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    Dobson:  “He Doesn’t Speak for all the Christians in America… I Do”

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    This is curious for a number of reasons, not least of which is that Dobson is not a member of NAE.

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    SOURCE:  The Dallas News Religion Blog

    Is it just me, or are there too many people trying to speak for me (as a Christian) these days?  And it seems that none of them can agree with each other; but they all want to speak for me.

    Whether it’s Rev. Cizik’s environmental stance, Dobson’s insistance that Sponge Bob is pro-gay, or Pat Robertson’s public revelation that there will be a ‘mass killing’ in 2007, I’m really tired of having any of these men speak for me.

    For one, I didn’t ask them to speak for me; and two:  I can make myself look foolish (thank you very much).

    So… Richard, James, Pat (and others)… isn’t it possible to run the ministries and do the jobs that God has called you to do without calling a press conference every other day to speak for me?

    Or, at least, next time, give me a call before you tell everyone what I think.  That seems like only the “Christian” thing to do.

    **End Rant**

    (And please don’t criticize my criticization) (is that a word?).  I don’t hold anything against anyone in this post… they are all fine men… I just wish they’d stop trying to speak for all of us.  Well, at least for me (I don’t want to speak for you)! smile

    Todd

    This from the Dallas News Religion Blog: The Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president of the National Association of Evangelicals, happens to believe that global warming is bad. This makes him unacceptable as a Christian leader, in the mind of James Dobson. In a March 1 letter to L. Roy Taylor, chairman of the NAE board, Dobson and others wrote that Cizik's environmental activism is “demoralizing.” “If he cannot be trusted to articulate the views of American evangelicals on environmental issues, then we respectfully suggest that he be encouraged to resign his position with the NAE,” the letter said...

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    1. Peter Hamm on Thu, March 15, 2007

      This particular issue just gets my goat though. Evidently, Dobson feels that it is more important to rail against gay marriage than it is to care about the well-being of the planet that God gave us stewardship over. It seems he’d rather expend energy telling people who don’t share our faith how they can and can not live than doing something about a situation that is steadily getting worse and one that we could easily do something about and show the world we care about some of the same things we do.


      Dobson lost me a long time ago. I love this… [When read a list of the signatories, Anderson said: “We would normally look to our own constituency — and not to those who have chosen not to be members of the NAE — for counsel.”]


      James, you’re NOT EVEN a member of the NAE… leave it alone. And Falwell preaching a whole sermon on the myth of Global Warming? Come on! I wonder how many people who don’t know Christ visited that weekend and left without a clue about what was REALLY important…


      Oh boy… I think I need a drink. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif

    2. Jim from NJ on Thu, March 15, 2007

      I tend to agree with Todd here. I also am offended by self-proclaimed Christian leaders professing to speak for all believers. Hasn’t that been part of the problem? Certain “leaders” speak for Christians. Then they are caught in a public scandal and that besmirches all Christians in the eyes of non-believers. That being said, I do tend to agree with James Dobson. The :global warming” issue has become so politicized that it is no longer an issue of science. Therefore it cannot be addressed as a scientific issue and debated on that level. Rather it has to be debated as a political issue with all of the baggage that comes with that. It is similar to the early AIDS/HIV debate. Instead of facing it as a public health issue, it became a political issue with many people taking sides as if anyone could be on the side of AIDS/HIV. Do I believe Global Warming is aggravated by human actions? Of course. Do I also feel that it is also caused by a natural warming cycle? Of course. How much can we affect it by our actions? Who knows? The problem is that arguments of this nature divert us from our main purpose of proclaiming the gospel in all of its wonderful aspects. Is Richard Cizik a heetic for what he is doing? Of course not. Is he getting off the main point? I think he is.

    3. Leonard on Thu, March 15, 2007

      What Todd really meant to say was…  (smiley face here) To me, Dobson is not as irritating as Robertson or Fallwell, but then I spend all my time writing responses here so I never have enough time to listen to them anyway.

    4. kent on Thu, March 15, 2007

      I admit I didn’t even know who Richard Cizik was. Now having heard what is going on, I am not sure he is trying to speak for me so much as bring an issue forward that he is onvinced needs attention. I am sure the Dobson believes he can speak for me. He is a man of integrity, no question, he also wrongly believes he stands for what I stand for. Fame seems to have inflated his sense of importance.


      Yes, I am tired of celebrity Christians making claims for me that I would never advocate. I am just tired of Pat Robertson talking. It is arrogance to assume that I have the same political agenda and that Jesus would walk in their path. I was taught that if I couldn say something nice, don’t say anything at all. So i guess I have finish now.

    5. Bill A. on Thu, March 15, 2007

      You have my permission to speak for me on this issue. I don’t need or want these guys speaking for me either.


      Great post.

    6. DanielR (a different Daniel) on Thu, March 15, 2007

      Jim in NJ,  you say you think Richard Cizik is “getting off the main point”.  I’m curious if you think James Dobson is also getting off the main point?


      James Dobson has his agenda, for whatever reason he is very focused on gay marriage and other things he considers part of the “gay agenda”. And that’s OK, many of us have our own agendas and causes, few of us are completely balanced.


      But to criticize others for working for their own issues instead of only promoting your agenda is out of line. Richard Cizik believes Global Warming is an issue of Christian stewardship and that’s OK, too.  Whether you agree or disagree with him there is some validity to his stance.


      Work on whatever issues you feel called to, but don’t begrudge others their issues and causes.  We are all called individually and guided by the Spirit where He wants us.  And before you speak on the record where you may be perceived as speaking for “Christianity”, make sure you’re not just speaking for yourself.   So don’t try to speak for others, most of us can speak for ourselves.  I have enough trouble defending my own positions, without being lumped in with Robertson, Fallwell, et al. and having to defend or rebut their positions.

    7. Wendi on Thu, March 15, 2007

      The reason these guys try so hard to convince people that they are speaking for all of us is that they stopped being pastors long ago and have become nothing more than lobbyists and political activists.


      Dobson only has real political power if he can 1) convince Christians (those who have trouble thinking for themselves) that his position(s) are the “Christian” positions, and 2) convince the lawmakers that he is indeed speaking for all of us, we who make up a huge voting block.  What kind of political power would Dobson have if in his public statements he simply said “this is how I feel” or “I think this is a very important issue?”


      But if I WERE to give one of these two guys my voice, I gladly give it to Cizik (at least regarding environmental issues).  I agree wholeheartedly with Peter’s comments.  And besides our biblical (Gen 1:26, Ps 115:16) and stewardship responsibilities to care for the earth, I think when we act as if environmental issues don’t matter (or don’t matter nearly as much as the behavior of someone who doesn’t follow Jesus), then we loose credibility with those outside our faith.


      Wendi

    8. I_am_not on Thu, March 15, 2007

      “Isn’t it possible to run the ministries and do the jobs that God has called you to do without calling a press conference every other day to speak for me?”


      Yep. I’m still trying to figure out where in the Great Commission, Jesus called for a focus on press conferences and such to take positions on global warming, gay marriages, etc.


      And I agree with Wendi’s assessment—- these guys have become lobbyists and political activists rather than ministers of the Gospel.

    9. Camey on Thu, March 15, 2007

      This is interesting. (Yes, your rant Todd) Friday night a group of us were discussing our thoughts and views on different subjects. Out of the 26 people who were there - not any of us completely agreed on every topic. All of us were Christians. I think Dobson probably speaks for maybe two or three out of that whole mix. (No, I am not one of them)


      Growing up I was told that Dobson was “one of THE men to listen to.” Can’t tell you the number of seminars and such I’ve attended or heard over the years as a result. There was perhaps a small window of time when he probably did speak for me. I’d classify that time period as infancy. A time when I was learning but not ready to really speak for myself. Those days are long long gone.


      I think one of the saddest things that has happened is that so many Christians don’t want to speak for themselves because they are not sure what they believe or think. They’re just walking behind others and shaking their heads in agreement. Yet, if that person were to suddenly not be there - they would be completely helpless and looking for yet another individual to walk behind instead of being able to lead and speak up themselves.


      I believe that God gave us voices and other ways to communicate for many reasons. If only one or two people were to speak for the whole then what would be the point otherwise? I may or may not agree with you but I am thankful you have the ability to speak for yourself.


      One of the best things that has happened to me over the past couple of years is the introduction to individuals who did not grow up with the same exact “churchy” background as myself. Talk about learning… and growing…


      Rant? Who rants? http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif

    10. Mark Triplett on Thu, March 15, 2007

      As a former pastor of mine always said, “Worry about getting to Jesus first, and the rest will take care of itself!”

    11. nora on Thu, March 15, 2007

      It is impossible for each of us as individuals to devote equal time, passion, and energy to every issue there is.  That is why God wires us each differently.  Obviously, Dobson is wired and enabled to give his time and energy to matters that deal with the family.  Equally obvious is that Cizik has been wired to give his time and energy to environmental matters.  No matter your views on the validity of global warming, it is simply arrogant to tell Cizik that his pet issue is “less Christian” or less of a priority.  I respect Dobson because he has done a lot of good, but I think this time he has overstepped his bounds and area of authority.

    12. Jim in NJ on Thu, March 15, 2007

      DanielR (a Different Daniel)


      I actually think both men risk “getting off the main point.” There are certain issues that are absolute in scripture. Opposition to gay marriage is one. Global Warming has moved from the scientific to the political arena. It has become so tied up in half-truths and unsupported claims that it is hard to know what to believe. I just get wary of an interest group that threatens those who disagree with decertification of their credentials or compares them to Holocaust deniers. If scientists know so little about climatology that they can’t even predict with a fair amount of certainty what the weather will be like three days from now, how can they possibly know what effect man has on global warming? Christians have made a mistake of getting so involved in partisan politics that they risk being branded as a political pressure group rather than the light and salt they should be. Get involved as an individual for what you believe. Be very careful about proclaiming your position as the “Offical Christian” position. That’s the mistake Robertson and Falwell make too often (and Dobson sometimes).

    13. Daniel on Thu, March 15, 2007

      And you, Jim, when you say “There are certain issues that are absolute in scripture. Opposition to gay marriage is one.”


      This is of course entirely inaccurate.  If by ‘gay marriage’ you mean the laws of the land concerning sexual unions, then the Bible says nothing.  If you mean gay unions in the Body, then yes, most people here will agree that the Bible says something.  But to make ‘opposition to gay marriage’ (which is a technical legal question) into something that is “absolutely in Scripture”…


      As far as I’m concerned, that’s entirely upside-down.


      My two cents.

    14. Wendi on Thu, March 15, 2007

      Actually Daniel, I disagree with you.  I think scripture does say something about whether Christians should be political activists for laws against gay marriage . . .


      What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. (1 Cor 5:12 – 13a).


      Or, we could look at the way Jesus and the early church got involved in politics and law-making . . . um, I can’t think of any.


      Indeed we should teach the whole counsel of scripture in our churches, and we should certainly build relationships with those outside the faith so that our relationship provides the opportunity to share the whole counsel of scripture, but I cannot see any scriptural mandate to become a lobbyist for “Christian” laws imposed on Christians and non-Christians alike.


      Wendi

    15. Pastor Al on Thu, March 15, 2007

      Here’s a shocker – “I don’t agree with James Dobson on most everything.”  His theory on how to raise boys so they don’t turn out gay is about a silly as painting your grass green!


      I never use quotes from these men in any sermons I preach, I never refer my congregation to their books.  These men as Wendi so clearly put it are nothing more than lobbyist.  They keep the money coming in by holding up the fear banner over and over again.


      An no, Leonard, I am not hurting the keys on my keyboard, I am very calm, I wore myself out on that “Temperance” debate.  http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/grin.gif


      Al

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