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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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. 

Al

Steve,

I disagree. Yes he’s used his influence, I’m not sure that in the past few years it’s been used positively, though. I don’t hear the Gospel of Jesus from his mouth/pen. I hear a gospel of lesgislative reform and an agenda that is all about the things that he is against. Sure, it’s possible we could “do worse”, but imho, not by much…

Steve,

I am not suggesting that Dobson isn’t a good man, nor one who doesn’t believe in his cause, and yes if he ran for office I might just vote for him.  But I am saying that when it comes to some of his ideas about homosexuality and raising kids, man he can be pretty far off.  Honestly when I hear certain “spokesmen” drag out the whole “The Gays are taking the world over” banner I think, “Looks like ‘someone’ needs some money.” Is that wrong?

Al

I agree with Peter. We could do worse, maybe Pat Robertson or Billy James Hargis, but not much worse.

Ever since Dobson and Focus on the Family proclaimed that the video on tolerance of multiculturalism starring Sponge Bob, et al. was “an insidious means by which the organization is manipulating and potentially brainwashing kids”, and that it promotes homosexuality, he’s been pretty much useless as a spokesman, in my opinion.  It seems like every time he says something, I hear someone comment “Isn’t he the one who said Sponge Bob and the other children’s cartoon characters were gay and promoting homosexuality?  What an idiot.” He’s lost any credibility, once people hear your name and associate it with something laughable like the Sponge Bob thing you could be proclaiming Jesus is our savior and all most people are going to be thinking is “That’s the Sponge Bob guy, what an idiot.”

And I agree that it’s about the money.  When they need money some politicians trot out the politics of fear; fear of terrorists blowing up your house, fear of crime, gangs and drugs, fear of anything they can think of to get you to give them money.  When I hear Dobson start talking about the gay agenda and gays taking over the world I think, yep, he’s fund raising again.  Don’t most studies show that gays are about 3 to 4 percent of the population?  I’d say they have along way to go before they take over, but they sure do occupy a lot of Dobson’s time, thought and efforts.

I’d just say having and using influence is a hard job and Dobson has used his, thouh not perfectly, pretty well.  Again, who on the national stage has done better? 

I’ve got to come clean, though.  I confess it’s SO hard to even consider agreeing with Al Gore on ANYTHING

Dobson does not speak for me period.  I’m tired of the whole “speaking for the Christians” thing.  By the way, I thought the road “we” are on is narrow.  Too bad “they” would like to control the road and make it wide.  Wide with all the wrong junk.  I can’t beleive that this being stewards of what God has given us (the earth) is such a big deal.  Really, “they” will pontificate about how to be stewards of money, but not God’s creation?  “They” as so selective in their hermanuetic.  How biased, and how political “they” have become.  Screwy