Duane Chapman, who goes by the name “Dog the Bounty Hunter” is a head busting, TV star who chases criminals on the lam. He also claims to be a born-again Christian whose show on A&E is filled with biblical references and expressions of faith.
Before he goes to hunt a bounty, he gathers the family and they bow their heads and pray for safety and for the capture "in Jesus name."
Right now, Chapman, his son Leland, and his friend Tim Chapman, face extradition to Mexico for their 2003 capture of Max Factor heir, Andrew Luster. Luster was convicted of drugging and raping three women and is currently serving a 124-year prison sentence.
Chapman could very serve time in jail himself for sneaking across the border and capturing Luster, ‘depriving him of liberty’ according to Mexican law. Chapman is currently free on $300,000 bail. He could face up to four years in prison.
If you have ever seen the show, you will see that there is a dichotomy. Chapman isn’t necessarily the best representative for Christianity. He tells criminals to freeze “#&*%" He has fathered multiple children from multiple women. And he looks – rough. But then again he just might be perfect for the job.
You see, Christ came to save sinners – and this muscle bound, chain smoking, leather clad rough-neck is among the worst. He served jail
time himself – for accessory to murder, no less. But somewhere in time, he realized that he was on the wrong track – and is a living example of man trying to get it together.I don’t know how to react when I see him curse or listen to his foul-mouth wife Beth berate someone. I don’t know how to react to see him wrestle a doped-up teen to the ground. I don’t know how to react, because this isn’t the lily-white Christianity I try to keep.
After a sometimes violent capture, Chapman uses the time in the car with the caught crook to deliver a message that might just turn him around. Moments before the crook is handed back to courts, Dog reads him the riot act – and often the gospel.
I do like the show – but am not settled. Is Chapman a Red Letter Christian, a believer who lives out Christ in profession? Or is he a poser, a phony who uses his faith for shock and for ratings. What’s your opinion?
Read the beliefnet interview
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I believe the Dog is able to reach people because of his (perceived) faults, not in spite of them. Most people are put off by the lily-white Christian attitude (which often comes off as holier-than-thou). In the heat of the moment, Dog will use profanity. Once his prisoner is secured, however, he tries to help that person by using his own life mistakes as an example. Dog and his wife Beth come across to me as real people, warts and all.
Duane "Dog" Chapman is a man of God. He is also a man of the law, who does everything in his power to help people.
He is a man that lives by the "Golden Rule" and does unto others as he would want done unto him. He helps and protects the good and tries his best to reform the bad. And he has been more often successful than not.
His look is to intimidate, which is a requirment when he is at work, and his sometimes blue words are also a requirment. When in Rome, you do as the Romans do. Thus when confronting a doped up and potentially violent criminal, the obscenities are more readily understood by the subject then are multi-sylabic words. It enables faster compliance. It's just that simple.
Dog has a heart that is bigger than the state of Hawaii, and he has more than proven that he is the poster boy for rehabilitation in North America. He worked hard and made something of himself despite major setbacks in life.
He doesn't seek to put on airs or decieve his TV audience. On the contrary, Dog allows viewers to see all facets of his homelife as well as his professional life.
Here is a good, decent, God fearing man, with nothing to hide. He is a credit to America, and is loved by millions around the world!
God bless Dog and his family. I pray they are soon free from the unjust persecution that they currently are forced to live under.
I think the Dog is definitely a man of God. And his life history is similar to that of the apostles Peter and Paul. They were rough characters who had done plenty of wrong themselves. But God uses all manner of broken vessels. Dog isn't perfect (neither are the rest of us), but he sure does seem to work hard to do the right thing.
Hi Dave,
I've been browsing your blog and I really like it! I love your premise and what you and your colleague are saying. People can smell a fake a mile away. you are calling all Christ followers to live authentically! I like that!
Bear Valley needs a writer's group.
"Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me."
My son had the privelege of meeting Dog and the crew through the Make-A-Wish program last fall. The kindness shown is all the proof I need that they truly believe and seek to be a positive force in the world.
One of the children took Dog to task for the language they use, and his answer was simple. He told her some of the people they capture don't respond well to "pretty please" and that sometimes you have to do what it takes to get their attention. He admitted the language wasn't a good thing, and asked her to pray with him that he could be stronger and remember there were children watching him.
They treated us like family, and there isn't a day that goes by that Steven doesn't remember something special about the visit. He's even behaved better with me, since Dog doesn't like people to be rude to their Mama! :o)
He's a poser, he is motivated by self serving reasons and has many lies to his credit. He doesn't show why they talk so nice to many of these people after they are caught (When he made them look so bad) but they work out an agreement for release of the film rights. He claims he doesn't make much (Larry King Dec 2006) abut has a lien for $200,ooo in back tawes. He knew Mexico's laws and could have called the police (and was warned) but chose to try to run for the border for self serving purposes of the glory, bounty, and film footage. He talks a lot and claims to do the Lord's work, but doesn't walk the path, lived in sin for 16 years, justifies lying, and has a very foul mouth. Don't believe everything they tell you and/or spoon feed you on TV. This felon walked away from a dying man in order to protect his brother Devil's Disciple. He was the Sergeant at Arms. The man die almost 8 hours later, if only Duane would have called for some help and rendered some aid.
anonymous i totaly agree with you. for 1 jesus didnt go out and curse sinners throwing them to the ground. threating their famliy members.then pray blessings for them. what ever comes out of the mouth defines the heart because the heart is evil. do wanna cig bra?...lol do not be conformed to this world, for all things pass away and all things become new. whats new with him? they (dog and beth aka alice smith)both broke USA laws until 2000. you can look up their pulic records at denver public records.my point is in every state and country we all have seprate bounty hunting laws. like here in california ...no felony convictions ca bounty or assit in a bounty.plus you must have a licence, and in order to get that licence you must have no felonies. dog broke the laws here in california by doing bountys here. plus attempted to collect a illegal bond for luster which he was denied because what he did was illegal. so this shows he has no regaurd for mexican law or the laws of the land which as chritians are instructed to obey. i know what everyone going to say " he got a rapist off the st, what if it was your family"...lol are ways, are not GOD ways. are ways get us in trouble...just as it landed duane. and another thing that bothers me is dog is to mean GOD backwards. a&e say in dog we trust. tell me why if all things become new why would you keep a name that put you at eqaul with the real GOD?
i know he helps people right? your next question...lol who has he help? were are this people? all you see what on tv.thats what the tv world does, didnt american idol raise millions of dollars? duane offers a pray and a cig.and get you back out of jail when the bonds raised. people sorry to tell you if you really believe this guys a hero he fake, also sorry to tell you santa not real eithier.
i can go on and on. then to top it off he a native american tracker...lol this is a whole another story. remember people jim jones used jesus name and so did david kodesah, the bible say he that does my father will.enters the kingdom. GOD will is not to break laws. jesus even said render to cesar what is cesars. which all falls down to obeying the laws of the land. ill stop rambling after this...lol but for those who dont think mexico returns fugitives, go on to the amw website capture. mexico does return fugitives if its done right to american and mexican treaty
Looks like the Bounty hunter in the doghouse, thanks to wife.
I'm never sure I've ever heard Beth express anything of her faith -- and this just shows what she is made of ---
****
The bounty hunter and three members of his family were kicked off a United Airlines flight on May 7 after his wife, Beth, erupted in an obscenity-laden tirade at a flight attendant, reports the National Enquirer.
The star of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" and his family had just flown in from Honolulu and had boarded a connecting flight to Denver.
"Dog was sitting in the first-class section with his family, and the plane was getting pushed back from the gate," a source told the tab. "A flight attendant asked Dog to buckle his seat belt, but he was asleep."
The flight attendant nudged the bounty hunter to wake him up, but his wife "went ballistic" and started to scream and curse, according to the source, despite the flight attendant's efforts to calm her down. The captain was notified, he turned the plane around and returned to the gate, and the Chapmans were told to get off the plane, according to the Enquirer. They were met by six airport police officers, but no arrests were made and the Chapmans were rebooked on another flight to Denver.
Chapman himself seemed embarrassed by the incident, according the source, who told the tab, "After the family was escorted off the plane, Dog apologized to everyone involved."
Ok, first of all, who are you people? The Bible says Judge not lest ye be judged. You seem to be condemning Duane for what he does. Yes, he is a Christian. To be a Christian means you admit that you have sinned and are a sinner. Duane is a sinner, obviously. So am I. You are giving the impression that you do not sin with your ‘lily white’ behavior. Guess what, you are a sinner too!! Duane’s mother (who was part Chirakowa – not sure of the spelling) was a missionary to the Native Americans and Duane and his siblings often went with his mother to preach to these people. So he really does know the Bible.
Duane, Leland and Tim did not “sneak across the border” into Mexico. They went there legally. They did not take Luster down at gunpoint, nor did they take him into custody with the benefit of a police officer. The man that was with them was an off duty officer, who chose to fled once the on duty cops heard about the commotion where the Chapmans took hold of Luster. They were on their way to the police station; they had already passed the exit to the airport to leave the country.
The swearing goes with the territory. These people they capture do not live a life of common sense and courtesy and polite talk. Listen to your local cops once in a while. They will do the same thing, I’d bet.
After they capture someone and all the roughness is over, Duane does (as does Beth or one of the others) talk to them and tries to find out why they are living the way they are and tries to find out how he can help them. He will gladly tell them about how he turned his own life around and tells them he is confident they can do the same. He will then ask them how he can help them and he does help them.
As far as the lien goes, the house and the business are connected. Blame that one on the accountant, not Duane. That’s not his strong suit. How many of you have excellent credit? How about a shady past? I don’t want an answer, but think before you speak and judge someone you really don’t know.
As far as the legality of the bounty hunting in California, Duane may have a felony record, but his sons Leland and Duane Lee and friend Tim Chapman do not. They also had the police with them, which is a requirement in California. He does follow the law as far as that goes.
The name ‘Dog’ did come from his Devil’s Disciple’s cronies. And yes, it is for God spelled backward. He got that name because he was the one to stop them from doing any harm to any church and the fact that he did believe in God and was not afraid to let these men know it. The fact that A&E says “In Dog We Trust” is for the people of Hawaii and where ever he goes to hunt and capture the wanted person. We trust he will find and bring to justice the wrong doer.
Jim Jones and David Koresh were not Christian people. They were cult leaders. They read the Bible and converted it to say what they wanted it to say. And, unfortunately, they corralled many innocent people into believing them and they paid for it with their lives.
In closing, I would like to say that I am impressed with what he has done for the people of Hawaii. He is a hero there, even to the cops. I am also impressed that he is not afraid to show that he is human, a sinner, who believes in Jesus Christ and the Bible and tries to live by it as best as he can. God cannot ask of us any more than that.
When you say "To be a Christian means you admit that you have sinned and are a sinner", are you absolutely certain? Many many will be turned away on judgement day, having claimed the name of Christ.
The point of this blog is get beyond confession and into living out their life.
The early beleivers called themselves "followers of the way" or "followers of Christ."
Do we follow Him, or simply pray a prayer and then go our way.
As far as Chapman -- I would hope he would not be simply claiming a faith without any real transformation inside.
D. Rupert
Yes, I am absolutely certain that I have sinned and am a sinner. But my belief in Jesus’ death on the cross saved me from the depths of hell on judgment day. This does not mean that I continue to do wrong and sin, but being a sinner means that I do sin, even if I do not know I’m doing it. I do try to live a good Christian life, but I am not perfect!
Duane has had a real transformation. He was in a Texas prison for a reason. He did not go back into that life, but changed his life around and preaches The Good News to anyone who will listen. He is always saying “Where mercy is shown, mercy will be given”. He gives mercy to more people than I have ever met! How many people have you shown mercy to? Don’t answer to me, that’s one for you to answer to God.
When Duane got out of prison, he knew he had two kids somewhere. He had no idea where because their mother moved them around so much, but he wanted to be a father to them. It took him six years to find his ex-wife and his two boys. This was before the internet made it easier to find someone. When he found them, he really became their father. Those two boys are now on the show themselves, Duane Lee (named after his father) is now 34 and Leland is 30. They have both talked to their prisoners and treated them with mercy, just as their father taught them.
He seems to "enjoy" the hunt a little bit to much.
Its hard to say things here without being accused of judging. To talk about the dog period is a judgement whether its good or bad. and to talk about each others comments calling them judgements is in itself, also a judgement. So with that asside, i just want to say;
I have trouble believing his faith and his belief.
As a christian dont you want to give a christ-like example to other people?
To walk in a christ-like lifestyle is to do a complete 180 degree turn from sin.
You can't just pray and go about your day and then put God second to you.
We all struggle yes. and we all have fallen short from the glory of God.
We are human, Yes. We are going to sin again.
The fact that you want to change and that you are trying to change shows something. The fact that sinning really bothers you and grips your heart when you sin shows something.
The fact that your heart really does want to make a difference in the way you live really shows that you are aspiring to be christ-like shows something.
I really don't see that with Dog.
I see his so called faith and then every single time i see him go and be foul mouthed, use the Lord's name in vain, and using "justified lying"?. Even in the wedding episode, they weren't hunting a bounty they were just cursing and swearing about tuxedos.
I really find it hard to take him seriuosly when i see examples like that.
Matt 7:18-20: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Need I say more?
I think Dog's interview on Faithnet says it all. In the interview he says,
"We believe that God is big enough to give every nationality their own religion, as he’s given them their own taste in food, in plants, in furniture, and housing. I think that each religion has their basic Christ-ish way to get to the Everlasting God. As far as "Jesus only" kind of people, I as a gentile must believe in Jesus. But I do not condemn, say, the Jewish [people], for not having Jesus. I believe that God is smart enough to make different nationalities and creeds and people, a mediator to get towards him—if you need that."
"Everybody’s under God’s planet, and God is the Almighty, the Beginning, the End, the Alpha, the Omega. He’s Big Daddy. He gives out these little soldiers and sons and angels and saints to help everybody else get through to him. I’m not the "Jesus-only or you’re going to hell" kind of guy."
This is not the theology taught in the Bible. Dog is preaching a gospel that tickles the ears. Paul says in Galatians 1:8-9 "Let God's curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed."
This may appear to be very strong talk, but it is from the Word of God.
Well, after his recent running off at the mouth about black people with his son, is he a Christian, a man like Jesus? Uh, not so much.
Forget that fool. Solomon would agree.
God probably publicly shamed him for blaspheming and telling the world to call him "Dog," which is God spelled backwards.
God is not to be mocked.
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