I posted this URL a couple of days back when the Dobson story first got rolling.

It is nothing compared to the unholy alliance between the Republican party and evangelical* Christians. It is reminiscent of the swasticas on alters in Nazi Germany.

* The media doesn’t understand than all flavors of Christians, liberal or conservative, are commissioned to be evangelical.

RE:  Pastor’s Involvment in Politics in light of the upcoming July 4th holiday.

History:
“24 of 56 signers [of the declaration of independence]...held what today would be considered seminary or Bible school degrees. Clearly, for many Founders, religious issues were an important motivation behind their separation from Great Britain; but that motivation is largely ignored today."*

My Solution:
Speak to the issues, hand out voter guides (states political candidates voting history and positions) and encourage people to vote their Christian Conscience.  We are to submit to governing authorities.  Those authorities request we be involved in the political process.  It doesn’t say, “unless you are a Pastor”.

*context of quote
http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=100
An obvious example of the secularization of history occurs each year around the Fourth of July. Americans are taught that “taxation without representation"� was the reason America separated from Great Britain; yet “taxation without representation"� was only reason number seventeen out of the twenty-seven reasons given in the Declaration of Independence - it was not even in the top half, yet it’s all that most ever hear. Never mentioned today are the numerous grievances condemning judicial activism - or those addressing moral or religious or other issues.

What religious issues? In 1762, the king vetoed the charter for America’s first missionary society; he also suppressed other religious freedoms and even prevented Americans from printing an English language Bible. How did Americans respond? They took action; and almost unknown today is the fact that Declaration signers such as Samuel Adams and Charles Carroll cited religious freedom as the reason they became involved in the American Revolution. And significantly, even though Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin (two of the least religious signers) are typically the only signers studied today, almost half of the signers of the Declaration (24 of 56) held what today would be considered seminary or Bible school degrees. Clearly, for many Founders, religious issues were an important motivation behind their separation from Great Britain; but that motivation is largely ignored today.

I have to agree with some who have questioned why a godly man such as Rev. Caldwell would support a politician who supports abortion, homosexuality, etc.
I’m not perfect (news flash) but I hope as a pastor I have a sense of what sin is and isn’t. Why have so many of these well known pastors come out in their support of Obama. We know clearly where he stands on these issues. I gotta’ tell ya’ man this stuff really bothers me. IS it right to be divided over issues like the murder of the innocent? Do I have to agree to be righteous? I thought all I had to do was believe that JEsus is the Son of God and died for my sins. Where is the courage of these men to stand against sin?
Where is mine?

Thank you DA and Keith. It is deeply troubling when topics like sin and Cristian values become “relative”.

I personally beleive Obama’s specific comments on Leviticus versus “The Sermon on the Mount” showed a shallow knoweldge of The Old and New Covenants as well as priestly, theocratic and moral laws, two of which do not exist today, thanks be to Jesus, and one law which will exist forever, God’s Moral law.

While we are to submit ourselves to the rule of earthly law, there are clear examples of Godly men and women standing up to their rulers when man’s law opposed the Word of God (Peter and John in Acts being the most prominent example)..

Remember Peters words:  We must obey God rather than Man...Acts 5:29

Jerry, PLEASE tell me you are joking about “obomination.”

In case you are not, the word is “abomination.”

And I have to say, I’ve never been a fan of making fun of someone’s name.

He may be your enemy.  Fine.  I’m not going to vote for him, either.  But Jesus says we’re supposed to LOVE our enemies, not make fun of them.

C’mon, guys.  Keep this ton an adult level of conversation rather than sliding to childishness.

Brian L.

James Dobson made a wrong turn somewhere along the way in my view, as well as many others.... and this is a call for him to repent. 12000+ Christians so far, plus who knows how many more who did not sign, but are praying for him. It may well be the sunset of his ministry, but God can still do great things with him if he will turn and follow Jesus like he did in the early days.

As far as Pastor Caldwell goes… chances are this is not unlike the process outlined in Matthew 18, where issues are brought before the church… albeit radio and internet media coverage do make for an interesting application of such passages.

To let Mr Dobson continue down this path in sin unchecked would be wrong… What I do see is a loving albeit strongly worded call for him to repent, and for his audience to be careful going forward. Many have already approached him by 2 or 3’s.

Whether one agrees with this post or not, (granted some may not be led to that point) prayers for Pastor Kirbyjon, Senator Obama, and Dr Dobson would be great.

Al Sharpton and James Dobson are polarizers.  They speak to and champion a very limited number of issues/causes.  Unfortunately, not everyone has been hurt or offended in the same ways!  So everyone does not feel attracted to the same causes. 

Focusing on one issue inevitably polarizes.  There’s always other people who think some other issue is more important at that moment in history.  Here’s a case and point from American history:

During the Civil war it wasn’t just the North that experienced spiritual revivals.  Even though Charles Finney was convinced that God’s Spirit would not move among pro-slavery people, he was proved wrong by God Himself.  Thousands of even Confederate soldiers came to the Lord during those bloody and shameful times in American history.  But how could God save a Confederate sinner without making him turn his back on the Confederate cause?  The answer is simple (but not for polarizers):  the problem is never as simple as a single issue!  You can never truly right one injustice by callously allowing another injustice.  But this is what polarizers do.  They blindly turn their backs on injustices they have not personally felt, and only promote those causes that they have a vested interest in.

Sure… the list of issues requiring repentance is at the top of the article. Granted, there are theological differences amongst all of us, and thats one thing… but after prayerfully considering the petition, before I signed it… this goes way beyond theological disputes.

Now, as Dane presented, differing folks will see this in a different light. To some, perhaps it is appropriate to confine faith to a limited number of moral positions.... ie looking at history, and the slavery deal.  And yes, folks did get saved, just as I am pretty sure folks are getting saved with Dr Dobson’s ministry. However, I firmly believe in doing so, he is also putting up stumbling blocks for many. Christianity is defined by Christ.... all of these other issues come after… they are not the primary thing.

And that is what has changed… back in the mid-late 80’s I remember Dr Dobson asking for his listeners to call him out if need be, as his ministry was growing rapidly… and it would be very easy to fall off the path. Sadly that is what occurred imho. Its is beyond theological differences.

Ultimately though.... Christ is being preached, and we can all rejoice in that. Yet, how many more could be reached, if Dr Dobson return to his beginnings, where the focus was on Jesus first, family ministry second, and everything else came from there.... Not politics first as is so often the case in the mailings I get from him. I’m not saying Christians should have no part in politics, as that is an arena of significant dispute… but that in everything we do, Jesus must be primary, whether politically active or not.