A Meeting With Dr. Dobson: Please Pray That He Becomes More Explicitly Biblical When He Speaks Out On Issues
ME (left), DR. DOBSON. I beseeched him not to join those who have said it’s OK to vote for an unbeliever - a non-Christian — those who say a person’s ‘religion’ is irrelevant, because whether intended or not such foolish views constitute Christ-denial.By John Lofton, Editor
DENVER, Colorado – I knew it was going to be a successful trip when I turned on the radio in my rental car. It was set to the 1950s/”Golden Oldies” channel. Yes! God is good!
First stop, a visit with Dr. James Dobson (about 15 minutes in his recording studio.) I gotta admit that when I called his office, told his assistant I’d be in the Denver area, and asked if he would see me, I never thought he’d say yes. But, he did. Oh, me of little faith.
Our meeting was off-the-record meaning, in this case, that I cannot quote anything he said. I can, however, quote what I said to him. I began by telling him that I had prayed that he would not join those who have, foolishly, said that “religion” is irrelevant in deciding which candidate to support. I pleaded, indeed beseeched him, not to believe it’s OK for a Christian to vote for a non-Christian as Paul Weyrich does (he endorsed Romney, a Mormon). I told him that whether intended or not, those who believe a candidate’s “religion” is irrelevant —and/or it’s OK for a Christian to vote for an unbeliever — are, in effect, engaging in Christ-denial.
In some areas, in specific contexts, Dr. Dobson has been, relatively speaking, not as much of a mindless Republican Party cheerleader as some other so-called “leaders” of the “Religious Right.” Sometimes he has waved only one pom-pom. I encouraged him to not be a GOP cheerleader.
I remember years ago when Gary Bauer was the head of the “Family Research Council.” I was in Bauer’s office when Dr. D. called. There was a problem. On national TV the night before, Dr. D. had said something critical of the Republican Party. Three big, angry donors had called telling him that if he ever said anything like this again they would stop supporting the “FRC.”
DR. PATRICK JOHNSTON, his wife and lovely family sang a moving pro-life song for us.gI asked Gary if I might speak to Dr. D.? He handed me the phone. I told him to hang in there because what he had said the previous night was true. He said he had caught some heavy flack with some supporters accusing him of becoming, for example, “too political” on the abortion issue. I told him this was nonsense since murdering unborn babies is not “politics” it’s — well — murdering unborn babies.
Dr. D. told me that some of his Board Of Directors had quit because of his increasing “political activity,” one of these cowards being Bill Hybels of the Willowbrook mega — no, I will not call it a “church” because it isn’t. I told him good riddance to Hybels, that his organization would be much stronger when all the weak sisters like Hybels quit. Hybels later wrote a book on how to be a leader!
In our meeting, when I asked for a photo with Dr. D., he seemed a little nervous wondering what use I might make of such a picture since in 2004 we had criticized him. I told him not to worry, we’d put a big blue dot on his face to hide his identity. I added that the photo would also help justify my expenses since it would prove I was in Colorado.
As for his recollection of our criticism, I told him, with all due respect, that he was not criticism-proof, that we had criticized him for one specific thing (put “Pataki” in our search engine to see what this thing was), that ours was no broad-brush, general attack on him with no specifics.
I added that we had also praised him for some of his positions – like his comparing embryonic stem cell research to the Nazi medical “experiments.” In fact, Steve Peroutka and I did an entire “The American View” program on this. I also praised him for saying he’d never vote for Thompson; and I bashed Gary Bauer for bashing Dr. D. for having said what he said about Thompson. And I praised Dr. D. for his repeated and effective attacks on Cal Thomas who has attacked Dr. D. for being “political” instead of sticking to the preaching of the Gospel. I said there are some Christians who can walk and chew gum, even if Thomas, obviously, cannot.
A RATHER disconcerting sign near the entrance of a Denver Airport Men’s Room. And no, I did not see Larry Craig there.Other things you’ll just have to trust me on re: my Dr. Dobson meeting:
— He vehemently opposes a Third Party and will not vote if the GOP nominates a pro-abortion candidate.
— He is no fan of Mike Huckabee.
The meeting ended with my strongly reiterating what I said at the start of our meeting.
Please pray for Dr. Dobson that he will become more explicitly Christian/Biblical when he speaks out on issues.
P.S. I had another meeting while in the Denver area, with a long-time friend, Bill Armstrong, the former Colorado U.S. Senator (Republican, alas) who is now President, Colorado Christian University.