. This song just makes me want to puke. they (song writer) never read the bible. i agree some battles may make us cry, but the Holy Spirit equips us to go through it. God by giving us the Holy Spirit makes us able to stand, not be naby pamby wishy washy christians. there’s only 1 kind. not a crybaby.”
FYI, the same writer (Gerald Crabb) of “Hold Me While I Cry” wrote “Through The Fire”. I guess Jesus’ Biblically documented tears were a sign of weakness, huh?
[...] Joy FM DJ Daniel Britt explains in this post, his station has decided to pull the current Gaither Vocal Band single, “Jesus and John [...]
Well….I never expected to post to this blog, BUT:
Even Jesus wept. He wept over the death of His friend and the despair He saw in the eyes of Mary & Martha–who had said “If you got here sooner, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Some of us weep. Many, MANY times over. Life throws punches, and they hurt. One of the great problems I have with some folks’ idea of Christianity is that they will never have a problem, fear, or sorrow again…after all, GOD will take care of it. WELL—God took care of Paul, but the thorn in the side never left. It was never an easy walk…for him or any other martyr.
Please remember that to call someone a namby-pamby, wishy-washy Christian is to make yourself sound awfully judgmental and harsh. Go read some more. It’ll do you good.
“our sin is not the issue, Christ’s love, grace, and endless forgiveness is the issue. We obsess so much on our sin, when Christ took care of that on the cross. It’s covered! We instead should obsess on Him.”
Brother,
Sin is the issue because sin is why Jesus came. We never need to forget this fact because it’s only by the grace of God we can even have forgiveness. I personally don’t like the song because no one is deserving to be even in the same sentence, let alone a song title, with Jesus Christ. There is no comparison whatsoever. Jesus is perfect holiness; man is not.
I get the impression listening to the song that the message is “am I going to be a good boy or bad boy” and that’s not what salvation is about. Jesus said you’re for me or you’re against me. It seems to imply this modern sense of casual Christianity today …do what you like and if you’re like “John Wayne” today God will just forgive you.
Can you really listen to this song & be blessed spiritually? It seems more people are interested in the song because it is the Gaither Vocal Band or Guy Penrod singing it. Isn’t the emphasis of Southern Gospel to uplift the Savior & encourage the brethren? I don’t see how scripturally someone could be right in being between Jesus and John Wayne. Perhaps the listeners who have complained find it difficult to see past using a womanizer, an alcoholic and a Hollywood star as an example of what a Christian should be. I think the Bible is pretty specific when it says we should be like Christ, have the mind of Christ, be perfect as He is perfect, etc. I don’t think we as Christians should be comfortable with where we stand spiritually, and the song clearly states that the “singer” is as good as he’ll ever be. It certainly makes it sound like he’s stopped trying to be like Jesus which is something ALL of us should never tire of doing.
To jake,
if i have read the bible right, paul had a battle in his flesh, pre romans 8. this was before he got saved. in romans 8:1+2, this was conquered because he got saved. it really is amazing to me how many people really don’t read God’s word and base this as the standard. (to me) this song is really the opposite of what the bible says to be. i am also glad this song and others have opened a can or worms, so to speak, maybe it will open eyes to what is true and what is not.
I have not heard the song yet. But I look at it like this. (Humor me a sec.) We only have a CCM station in my area. There are some P&W songs that I get absolutely nothing out of, or I don’t care for what the song is implying. But others enjoy it. When that song comes on, I turn it down or off. Taking the song off the air completely sounds more like denying freedom of speech. Again, I have not heard this particular song. But there are many other songs I have the same feeling about as these people did. I wouldn’t ask them to remove the song from the air waves. But that’s just my opinion.
All I can say is, AMEN Daniel Britt! You and I seem to be
the only people on the planet that agree on this song!
It is an honest, testimony song about where we really
‘live’!
I must admitt to being a die-hard Guy fan, but this song
goes beyond the singer to the hearts of us all! If we can
be honest enough to admitt it!)
Please explain to me why a song is being pulled just because it makes a few people uncomfortable. I do not really care if the number of complaints has been huge. Even if these complaints are from the most devout of Christians. Satan can work through them too. I believe that the message of this song would be constantly encouraging many Christians, reminding them as you said in your post that God loves us even when we get it wrong. That message is exceedingly important. It disturbs my heart that Joy FM would pull this song from its playlist. The station needs to discuss what it really feels about this song, make a public statement, and in my opinion reinstate it. Say what you will, but this is a dark day in southern gospel radio.
Rebecca, it is not anything at all “like denying freedom of speech” it is good radio to take it off. When one person complains about a song, that means a LOT more people are thinking the same thing and haven’t called to complain. When several people call, that is a song you want to take off the air because most people call for songs they WANT to hear, not to complain about songs. Radio has found it is better for their listenership to not keep playing songs with high negative feedback.
Bingo, Rebecca. Censorship. Banning books or songs, if they are not profane, is a horrible decision regardless of whow does it. I didn’t like Grand Funk Railroad in the 70’s, but I didn’t lead the charge to censor them from radio. I feel like this was a horrible decision, but since I don’t get the station, I guess it doesn’t matter.
I still consider it contrary to America, it’s freedom of speech (the Constitution) and common sense. Remember they broke and banned Statesmen records way back when. Why haven’t we grown in the last 50+ years? Because it has to be our way or nothing at all.
[...] light of this recent controversy over “Jesus and John Wayne,” I can’t help but think about another song that pretty much has the SAME EXACT MESSAGE, but [...]
A. Kees,
You did not read Romans 7 right. The unsaved man has no desire for the things of God, so Romans 7 can only be referring to Paul post-salvation.
Do we have to sin? No. Are we slaves to sin? No. Ephesians 4: 22-24 and II Cor. 5:17 make it pretty clear that it’s unnatural for us as new creatures is Christ to sin.
But we are still trapped in a body of sin. That’s why Paul writes with such intense longing in Romans 8:23 and II Cor. 5:1-10.
Should we strive for Christlikeness through the power of the Spirit? Absolutely. But we do have to strive. I like the song.
LSBellamy, said:
Well….I never expected to post to this blog, BUT:
Even Jesus wept. He wept over the death of His friend and the despair He saw in the eyes of Mary & Martha–who had said “If you got here sooner, this wouldn’t have happened.”
You are soooo wrong… Jesus wept when he saw their unbelief, not because they were sad.
I support the song and the singer! I dont believe GP would sing a song that he felt didnt send out a positive message. I dont think the song is so difficult to understand that one would find a negative message in it.. So.. I dont understand why people are complaining or find it so offensive that they feel it should be taken off the air. DB said that the listeners have a voice..well what about the voice of those who like the song.
I dont listen to JOYFM.. I have the CD’s of the artists I enjoy..including Lovin; Life but I think the people who do like the song should speak up and get it back on the air. It never ceases to amaze me that “Christians” seem to spend so much of their time tearing down others around them whether they be fellow Christians or otherwise..Arent we supposed to be a GOOD example to others??? NOT PERFECT…Just good!
Qwertyjuan, said:
You are soooo wrong… Jesus wept when he saw their unbelief, not because they were sad.
That is purely an interpretation. Nowhere and in no translation (not paraphrase) of the Bible does John explicitly present the reason for Jesus’ weeping. It simply states that he was deeply moved/troubled, and that he wept. Your take (re: their unbelief) may certainly be a plausible reason; no doubt Jesus wished they had more faith. But neither is that the only plausible option. We know that Jesus was deeply troubled and brought to the point of blood/sweat/tears over his own fate in Gethsemane, and I hardly think that was due to a lack of faith in God’s ability to raise him from the dead. I like to think Jesus was as deeply emotional as many of us, and that that emotion poured out sometimes in expressive ways.
I think that people would’ve been fine with this song if it was a country song that was getting airtime from say Brooks and Dunn vs. a gospel song getting airplay from the GVB. It’s a shame that we can’t look at it as a way to bring people in to the fold and use it as a jumping off point to share the word of God from there on out, but that we’d rather take time arguing the theology of the song itself