I love Westerns. Western movies, books, music, clothing, I’m all about it. I’m listening to Marty Robbins as I type. And for more than just the aesthetic of the genre, I love Westerns for their themes and iconography. Though now a largely dormant genre, the Western identity is baked into the individualism that permeates the culture of the USA. Be it dime-novel stories about a lone lawman facing down an entire band of outlaws to save a poor mining town, or a contemporary tale of down-on-their-luck legacy families trying to hold to the old ways in their ever changing once frontier town, the Western is always the story of resilience, resourcefulness, stubbornness, and, above all, doin’ it yourself.
There’s just one problem: these are not the values of the Gospel. Can you think of anything that would appeal to the Man with No Name less than assimilation into the church as a member of the body of Christ? Than submitting yourself to authority for the sake of God, regardless of how corrupt or stupid their laws? Than devoting your life to the servanthood of others, out of reverence of your Servant-King?
Our God is relational at His core (see my last blog). Before He created anything He was already perfect in community, being three-in-one, so none can claim He needs us for community. He doesn’t even need us for love, as he has that within His own persons, too. Point being that community is the name of the game with our Lord; no one member of His body is worth much on its own, but together we are His living representation here on earth. His image.
So where does this leave us Western-watching and God-fearing individuals, reared with the independent values of a country founded on rebellion? Are these earthly values of self-reliance and grit useless (or even worse, sin)? I might not say as much.
In the book of Acts, we find the apostle Paul posting up with a family in Corinth and plying his trade of tent-making so as not to burden them financially while he ministers to the city. Later, defending himself against naysayers in 2 Corinthians, Paul writes in chapter 11 verse 2, “I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.” And again in chapter 12 verse 16, “Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.”
While we are called to support each other in as many ways as possible, as one body supports itself, we are not called to be a burden on each other if we can help it. That sounds like some good, old-fashioned American values to me. Again in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’”
So while the Gospel commends, even commands, submission to the will of authority and the betterment of others, I wouldn’t necessarily call it un-American, or opposed to Western values. Instead, the answer lies where it often does when weighing earthly, cultural values against the Gospel: in moderation.
Are self-reliance and hardwork Christ-like values? You bet. Are you blameless if you are full of the pride that often accompanies those values, and act like it? You already know the answer to that. So take those values you love, remove yourself from the occasion, keep your eyes on our Lord and you should be good to go.
Besides, some of those Western priorities are already Christ-centered. Putting your life on the line for those in need? That’s what being a cowboy is all about!