To: Dr. Dobson / From: a Nazarene Pastor
I got copied on an email today from Jeff Carr, a Nazarene Pastor and C.O.O. for Sojourners that directed me to an open letter he wrote to Dr. James Dobson on beliefnet.com. The letter can be found at this link for you to read and comment on.
The letter reflects a growing sentiment of disappointment that many evangelicals, including those who are widely respected like Dr. Dobson, have lost their way by confusing the good news of the gospel with that of partisan politics.
Dr, Dobson has been a unique leader and Christian spokesman over the years because his message really seems to have come from a genuine love and concern for people, particularly families. However as his influenced grew, somewhere along the way he tied himself so close to the conservative right that the Christian message of hope he once spoke has become swallowed up with the “us” verse “them”, anti liberal and Democrat rhetoric of the Republican party.
Ironically just last night my wife and I caught an episode of “Moyers on America” called “Is God Green” that talked about how there is a growing movement of Christians who were becoming more concerned and active in taking part in environmental issues. Toward the end of the episode it was pointed out that a group of Christian leaders, including more mainstream pastors such as Rick Warren, proposed the "Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action". Personally, I applaud this kind of effort, but regardless of your view on our Christian responsibility for stewardship of God’s creation I was shocked by Dr. Dobson’s response to it.
Moyars program played a clip of Dobson saying that he believes that this action “divides evangelicals” and the “net effect is anti capitalistic and a hatred for America.” OK, stop for a second…..all I want to do is shout, “say what”?? The second statement Dobson says seems more fitting as political rhetoric that would come from Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter. How in the world has Dobson managed to slide in among these voices as such an extreme Republican cheerleader that he would consistently use language that equates liberals and the Democratic Party with being un-American; and even worse “non Christian”?
I think the answer can be found in his first statement that expressed concern that supporting positions that typically are embraced by the Democratic Party such as environmental issues “divides evangelicals”. It most certainly does divide evangelicals in a political sense because it threatens the current monopoly on so called “Christian values” that Republicans want to keep in order to maintain a large part of their political base. I say this not to vilify the Republican Party; Democrats are just as eager to polarize issues in order to grow and maintain a loyal base and constituency. But here is the problem; Dobson’s concern seems more interested in not dividing a political base than being concerned for dividing the issues that many Christians feel they should support as disciples of Christ.
It is the buying into political partisanship that divides Christian values and issues and asks us to choose between some of the things we value over other things we value. In reality I know that real life sometimes requires us to prioritize some things over others in any given circumstances, but aligning ourselves with partisan politics asked us to do this categorically and based on an allegiance to a political party.
A well meaning Dr. Dobson has fallen into a trap that most of our evangelical brethren have fallen into in this country. We have traded our birthright to be the children of God that live the Kingdom of heaven here on earth, for a bowl of soup in the form of a few pet political issues of one political party. I am not saying we should swap bowls of soup and swear our allegiance to the Democrat’s brand; I am saying that we should not allow our values as disciples of Christ to be divided and picked through by partisan politics. Our first allegiance must be to the Kingdom of Heaven and standing out in this world as its good citizens.
I think Dr. Dobson started out wanting to love people and families in a way that reflects the gospel and the Kingdom of God. His message was about loving one another as Christ loves us and he suggested practical ways to show that love to spouses, children and our neighbors. Now his message equates Christianity with the Republican Party and Democrats with the Devil. There is no doubt that this is far off course and Christians are beginning to ask if we can turn this thing around and if not many are willing to jump ship in order to start swimming in the right direction. I do not know if Dr. Dobson himself will stop and ponder open letters that address these things like the one Jeff Carr wrote; I sure hope he does. In the mean time let us not let politics hinder us from exploring what it means to really be a disciple of Christ in today’s world.
James Diggs
17 comments:
James I think you bring up some valid points. I am always hesitant to criticize any spiritual leaders in the church because the church fights among itself too much. But I have struggled with the political nature of Focus on the Family for a long time. Focus is a wonderful ministry birthed out of the God given gifts and calling of James Dobson. He has helped millions of people understand parenting, counseling, addiction, and recovery in a Christianl light. God has blessed his ministry and it seems to be ever increasing. However, when the power and attention of Focus' success began to shine a bright lite on Dr. Dobson he increasingly began to speak as a prophet for the church. A role that frankly I have never believed he was called to. Christianity is anticaptialistic and is certainly not pro-American any more than it is pro-Canadian or pro-Venezuelan. Governments and nations, wherein they function in the capacities God has ordained for them, are good things. But, every government and nation is both good and evil. Walter Wink in his book The Powers that Be talks about how every institution is created by God and therefore good, fallen, and in need of redemption. Blind patriotism in the name of unity is certainly far outside the scope of God's intention for the church.
I won't slam Dobson personally, I do not know the man. But, as James 3 reminds us, being a teacher is a dangerous thing because you will be judged more closely than others. So to Dr. Dobson's pro-American, uninformed evangelicalism and political strong arm tactics I add my disgust. May God keep all of us within the limits of our call and remind us to be careful how we use our power and opportunities to speak as a teacher in the church.
James --
I recently heard William Willimon say, "The palace is a poor place for a prophet."
I think that's pretty good advice. It is next to impossible for a prophet to be completely loyal to the God who called him/her while enjoying the benefits of life in the palace or access to the king's power.
Is Dr. Dobson a prophet? Perhaps. All I know is that those of us called to a prophetic ministry would do well to stop and think about the effects power and position have on us and on the message we're called to preach.
This is interesting conversation. I have seen this change happen as I did a study into the "truth project." I don't have all the details, but it seems to put all truth in the camp of american fundamentalism.
It is time we looked to the kingdom of God for truth and leave other voices at the door!
James,
I've had the same concerns.
It's interesting to note that the mainstream media has picked up on the fact that growing numbers of (even Republican)evangelicals are increasingly concerned over our marriage to one political ideology.
Very interesting dialogue for sure.
It's no wonder growing numbers of people are desiring a more authentic, relavant and life changing spirituality. It seems we evangelical protestants particularly have become the puppets of the political and consumeristic culture of which the Spirit of Christ and the Kingdom of God are so counter to.
I am saddened at the number of people who become so vocal, fervent and ungracious when taking up the latest banter coming from the pop Christian leadership.
It would be refreshing to see unified efforts of the evangelical faith community feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the orphans and widows. Sounds rather gracious, redemptive, sacrificial, humble.
Exactly.
Jesus speaks so often and so forcefully against money and power, and in the USA we usually elect people who have both. Someone said, "We don't have winners and losers in American politics; we have winners and winners." Given that, and since our citizenship is first in another kingdom, and our charge is to speak for the defenseless, I'm starting to get the idea that regardless who is elected, I'm going to have to be part of the opposition party!
But to the main point - how ironic is it that the authority in question would write so divisively, supposedly in opposition to divisiveness?
James. Thanks for your post on my blog. I did not know this Emergent Nazarenes blog existed and I am glad to have been introduced to it. I read just a few of the posts here and I appreciated in particular your balanced and charitable tone in this post regarding Dr. Dobson.
It's called idolatry.
W/o having read the letter, I can only respond to what you've written in this blog. There is so much left out of this issue here that it's hard to know where to start. The reality is that NEITHER political party is upholding Biblical principals well. The reality also is that ONE political party is doing all it can to REMOVE Biblical principals from our society (fairness doctrine, unequal access, death to traditional marriage, keeping religious voices out of politics, etc). If you don't know which party this is, then you are far away from what is truly going on.
The reality in this country is that the government is getting stronger each year - and under the current administration it's trying to push that in to warp speed. An oppressive, anti-Christian government is a VERY dangerous thing. There are things going on behind the scenes that are reminiscent of early Nazi Germany.
We can talk about spirituality, God's love, etc all we want, but the reality is that we live in this world, in a governmental system that is supposed to be for the people and BY the people. If Christians don't push an agenda that aligns with Biblical principals (sometimes Christian and Biblical are very different), then who will? If no one does, then there is only one other option - and you can be sure the author of that option is seriously using the forces at his command. The reality is that many of those forces are political, and are aligned with a single political party.
Christian leaders have to make the church aware of these dangerous trends. When I've been able to listen to FotF that's what I've heard. Not a stumping for a single political party, but stumping against things that ARE anti-God.
I suspect that if the Democratic Party were not joined at the hip with those who defend the murder of babies, gay marriage, and pornography, that Dobson would not come across as if he was aligned with a single party. However, when one party aligns itself with just about everything that Dobson rightly sees as destroying the family, what choice does he have, other than to give up.
There was a time when the Democrats were not aligned in this way, and consequently he seemed non-partisan. I remember hearing Tipper Gore on his show more than once, when she was opposing violent and sexual lyrics in music... but then this became an unacceptable position in the Democrat party, and so she shut up on that issue.
As an outsider, a neighbor, from the Great White North eh, I am encouraged that there is an emergent conversation. I do often wonder about the us and them mentality. Why does everything seem to reduce down to either or? Either Rep or Dem. Either Capitalist or Stalanist. Either Calvinist or Arminianist. Oh Brother! The emergent conversation is like a few kids who wander out of a school yard brawl, not wanting to fight, just wanting to carry on the quest. I'm not a very good fighter so I choose to wander, and I'm glad to find a few others to wander with (wandering is not lost its searching).
Ericole - I'm not sure what you mean about things like the fairness doctrine are un-biblical, and your point about keeping religious voices out of politics...I've seen more of Rick Warren (evangelical pastor) associated with this administration than Billy Graham was with the Reagan administration...and that may be the most extreme example.
It seems that you represent the same "us vs. them" attitude that we all agree is unhealthy. It leads one to have a political party to make decisions about God (ie, capital punishment, protecting the environment) that do not align themselves with biblical teaching.
I think that you hit Focus on the Family square on the head, and gave Dobson a smack between the eyes. I applaud you! He's needed it for a while.
I grew up in a hyper evangelical church - - and 20 years ago loved Dr. Dobson. I never missed his show, and always seemed to connect to the things that he talked about. But when he turned political, my personal opinion is that he turned hateful and lost his compassion. I have some friends that happen to be gay. I don't judge them, I try and love them in the way that Jesus would have. But in one of our early conversations, when I "came out" as a Christian, the first thing they brought up was Focus on the Family/Dr. Dobson, and the hate that is spewed by him (and those who seem to follow him). My friend asked me, "Why would I ever want to follow a Jesus that thinks Dr. Dobson is okay."
I admit, I had to agree with him. I want to follow the Christ of the Bible, that loved everyone, regardless of their place in society (dinner with the tax collectors, harlots...and I'm sure a few gays along the way). He didn't cast them out - - He loved them to Himself. I want to be Jesus to that person who needs His love, and show them that there is a difference in who Jesus is and what He really teaches. I want to show them that He is not about politics or rhetoric - - or what I believe to be right and wrong - - but that He is about grace, mercy and forgiveness!
I'm thankful for the people in my life who have been Jesus to me - - and for the faithfulness of the Lord in my life, when I was probably the most unfaithful!
Love your BLOG. Thanks for sharing your always amazing insights with the rest of us!
Kj.
Not a big fan of Dobson, I'm even less a fan of Wallis, McLaren and the rest of the Left-Wing Radicals and Emergents...
While the Republicans have used conservative "Bible-believing" Christians, the left has used the opposite camp just as much.
Like P.J.O'Rourke said about Ted Kennedy, spending other people's money (through taxation and redistribution) is not a virtue.
Churches, regardless of stripe, should clothe, feed and care for the poor and oppressed on their own without waiting for the Government to help--or for public notoriety...something both camps are guilty of.
Frankly, I have a deep-seated mistrust for each political party and lean Libertarian.
The Left-Dems will not bring in
the Millenial Reign of perfect peace and prosperitry and the Right-Wing Republicans will not bring America back to God.
True repentance towards God will result in a compassionate Ekklasia (Church) that reaches out with the Gospel and Grace of Christ and accompanying good works....
Wallis and his ilk are just as self-righteous as Dobson and the Emergents sure don't sound very charitable towards conservative Christians...
Considering the fact that McLaren denies the efficacy of the Cross, why bother with Christianity?
Perhaps y'all emergents can just pony up and join the Communist Party and be done with all the Jesus talk. Deeds not Creeds, right? You despise the Scandal of the Cross.
Jesus did not condone SIN, He went to the Cross for my SIN and yours--covetuousness, concupiscence, greed, malice, envy, murder, adultery, homosexuality, slander and hatred of all stripes.
"Gayness," i.e., sodomy, was considered so heinous that the Apostle Paul considered it something not to be mentioned in decent company...Today, we're expected to celebrate it!
Jesus spoke of the Last Days when men would call Evil Good, and Good Evil...such are the days.
deservoarbitrio
"Anonymous",
Despite hiding behind anonymity you are right about one thing- the Kingdom of God is not brought about by either pole of human political ideology.
As for the "Scandal of the Cross", I don't think that those who reduce it to just "penal substitution" (which was McLaren's beef) really get the scandal of it at all.
You can't hold on to your personal "liberty" over that of your neighbor if you are to walk in the very WAY of the cross Jesus calls us into. I am not talking about government here, I am talking about an attitude that seeks solidarity with those who are "the least of these" as Christ found solidarity with humanity itself even though it meant he would have to suffer for and with our sins.
The WAY of the cross sees the needs of others as their own, even if we must suffer with them to be able to identify with them and help them.
I fear that too many who talk about "compassion" reduce it to a kind of charity that maintains positioning ourselves over the least of these as we give from the top down. This can happen regardless to giving as an individuals or through our collective giving through a government.
The Scandal of the cross calls us to be LAST and put others first that goes way beyond what most people think of by compassion and charity.
As for your tirade about "gayness", no one here is talking about "celebrating" it as some kind of righteousness. But what you will find here are people interested in identifying with, embracing and restoring the humanity of others as Jesus himself did by becoming the "New Adam" and continues through His church- the "First Fruits" of a new creation and a new humanity that is still to come.
I am not going to debate angry anonymous folks who just want to throw rocks under the cover of darkness. If you are interested in real conversation with the hopes of reconciliation and redemption we all have in the cross I would love to talk to you more. Otherwise I am just going to have to knock the dust from my shoes.
You are welcome to email me if you would like to continue:
James@corridorchurch.com
James - just wondering about your "gayness" comment. Do you think it's okay? or a sin? love the person hate the sin.
Erin,
I think my position was clear about how homosexuality relates to righteousness in the very sentence I used when I was rebuking the anonymous tirade about "gayness" you mention now.
This is a complex issue that is too easily obfuscated in the comment section about the appropriate role of politics in faith.
I would be happy to dialogue about the issue more in a different context. You are welcome to email me if you like. My email address is in the comments just a few spots up.
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