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Jesus Was an Airborne Ranger: Find Your Purpose Following the Warrior Christ
In this fresh, exhilarating take on the story of redemption, Captain McDougall retells the life of Jesus, and the mission of his followers, as analogous to a special operations incursion behind enemy lines. "For too long, our churches have portrayed Jesus as a Wimp who is far too gentle to confront evil and much too tolerant to correct injustice," declares McDougall. "Men are not inclined to follow this Sunday School Jesus. But there is an alternative: to restore the long-lost concept of Christus Victor - Christ the Conqueror." Combat-seasoned and seminary trained, McDougall weaves stories from the front with biblical teaching as he reframes the gospel in terms that action-oriented readers will be drawn to, learn from and be highly motivated to follow in their daily lives. - Publisher
- GenresFaithChristianNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 16, 2025
Rediscovering the Warrior Jesus; Muscular Christianity from a US Army Ranger Perspective
Jesus Was an Airborne Ranger: Find Your Purpose Following the Warrior Christ is a decent read for those in search of the Warrior Jesus and in visualizing muscular Christianity through the lens of one of the most elite warrior societies in the world, the US Army Rangers. John McDougall is a former US Army Ranger, a combat veteran, Army Chaplain, West Point Officer and an associate pastor in Pastor Stu Weber's Church (Pastor Weber is a former Ranger, Green Beret and Vietnam Veteran best known for men's ministry including books on muscular Christianity such as Tender Warrior). People who like Stu Weber's books will likely really enjoy this one also.
What I liked about this book is the emphasis on breaking stereotypes of Jesus as a tolerant, feminized, soft-spoken, simp-of-a-savior, who never says a harsh word, hugs everyone he meets, and is mostly interested in giving people free food and teaching children Bible stories. As a veteran and graduate of the US Army Ranger School myself, I liked the idea of presenting Christ as the real, down-to-earth working class Savior He is--and as a Ranger, I found the initial correlation of Jesus with the Ranger School ethos particularly appealing. The Warrior Christ idea is biblical, true and has been acceptable doctrinally for most of church history.
The problem is, the Ranger comparison is limited. And once McDougall presents the idea at the beginning of the book, it gets tiresome over the course of nearly 200 pages. Some of the Ranger analogies are down right cringey. By the time you hit the book's middle, you find yourself thinking, "Okay, I get the point, can we just focus on talking about the Jesus in the Bible now?"
In one example from the book, McDougall stresses the comparison to the breaking point. This is where McDougall insists that Jesus drank alcohol in His wine and thus the Christian who wants to reach soldiers should be willing to have a stiff drink with the troops to show how much we are like them. Whoops, sorry Chaplain McDougall, that kind of compromise is a bad example for the vast number of military service-members and veterans who are, in fact, alcoholics (or other substance abusers). This was a pointless blind spot I wasn't willing to overlook in this otherwise interesting read -- even if the sipping saints reading this review will cast stones in my direction. Think about it: How can I recommend this book to a struggling, substance-abusing veteran if this is part of McDougall's compromised interpretation of Christ? [For the record, I pastor a church chock full of veterans, including many younger, active duty servicemembers, who are more inspired by my abstinence than by me trying to "fit in" with them by drinking alcohol.]
One thing I did find helpful for me personally was to reconnect with my own past as a Ranger School graduate. I was inspired to remind myself of the kind of Christian I swore I would be when I first committed myself to the LORD over 30 years ago. For that I am grateful for this book.
So this is a recommended read--despite my reservations on the drinking thing and even if the Ranger stuff gets a bit tiring by the end. Chaplain McDougall's vision of the Warrior Christ is, for the most part, right on point. And desperately needed in the post-modern church.
Jesus Was an Airborne Ranger: Find Your Purpose Following the Warrior Christ is a decent read for those in search of the Warrior Jesus and in visualizing muscular Christianity through the lens of one of the most elite warrior societies in the world, the US Army Rangers. John McDougall is a former US Army Ranger, a combat veteran, Army Chaplain, West Point Officer and an associate pastor in Pastor Stu Weber's Church (Pastor Weber is a former Ranger, Green Beret and Vietnam Veteran best known for men's ministry including books on muscular Christianity such as Tender Warrior). People who like Stu Weber's books will likely really enjoy this one also.
What I liked about this book is the emphasis on breaking stereotypes of Jesus as a tolerant, feminized, soft-spoken, simp-of-a-savior, who never says a harsh word, hugs everyone he meets, and is mostly interested in giving people free food and teaching children Bible stories. As a veteran and graduate of the US Army Ranger School myself, I liked the idea of presenting Christ as the real, down-to-earth working class Savior He is--and as a Ranger, I found the initial correlation of Jesus with the Ranger School ethos particularly appealing. The Warrior Christ idea is biblical, true and has been acceptable doctrinally for most of church history.
The problem is, the Ranger comparison is limited. And once McDougall presents the idea at the beginning of the book, it gets tiresome over the course of nearly 200 pages. Some of the Ranger analogies are down right cringey. By the time you hit the book's middle, you find yourself thinking, "Okay, I get the point, can we just focus on talking about the Jesus in the Bible now?"
In one example from the book, McDougall stresses the comparison to the breaking point. This is where McDougall insists that Jesus drank alcohol in His wine and thus the Christian who wants to reach soldiers should be willing to have a stiff drink with the troops to show how much we are like them. Whoops, sorry Chaplain McDougall, that kind of compromise is a bad example for the vast number of military service-members and veterans who are, in fact, alcoholics (or other substance abusers). This was a pointless blind spot I wasn't willing to overlook in this otherwise interesting read -- even if the sipping saints reading this review will cast stones in my direction. Think about it: How can I recommend this book to a struggling, substance-abusing veteran if this is part of McDougall's compromised interpretation of Christ? [For the record, I pastor a church chock full of veterans, including many younger, active duty servicemembers, who are more inspired by my abstinence than by me trying to "fit in" with them by drinking alcohol.]
One thing I did find helpful for me personally was to reconnect with my own past as a Ranger School graduate. I was inspired to remind myself of the kind of Christian I swore I would be when I first committed myself to the LORD over 30 years ago. For that I am grateful for this book.
So this is a recommended read--despite my reservations on the drinking thing and even if the Ranger stuff gets a bit tiring by the end. Chaplain McDougall's vision of the Warrior Christ is, for the most part, right on point. And desperately needed in the post-modern church.
February 9, 2017
I bought and read this book because the author spoke at my church as part of a Veteran’s Day weekend. McDougall is a former Airborne Ranger currently serving as a chaplain to Rangers. In this book, he uses his Ranger experience and frames Christianity through this lens. And through this lens, the self-sacrifice and courage and strength shown by Rangers is epitomized by Christ. McDougall doesn’t present any new insights, but rather he takes some of the core fundamentals of Christianity and reframes them through a military perspective with military jargon to boot. For example, McDougall likens Jesus’ pronouncement of what He came to do (Luke 4) to an operations order (OPORD). In another example, he compares fighting off temptation to sin with fighting of military combatants. In the best cases, McDougall is able to boil down doctrine and faith to something very relatable to those serving in the military (example: explaining the doctrine of Christus Victor as a military raid). In the worst cases, it leads to lines that I found laughably corny. For example, in describing Jesus’ resisting one of Satan’s temptations in the wilderness, McDougall wrote: “Satan’s shot to the head ricocheted off Jesus’ Kevlar helmet without effect.” I find it difficult to review this book because I am clearly not the intended audience for this book. In the Foreword, Pastor Stu Weber makes this claim: “That’s why I believe this potent book, initially conceived for the special operations warrior community, actually applies to everyone.” Pastor Stu is very wrong. This is meant for those with military experience or who revere the military. It is also for those men who have issues with what they consider the feminization of the church. While I respect McDougall’s ability to stretch a metaphor to the breaking point, it didn’t do much for me. Add a star to my rating if you currently or formerly served in the armed forces. Add another star if you loved Wild at Heart. And add another star if Braveheart is one of your favorite movies.
July 29, 2015
The author's zeal comes into his writing. Learned about the Bible and military strategy and tactics.
July 5, 2018
Having served as a Airman in the USAF I am a little partial to military analogies, which many of the less than 5 star reviews seem to be more critical of than some of us Vets.
At the outset McDougall makes a couple of stabs at pointing to his target audience. He then jumps headlong into the fray and writes a challenging book. I do find the image of Jesus as an Airborne Ranger compelling and think many in our modern churches could find this helpful in their daily lives and the struggles faced as believers. A similar book, Why Men Hate Going to Church, also addresses an image of Jesus that is less than strong.
I think the key to reading this book and a few others that present Jesus as a pure tough guy is that readers today often forget target audiences for specific books and we also forget the warnings that authors post in a sentence or two, as McDougall does.
The author does makes some very significant analogies that many could embolden followers of Christ in a world that is growing more hostile towards Christianity. But the reader is warned that humility must BALANCE the warrior's life and the ultimate expression of the Warrior Christ and His Followers is love. Jesus was bold when he had to be and yet He was sensitive to the leading of the Spirit when dealing with people.
I would recommend this book to most people but would caution readers from advancing any expression of faith that ignores the depth of God's love and redemptive work.
At the outset McDougall makes a couple of stabs at pointing to his target audience. He then jumps headlong into the fray and writes a challenging book. I do find the image of Jesus as an Airborne Ranger compelling and think many in our modern churches could find this helpful in their daily lives and the struggles faced as believers. A similar book, Why Men Hate Going to Church, also addresses an image of Jesus that is less than strong.
I think the key to reading this book and a few others that present Jesus as a pure tough guy is that readers today often forget target audiences for specific books and we also forget the warnings that authors post in a sentence or two, as McDougall does.
The author does makes some very significant analogies that many could embolden followers of Christ in a world that is growing more hostile towards Christianity. But the reader is warned that humility must BALANCE the warrior's life and the ultimate expression of the Warrior Christ and His Followers is love. Jesus was bold when he had to be and yet He was sensitive to the leading of the Spirit when dealing with people.
I would recommend this book to most people but would caution readers from advancing any expression of faith that ignores the depth of God's love and redemptive work.
April 29, 2018
McDougall uses the Airborne Ranger metaphor to trace the narrative arc of the bible, and for the most part isn't too cheek or cliché. He doesn't argue for an MMA Jesus, or challenge men to embrace a disproportionate view of masculinity.
July 29, 2018
Thought-provoking analogy of Jesus character as ultimate Warrior and Rescuer. The author compares the Sunday School image of Jesus to the personality actually written of in the Gospels. A challenge and encouragement to every Christian!
June 29, 2017
interesting analogy, appeals to soldiers, makes the Christ character seem more relevant to today's young servicemembers
May 5, 2018
A great way to get soldiers back into their spirituality by relating Jesus and his mission to the soldiers and theirs!
February 26, 2018
Fantastic Book
Practical advice with Christian principles. As a person of faith, it challenges me to look at Jesus as the Warrior Christ rather than the meek Sunday school Jesus. We came to fight!!!!
Practical advice with Christian principles. As a person of faith, it challenges me to look at Jesus as the Warrior Christ rather than the meek Sunday school Jesus. We came to fight!!!!
August 16, 2015
When I first saw this book on the shelf I laughed thinking of the reaction several I know might have to the title alone. I actually walked away from it worried my motive would not be in the right place if I read it. Thankfully I went back to get it. McDougall compares the life of Christ to the life of an Airborne Ranger with great easy and simplicity. To put it simply he reminds us that our Christ is a Warrior Christ who "is a battle-scarred Combatant who stared death in the face... and won."
To say this spoke my heart language seems to barely scrape the truth. Too long it seems our culture has "sanitized the person and story of Jesus, removing any mention of conflict and battle" and degraded the warriors of the land today. Too many times have I seen the human warriors scoffed, and those who choose to stand between good and evil treated as less than. McDougall reminds us in his writing that "God still looks for passionate warriors to join his mission" and that "the path ahead will be full of trouble, hardship and danger - the typical Ranger triad. But here's a promise: fighting beside our Warrior-King, you will discover something in struggle that you never found in comfort - a full and meaningful life, a life of purpose."
"It's time to change the perception that Jesus was a big softie."
To say this spoke my heart language seems to barely scrape the truth. Too long it seems our culture has "sanitized the person and story of Jesus, removing any mention of conflict and battle" and degraded the warriors of the land today. Too many times have I seen the human warriors scoffed, and those who choose to stand between good and evil treated as less than. McDougall reminds us in his writing that "God still looks for passionate warriors to join his mission" and that "the path ahead will be full of trouble, hardship and danger - the typical Ranger triad. But here's a promise: fighting beside our Warrior-King, you will discover something in struggle that you never found in comfort - a full and meaningful life, a life of purpose."
"It's time to change the perception that Jesus was a big softie."
August 24, 2015
This book has an intriguing title, but the book is not saying Jesus was actually an airborne ranger. The idea of the book is that too often we present a Jesus who seems like a meek little wimp, when he was far from that. The author has run into many guys who just couldn't relate to the Jesus that they were presented with, so he wrote a book to show that Jesus wasn't at all a wimp, but was far from a wimp.
The author uses several stories from his experiences in the military and stories from the Bible to show the Christian life is not for wimps, and the Savior we serve was a mighty warrior, not a quiet meek guy that so many people want to portray Him as. Each chapter ends with an "After action review" that has questions and points to think about from the chapter.
The book is interesting and well-written. In addition to getting his points across, the author also gives an interesting glimpse into life in the military and his work as a chaplain.
The author uses several stories from his experiences in the military and stories from the Bible to show the Christian life is not for wimps, and the Savior we serve was a mighty warrior, not a quiet meek guy that so many people want to portray Him as. Each chapter ends with an "After action review" that has questions and points to think about from the chapter.
The book is interesting and well-written. In addition to getting his points across, the author also gives an interesting glimpse into life in the military and his work as a chaplain.
July 6, 2015
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.
John McDougall is a chaplain to the U.S. Army Rangers. As a Ranger he has seen bravery, courage, sacrifice, and victory. These experiences are what he uses to parallel the life of Christ with the mission of an Army Ranger.
Throughout the book McDougall compares a part of the Army Ranger mission with what Jesus did for us. An example is that of leaving no fellow ranger to be captured by the enemy.
Jesus died so that no one would fall prey to hell and satan. He gave His life so that mankind can be saved. What an excellent image of sacrifice and bravery.
With examples like this McDougall shows how Jesus was soldier-like in His mission to conquer death and set prisoners free. What a great example to use than that of a soldier.
John McDougall is a chaplain to the U.S. Army Rangers. As a Ranger he has seen bravery, courage, sacrifice, and victory. These experiences are what he uses to parallel the life of Christ with the mission of an Army Ranger.
Throughout the book McDougall compares a part of the Army Ranger mission with what Jesus did for us. An example is that of leaving no fellow ranger to be captured by the enemy.
Jesus died so that no one would fall prey to hell and satan. He gave His life so that mankind can be saved. What an excellent image of sacrifice and bravery.
With examples like this McDougall shows how Jesus was soldier-like in His mission to conquer death and set prisoners free. What a great example to use than that of a soldier.
November 26, 2025
Still one of my favorite Christian men's books to read. It really sticked with me when I was going through one of my rough patches as a young man, and I try my best to recommend this book to anyone to know the kind of Jesus both men and women need to be following in the church.
Great read and I recommend this book to anyone, but more specifically, to men because Jesus is a man's man and a lot more warrior than what your local church makes Him out to be.
Great read and I recommend this book to anyone, but more specifically, to men because Jesus is a man's man and a lot more warrior than what your local church makes Him out to be.
June 25, 2015
I really enjoyed the fact the author pointed out that Jesus was sent to not only save us but to set the tone for the battle between good and evil. To often we forget there is a battle going on and the author has done a great job at reminding us that we need to follow our Lord into battle to save as many as we can.
May 7, 2015
Free give away
Entered this to give to my son is going into the Army to become a Ranger.
Read it myself and found it be be inspirational.
Hoping an 18-year-old can find it useful in his quest to become a man.
Entered this to give to my son is going into the Army to become a Ranger.
Read it myself and found it be be inspirational.
Hoping an 18-year-old can find it useful in his quest to become a man.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews