Kudos for TODD -

Only MMI could get so much passion going on a Friday post.

Not in defense of any of the celebrities, but to danielR’s point… One reason we must be active i the “hoomosexual agenda debate” is precisely because they are such a small percentage of the population and yet their “preferential status” (MY WORDS - on my own behalf) directs more of our national time, politidal energy and financial resources that any other subset of society…

i.e.  does Travelocity (or any other travel site) have a link for Jewish vacations, black or hispanic travel offers, or even “cruises for athiests.”

The “squeaky minority” has become a POLITICAL crisis in our country… As for BIBLICAL reasoning, yeah - the Bible is against homosexuality.... but that’s not the point of this post…

I think Wendi hit the nail on the head.  “Let’s look at the political stands Jesus took"....NONE".  It seems to me that the issues of
importance to Christ were, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” and “I am the living water, drink from me and you will never thirst again”.  The POINT to me is “first things first”.  We are not called to political agendas, at least not to the point of trading in our “pulpit” for political position.  How I wish that believers in the limelight would re-focus their platforms to be “Christ-centered” and start trying with greater effort to simply out-grace the rest of the world instead of attempting to legislate their religious point of view.  So, what if a far left liberal gets elected?  Has God stopped being God in America?  What if the far right guy gets elected.  Has God’s plan now been carried out?  Is the Father’s desire that we effect change on the gay marriage agenda, or that we introduce a lost world, straight AND gay alike, to His unconditional love and grace??  EVERY side has an opinion and an agenda.  Maybe we should stop taking “sides” and share with the world the ONE THING they can’t find on CNN or Fox news!!!!

Todd,

My favorite line was:  I can make myself look foolish (thank you very much).

I think on that point, you spoke for me as well.  ... I actually agreed with you on the other points as well. 

My problem for quite some time with Dr. Dobson and others has been his move toward closely associating Christianity with the Republican party.  The problem is that once they’re in bed together, it’s hard to be objective about the shortcomings of the Republicans, their leadership, or their agendas.  (The same would be true if he were a Democrat.)

The challenge for us as Christians is to keep our ultimate allegiance to Christ, and to not become so bound to any other organization or philosphy that we can’t speak out against its shortcomings. 

I’ve ranted more than I intended to.  ... Thanks again for the line about not needing more help looking foolish.  As one who often defines “foolish” I really appreciated it. 

Tim

When will Dobson retire?  Isn’t the guy a child psychologist?  Couldn’t he stick with commenting authoritatively on that?  Oh no, that’s right . . . everything “affects the family” so he is free to pontificate on any issue from Bible translations to global warming to immigration.

hello, I am amazed at how Dobson thinks he is the final word on biblical interpretation. I do not and have not agreed with him. I used to live in Colo. Springs and remember hearing over the news on the radio and T.V. about James Dobson being connected with a underage sex scandal, and then suddenly one never heard about it again. How very strange that is. No one else could make something like that disappear over night.

Hey folks, I am not spreading any rumor about Dobson.  The T.V. and radio new reported these things. I only found it strange that it disappeared so fast. No-one else has been able to make something like that disappear, guilty or innocent, it doesn’t matter. All I want is honesty. I only state what the news reported. C’mon I expect believers to never ignor what is the news, it is believers job to investigate and then to discern as Soloman did. Not to ignor something or write it off because it is unpleasant. C"mon I expect better from believers.

I believe that peolpe should start using discenment instead of opinion. Discernment can only enacted upon investigation. All else is opinion. WE need to investagate our leader and all those in public places and discern what they tell us to believe. How can Chistians be the light of the world if they canot get along with other christians. Jesus said the Greastest commandment is “Love one another as I have loved you. Judgement is reserved for Him alone. This is my problen with Mr. James Dobson. He has decided it is his job tell people who nd what they are supposed to be. This is blasphemy. That job is the Lords alone. Judge not least ye’ be judged is what my Bible tells me. If a person lives as an example of Christ, giving forth love to the world as Jesus commanded, and give forth love to the world using discernment so as not to be fooled. WE as Christians can truely make the world better place. Not because we tell people to, but because other will see the Christ example within us shining forth.The strength and passion of that truth will change nonbeliever because they will want what ythey see. Instead of rebelling against what they are told. May the LORD bless each of us everywhere.

One last note.
Wendi wanted me to site me reasoning so it would not be viewed as opinion. Just look at the top of the article wendi. Just because he , Mr. Dobson, doesnot agree with global warming, he “sites” that The Rev. Richard Cizik is an unfit leader in a group that Mr. Dobson does not belong to. This only devides people. I donot really Know if Global warming is real or just a cycle. But I do know there is too much pollution done by people. A fact. That Is why I moved from Denver to Colo. spring in the first place, to many days with dangerous air quaility from human pollution. And we as a society need to do all we can to clean it up. I donot care if it is global warming or not, it is a problem - fact not opinion.
How can someone be called unfit when he cares about the world he leaves to his children. Do I need to site more documentation or does this make the point in a clear and rational manner of discernment.
But I agree, blasphemy may have been too stong of a term. Even though the point was correct.

John –

You don’t seem to understand what it means to cite your sources.  You said:

“I used to live in Colo. Springs and remember hearing over the news on the radio and T.V. about James Dobson being connected with a underage sex scandal, and then suddenly one never heard about it again. How very strange that is. No one else could make something like that disappear over night.”

You respond to me by explaining what Dobson has said and done that causes you to have a negative opinion of him.  You DID NOT tell us which news and radio sources reported Dobson being involved in an underage sex scandal and when it was reported so that we could verify the information you reported.

When Dobson criticizes Cizik for his position on global warning, he is not accusing him of committing a crime that he doesn’t have evidence for.  I agree that this behavior by Dobson is ridiculous, but he certainly did not “cite” anything, he simply used his platform to assert his opinion.

This is an old thread (original posted in March) and most others seem to have moved on to other discussions (it’s just you and I discussing here).  However, I know from participating on this blog regularly that making unsubstantiated and inflammatory claims that cannot be backed up is highly frowned upon. 

I largely agree with your opinion about Dobson, but you need to back up the statement about an underage sex scandal or apologize for it and retract the statement.  I persist in trying to make this point because I believe your behavior (making outrageous and unsubstantiated charges against a brother in Christ), is just as damaging to the kingdom as Dobson’s behavior is.

Wendi

wendi I have no source for nothing i have nothing to report. evething i have ever said in mylife is wrong dis-miss anything you have heard from my direction your and your are correct i mis-stated i’m must be mostly retarted or dis-illusional, please go on with your life being correct and honorable for i must be niether may god save us all

John,

Wendi is absolutely correct.  If you say, “Fred Jones was accused of having child porn on his PC in the news...” you have defamed Fred Jones, without having providing anything to substantiate your assertion.  Even saying that someone is ACCUSED of something can be tremendously damaging.  If your assertion about Dobson was accurate (and I’m not saying it was or wasn’t) then tracking down the original story should be pretty easy, given the power of Google and other search engines. 

The fact that you still don’t get it is equally bothersome.  Basically, you were spreading rumors (as I stated a couple of days ago) about which you had not firsthand knowledge or evidence.  In scripture, bearing false witness and gossip are looked upon as very serious actions… Certainly actions that believers shouldn’t engage in.  That’s the point that Wendi and I both tried to make.

We weren’t saying that you made anything up.  Just that if you make an accusation against a brother in Christ (whether you like him or not) you’d darn well better be able to back up your statement or you’re sinning against him, and against family of believers.

OK.  I’m off my podium now… Carry one…

I have never heard Dobson say he wanted to have the Bible be the rule of thumb for every walk of life in a legislative capacity.  I have never heard him say that he wants a theocracy. 

I do not know his motives nor do I know his personal walk.  However I have seen his passion for the Lord and for the family.  I know many of you do not agree with his politics but I think we have to put Dobson in a time and place in our history.  One problem we have as people is our rush to judgment.  I see huge positive impact from Dobson, have experienced it first hand. 

He has helped keep me informed of things that do directly impact the family, fought for values, using tools at his disposal legally, has been consistent in what he stands for and what he stands against.  His family and family life seem to have been consistent with his teaching. 

He also does speak for many people.  His beliefs are in line with millions upon millions of people across this country and world.  His passion for a biblical approach to issues like abortion and homosexuality have not left him in the Fred Phelps category, he backs up his passion with a lot of ministry. 

I say this because of the harshness that has come from people here.  Dobson does not speak for me, nor does he seek to create a theocracy.  He is well within his rights to be political and well within his faith to seek to influence the country he loves and lives within by the means his country provides.  His help to pastors, churches, families, single moms, desperate dads is so huge none of us here could measure it. 

Can I encourage as much charity towards someone whose life and ministry have at least had a measurable impact on families, churches and pastors?  Thanks.

This is to wendi, my last entry turned my stomach so i really needed to add to it. Why should my words carry any worth I am only a combat trained ex-marine who has lead men into battle and shed my own blood. What would I know about the world I have only flown across it 8 times. Or how would i know right from wrong I have only aquired land on 3 continents and built shelters to feed hungry people without the help of any church or group. No wonder it is so easy for you to discredit a mans words from your sheltered life, what have you really done to help some one or make a difference. My entire troop heard about dobson over the tv. and radio, We have tapes of it. Remember Colo is also a place for military christian and otherwise.
I am just not used to having my words discredited, Generals and public officials take my recommendations at my word. And this is good enough to risk men and womens lives, while I pray for their children, they give me they picture when I send them into conflict. Pretty good for a mostly retarted disillusional person. May God save us all.