Does Dobson Really Want Christians to Disengage From Politics?
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
Yesterday, I wrote about Focus on the Family founder James Dobson telling his radio listeners that they're politically powerless to influence Washington at the moment. That it was no use calling or writing the White House or their elected representatives.
Instead, he said, they should pray.
Judging from the comments on the post, many secular readers put no stock in prayer. But it's important to note that Dobson is entirely serious about prayer as a real strategy to effect change, as are tens of millions of other American Christians. That's why I wrote that Dobson has surrendered politically for the moment, not that he's surrendered entirely.
But to encourage Christian disengagement from politics, at least until Republicans return to power in some branch of the federal government, is no small thing. That's especially true because evangelicals had been politically disengaged for much of the 20th century. Their return to the political arena in the late 1970s was a hard-won victory for culture warriors like Paul Weyrich and Jerry Falwell.
To encourage evangelical Christians to sit on the political sidelines until a better day arrives sounds like a call to return to that previous era, when the public humiliation of 1925's Scopes "monkey trial" scared evangelicals out of politics for the next half century.
Indeed, some conservative readers chide Dobson for discouraging political engagement:
Bob Goetz of North Carolina writes:
Isn't this kind of "silent consent" exactly what the Republicans are now criticising Nancy Pelosi for? This is not the time to acquiesce and allow bad policies to take root in our country.
I'm just very thankful the Founding Fathers were made of sterner stuff than Dr. Dobson seems to be. Perhaps a few Tea Party visits on July 4 would perk him up a bit. That's assuming, of course, our federal and state nannies don't use swine flu as a pretext to ban the rallies outright.
Kapyee of Florida writes:
Dobson speaks of conservative Christians as entering "their most discouraging" period, but he needs to return to the bible to see the political environment that birthed his religion, Jesus; entire ministry, indeed hes life, was spent under Roman occupation, but this didn't make an iota of difference in his mission. In fact, the church began awash with the blood and suffering of its martyrs. And this brand of Christianity becomes "discouraged" in the face of a Liberal Congress and Democrats in power? Tsk, tsk, Mr. Dobson...
I'm especially interested in hearing from conservative readers about Dobson's latest political advice. Is he just facing the facts about the Democrats' monopoly in Washington? Or has he given up too easily?
Tags: politics | religion | Christianity | James Dobson
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Reader Comments
Christianity in politics has never been more important than now
I am a conservative Christian, I am also very observant of what is going on in Washington D.C. not only did I live there, but I work there as well, and let me tell you, with our current administration, WE ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE MY FRIENDS; regardless of your political title, beit Rebublican, Democratic, whatever, this adminstration is opening cans of worms all over the globe.
Change has come but it certainly hasn't or will it be for the betterment of the UNITED STATES as we know it, the UNITED STATES as it was founded is under serious attack, and not from terrorists from foreign lands, but right here behind the WHITE HOUSE OVAL OFFICE DOORS.
Anyone, who has a sense of loyalty will not sit by and pass judgement on people like James Dobson, whose only agenda is to make people realize the tragedies we're going to be facing if we close our eyes and turn our backs to what the PRESIDENT is purposing of the United States of America. WE he is placing on the backbones of the country, the men and woman who work here, protect us in foreign lands, and those of us such as myself, who is tired of sitting on the sidelines watching the continum of the moral decay around the country, for the great ME.
As long as it is ok for me then its ok, lets forget if its moral, a just, or valuable tou our Character, as long as I get what I want, who cares about anything or anyone else, and my friends that is WRONG,OUR country was built on a strong foundation that if you know your history, then you will know that this country was founded on solid government,that admitted that they didn't have all the answers but were willing to admit it and seek GODS face for guidance. its with that strong faith in GOD that helped make this country great, yet we have turned our backs on GOD, COUNTRY, and the AMERICAN DREAM to pursue self serving, idealistic, and idologies that have NO foundationally moral value of what our country was built on. When Soldiers, Christians, and those who believe that certain things have made this coutry great, such as the correct defination of marriage, and life in as a small embryo is valuable, are now called Terrorists of greatest concern, well all I can say is there is something drastically wrong, and we need to step back and take a long hard look at our selves, and then toward Pennsylvania Ave and ask the question, how far are we going to let our country fall before we take her back??? I can tell you for me and my family we've drawn the line in the sand, and as for me and my family WE SERVE THE LORD, not man.
And American is the LAND that was founded with GOD as the foundation, not ornament.
Well said about Psychology stuff
My thoughts are similar. I have never been to a counselor of that sort or any and I have been married 17 years now and I think that if we had gone to a Christian, so-called, Psyche counselor with we might be divorced. I have had Christians in the church tell me to divorce my husband for this reason and that. I have decided to stay and pray with him and we do better than trying to get someone to help us with man's wisdom. The churches here in WA are really messed up. We can't find one that is true to the Bible unless we are missing something. We have lived here for 9 years and still no church has been able to get our attention. We feed ourselves and don't listen to the silly stuff that comes from a majority of the pulpits. One showed pix of his John Deere Lawn Mower and tried to make a sermon out of "not going too close to the edge of a big hole in his yard". Never went back! He got cancer and nearly died. I wonder? Well, I just wanted to comment on the previous blogger and say AMEN and we don't need Psyche teaching in the Church of Jesus. RIGHT ON!
I agree with Dobson
Fundamental and evangelical Christians did not disengage from politics in 1925, they just moved to a more effective arena. That arena is that of personal witness, the very evangelism that Christ commanded as our commission for today. By the 1970s there were so many evangelical Christians we were able to effect political change. But in moving into the political arena, we neglected the commission Christ gave us. We gained political power but lost ground in turning people to Christ. Reaching the hearts of people is the only effective way of bringing change. I fear we have lost America because we were satisfied with a few bones from the politicians, and hence invested our energy, time and money in something temporal rather than eternal. It's way past time for Christians to repent and turn to the Lord for power rather than Washington.
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