Sojourners: Jim Wallis: James Dobson’s ‘Letter From 2012 in Obama’s America’

[AsburySkinsFan]

James Dobson’s ‘Letter From 2012 in Obama’s America’

James Dobson, you owe America an apology. The fictional letter released through your Focus on the Family Action organization, titled “Letter From 2012 in Obama’s America”, crosses all lines of decent public discourse. In a time of utter political incivility, it shows the kind of negative Christian leadership that has become so embarrassing to so many of your fellow Christians in America. We are weary of this kind of Christian leadership, and that is why so many are forsaking the Religious Right in this election.

This letter offers nothing but fear. It apocalyptically depicts terrorist attacks in American cities, churches losing their tax exempt status for not allowing gay marriages, pornography pushed in front of our children, doctors and nurses forced to perform abortions, euthanasia as commonplace, inner-city crime gone wild because of lack of gun ownership, home schooling banned, restricted religious speech, liberal censorship shutting down conservative talk shows, Christian publishers forced out of business, Israel nuked, power blackouts because of environmental restrictions, brave Christian resisters jailed by a liberal Supreme court, and finally, good Christian families emigrating to Australia and New Zealand.

It is shocking how thoroughly biblical teachings against slander—misrepresentations that damage another’s reputation—are ignored (Ephesians 4:29-31, Colossians 3:8, Titus 3:2). Such outrageous predictions not only damage your credibility, they slander Barack Obama who, you should remember, is a brother in Christ, and they insult any Christian who might choose to vote for him.

Let me make this clear: Christians will be voting both ways in this election, informed by their good faith, and based on their views of what are the best public policies and direction for America. But in utter disrespect for the prayerful discernment of your fellow Christians, this letter stirs their ugliest fears, appealing to their worst impulses instead of their best.

Fear is the clear motivator in the letter; especially fear that evangelical Christians might vote for Barack Obama. The letter was very revealing when it suggested that “younger Evangelicals” became the “swing vote” that elected Obama and the results were catastrophic.

You make a mistake when you assume that younger Christians don’t care as much as you about the sanctity of life. They do care—very much—but they have a more consistent ethic of life. Both broader and deeper, it is inclusive of abortion, but also of the many other assaults on human life and dignity. For the new generation, poverty, hunger, and disease are also life issues; creation care is a life issue; genocide, torture, the death penalty, and human rights are life issues; war is a life issue. What happens to poor children after they are born is also a life issue.

The America you helped vote into power has lost its moral standing in the world, and even here at home. The America you told Christians to vote for in past elections is now an embarrassment to Christians around the globe, and to the children of your generation of evangelicals. And the vision of America that you still tell Christians to vote for is not the one that many in a new generation of Christians believes expresses their best values and convictions.

Christians should be committed to the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of America, and the church is to live an alternative existence of love and justice, offering a prophetic witness to politics. Elections are full of imperfect choices where we all seek to what is best for the “common good” by applying the values of our faith as best we can.

Dr. Dobson, you of course have the same right as every Christian and every American to vote your own convictions on the issues you most care about, but you have chosen to insult the convictions of millions of other Christians, whose own deeply held faith convictions might motivate them to vote differently than you. This epistle of fear is perhaps the dying gasp of a discredited heterodoxy of conservative religion and conservative politics. But out of that death, a resurrection of biblical politics more faithful to the whole gospel—one that is truly good news—might indeed be coming to life.

Way to go Jim! I'm so glad that there is someone like you on the national stage speaking for us Christians who understand that James Dobson does not represent us.

[BigMike619]

very nice find asbury...very nice indeed and well needed.

[Destino]

What do you think drives more people to athiesm?

A) Godless Liberals

The Religious Right

I think it's pretty close but I'd say B. Everytime I run into people hostile to Christianity they toss examples of the hatred doctrine pushed by people like Dobson.

Scripture used as a weapon of hatred rings false and empty and people rightly reject it. Sadly too many confuse it with real scripture and wash their hands of the good along with the bad.

[Seabee1973]

He is not the first one to put out a 2012 message.

Its a worse case scenario as the article says.

James Dobson has been studying the bible for over 25 years but people still believed Obama when Obama said therew was many paths to Christ critisizing James Dobson.

As a God fearing Christian how can anyone support Obama?

[Cooked Crack]

What do you think drives more people to athiesm?

A) Godless Liberals

The Religious Right

As a God fearing Christian how can anyone support Obama?

*cough*

[DjTj]

As a God fearing Christian how can anyone support Obama?

I think the OP already answered your question.

It is shocking how thoroughly biblical teachings against slander—misrepresentations that damage another’s reputation—are ignored (Ephesians 4:29-31, Colossians 3:8, Titus 3:2). Such outrageous predictions not only damage your credibility, they slander Barack Obama who, you should remember, is a brother in Christ, and they insult any Christian who might choose to vote for him.

Let me make this clear: Christians will be voting both ways in this election, informed by their good faith, and based on their views of what are the best public policies and direction for America. But in utter disrespect for the prayerful discernment of your fellow Christians, this letter stirs their ugliest fears, appealing to their worst impulses instead of their best.

Fear is the clear motivator in the letter; especially fear that evangelical Christians might vote for Barack Obama. The letter was very revealing when it suggested that “younger Evangelicals” became the “swing vote” that elected Obama and the results were catastrophic.

You make a mistake when you assume that younger Christians don’t care as much as you about the sanctity of life. They do care—very much—but they have a more consistent ethic of life. Both broader and deeper, it is inclusive of abortion, but also of the many other assaults on human life and dignity. For the new generation, poverty, hunger, and disease are also life issues; creation care is a life issue; genocide, torture, the death penalty, and human rights are life issues; war is a life issue. What happens to poor children after they are born is also a life issue.

The America you helped vote into power has lost its moral standing in the world, and even here at home. The America you told Christians to vote for in past elections is now an embarrassment to Christians around the globe, and to the children of your generation of evangelicals. And the vision of America that you still tell Christians to vote for is not the one that many in a new generation of Christians believes expresses their best values and convictions.

Christians should be committed to the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of America, and the church is to live an alternative existence of love and justice, offering a prophetic witness to politics. Elections are full of imperfect choices where we all seek to what is best for the “common good” by applying the values of our faith as best we can.

[Hubbs]

What do you think drives more people to athiesm?

A) Godless Liberals

The Religious Right

I think it's pretty close but I'd say B. Everytime I run into people hostile to Christianity they toss examples of the hatred doctrine pushed by people like Dobson.

Scripture used as a weapon of hatred rings false and empty and people rightly reject it. Sadly too many confuse it with real scripture and wash their hands of the good along with the bad.

You think it's close? I think it's a freaking landslide. Atheism in and of itself is horrendously unattractive - no life after death? No grand plan? No divine providence? Just totally random chance and a dirt nap at the end? Why would anyone honestly want to believe that?

It's only through the flaws in religion that people are driven to atheism.

[Slateman]

You know what I hate most about that letter? There's a kernel of truth in it. The rest is such complete garbage it actually bothers me that someone would think that way.

[Thiebear]

I read the 1st 5 pages and quite a bit of it rang true. I stopped there.

It's basically an Oliver Stone movie script for Obama, its over the top but like all pieces you can see the background.

I'm an atheist because if you follow all religions from the start they all sound exactly the same and each succeeding one takes from the previous. I have no issues with those that believe though. I don't care what you do as long as your a good person AFTER you leave church at Noon.

I've never understood how people can put aside their religion on the abortion/death penalty/homosexuality etc though. Random pieces of religion has to be damn hard to maintain.

[Zguy28]

You think it's close? I think it's a freaking landslide. Atheism in and of itself is horrendously unattractive - no life after death? No grand plan? No divine providence? Just totally random chance and a dirt nap at the end? Why would anyone honestly want to believe that?

It's only through the flaws in religion that people are driven to atheism.

Thankfully, atheism is a relatively small percentage of the world population.

A more pressing question would be "what drives people to agnosticism?"

That's an interesting question...because I think there are probably many more agnostics than atheists. Unfortunately the stats are usually lumped together.

[Rdskn4Lyf21]

Thankfully, atheism is a relatively small percentage of the world population.

A more pressing question would be "what drives people to agnosticism?"

That's an interesting question...because I think there are probably many more agnostics than atheists. Unfortunately the stats are usually lumped together.

Life experiences where they either give up on God or a divine being because of hardships or they just say **** it.....my :2cents:

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Left out of Dobson's letter...

Land of the free? Every night, a homosexual named Jeff comes into my home and ****s me in the pooper. And there seems to be nothing I can do to stop it. I blame this on President Obama.

[twa]

Just validates my belief preachers should stay out of politics.

On either side.

[AsburySkinsFan]

I think it's pretty close but I'd say B. Everytime I run into people hostile to Christianity they toss examples of the hatred doctrine pushed by people like Dobson.

Scripture used as a weapon of hatred rings false and empty and people rightly reject it. Sadly too many confuse it with real scripture and wash their hands of the good along with the bad.

I'd lean much harder towards B, which is exactly why so many look at Christians and say that we are hypocrites. The one line in the Wallis letter to Dobson that hits hardest is when he challenges how he is treating Obama who is Dobson's brother in Christ, which makes me wonder is Dobson believes that Obama really is his brother in Christ. What's more is that over the past 8 years Dobson has begun to sound more and more like Pat Robertson which is really sad due to the fact that Dobson used to actually Focus on the Family instead of Focusing on the GOP.

He is not the first one to put out a 2012 message.

Its a worse case scenario as the article says.

James Dobson has been studying the bible for over 25 years but people still believed Obama when Obama said therew was many paths to Christ critisizing James Dobson.

As a God fearing Christian how can anyone support Obama?

First Dobson is a Family Therapist, not a trained theologian.

Second a God fearing Christian can support Obama because we understand that the Christian Right is wrong with their emphasis on judges rather than people, and support of civil rights of same sex couples while not supporting their lifestyles. BTW, Jim Wallis is a devout Christian, and I know personally Sojourner's Chief Operating Officer: Chuck Gutenson. He taught my Kingdom, Church and World class, and I did an independant study with him in Religion and Politics. Both of these men have an unshakeable faith in Christ but reject the Religious Right's approach.

I read the 1st 5 pages and quite a bit of it rang true. I stopped there.

It's basically an Oliver Stone movie script for Obama, its over the top but like all pieces you can see the background.

That is IMO a very acturate characterization of the Dobson letter only I would trade Stone for Tarantino. It is an apocalyptic worst case scenario that was written to envoke fear into the minds and hearts of Christians who read it, and the worst part is that our scriptures tell us that perfect love casts out fear, so my question to Dobson is, "Why are you fearmongering, and tearing down a fellow Christian?"

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

Thankfully, atheism is a relatively small percentage of the world population.

A more pressing question would be "what drives people to agnosticism?"

That's an interesting question...because I think there are probably many more agnostics than atheists. Unfortunately the stats are usually lumped together.

What drove me to agnosticism is the simple fact that I've seen no concrete evidence that a higher power exists.

Though, unlike an athiest...I wouldn't at all be surprised if a higher power does exist.:2cents:

[AsburySkinsFan]

Just validates my belief preachers should stay out of politics.

On either side.

So everyone else can get involved except preachers?

Should Christians stay out of politics too?

Maybe what should happen is that the preachers who feel called to get involved should...oh...I don't know....but maybe they should actually ACT like Christians when they are involved in politics. I know its a pretty crazy idea but then I'm a little loopy.

[TMK9973]

I just read the letter.... James Dobson is really obsessed with Homosexuals isn't he?

[SkinsHokieFan]

I just read the letter.... James Dobson is really obsessed with Homosexuals isn't he?

Seems like a lot of people are

Did you read the Marc Fisher article in the Post yesterday?

One of the quotes that cracked me up about people's fear for voting Obama

"He will give homosexuals the rights"

Whatever that means

Here is the article

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/

Searching For The Border With Real Virginia

That elusive line is out here somewhere, and I'm asking people to help me find the border between red and blue, between "real Virginia" and, well, what -- fake Virginia?

"I call it New York South," offers Mitch Dickinson, 54, who lives near Fredericksburg and works for the state highway department. He draws the line along Fairfax County's southern border.

A top aide to John McCain said last week that her man is still on his way to winning the state because of his support in "real Virginia," which McCain senior adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer described as the "part of the state that is more Southern in nature, if you will."

That part is not to be confused with "communist country," which is how Joe McCain, the candidate's brother, described Arlington and Alexandria, which happen to be, respectively, where John and Joe live, but we don't talk about that part.

At Sarah Palin's rally in Fredericksburg this week, I am repeatedly assured that I have arrived in "real Virginia."

Dickinson says you know you're in real Virginia "when the big issue is hunting. People who are for hunting and the Second Amendment are going to vote Republican to protect against radical socialist communist views. It's also about faith: I don't see how any person who believes in Jesus Christ could vote for Obama or any Democrat."

His nephew, Travis, a 29-year-old truck driver, sees the split defined by views on taxes. "Virginia is the South, and in the South, people don't want high taxes," he says.

The gap is growing, says Robert Nelson, a salesman in Spotsylvania: "The rest of the state's gotten even more conservative because of all the conservatives moving here from Northern Virginia."

The Palin rally of course presents no cross section of opinion, but rather a particular stripe; yet this gathering in Fredericksburg is at the "tipping point for Virginia and the nation," says Susan Stimpson, the Republican chairman in Stafford County.

Some say that divide between Northern Virginia and the rest of the state follows Route 28 along the Fairfax-Loudoun line; others put the border farther out, along Route 17 from Fredericksburg to Warrenton to Winchester. But the more I talk to voters, the more I sense that the distinction isn't tethered to a particular line on the map.

"All I see in my neighborhood is McCain signs, and I said, 'Why do they keep saying Virginia's going to go for Obama?' " says Leah Paley, who traveled to the rally from Richmond. "Then I went to cast my absentee ballot, and I saw all these different people voting. In the past, where I vote, there weren't any blacks. This time, it was mostly blacks and young kids, and they were there for Obama."

To Paley and many others who think of themselves as real Virginians, that's a frightening prospect. "I have a friend who said she makes more than $250,000," Paley says, "but Obama's higher taxes are okay with her because it's her social duty to help others. Can you believe that? I said to her, 'Wouldn't you rather choose where your money goes?' I don't want my money going to somebody sitting on the couch watching Jerry Springer on TV."

These "real" Virginians say they fear an Obama presidency. For Lois Green, it's that "the United States is going to lose its sovereignty." Angela Greene, a stay-at-home mother from Fredericksburg who sports a "Hot Chicks Vote Republican" button, worries that "we'll become friends with Iran." Nelson says "our taxes will go up and our military will be cut."

"The homosexuals will get their rights passed, and they'll probably do away with the death penalty," says Mitch Dickinson.

"There could be small riots, because people don't like that amount of change," says Willy Humphreys, a farmer and construction worker in Stafford who, at 39, plans to cast his first vote ever, for McCain. "I've noticed that a lot of younger people are kind of into Obama, but for a lot of people my age, it's always been a Caucasian male."

"We're not ready for a black guy," says Angi Kraft, 39, a mortgage processor who has been laid off three times since February. "I'm scared he will be killed. I don't trust him. And I'm telling you, we are becoming a minority -- and a Northern state. They're all coming down here, the Northerners."

There's no such anxiety up the road at Northern Virginia Community College in Woodbridge in Prince William County. The "real Virginia" concept draws nothing but blank stares here. Most students feel no connection either to Southern culture or to the notion that Northern Virginia is an outpost of the District. They think of Prince William as generic suburbia, hardly different from similar settings in New Jersey or North Carolina.

Most of the 24 students I meet support McCain, though not one had watched the TV debates. But the McCain supporters express no fear of Obama, saying they prefer McCain because of his experience and their sense that he's stronger on national security.

"I don't know much about Obama," says Cassandra Brown, 18, who will cast her first vote for McCain. "My parents lean more toward Republicans, so it's how I was brought up."

The border I set out to find turns out to be not so much about lines on a map as it is about mental geography. "It's happening here, too," Kraft says. "We came here from Prince William to get away from them, and now they're coming here."

Join me at noon today for "Potomac Confidential" at www.washingtonpost.com/liveonline.

[brandymac27]

Thankfully, atheism is a relatively small percentage of the world population.

A more pressing question would be "what drives people to agnosticism?"

That's an interesting question...because I think there are probably many more agnostics than atheists. Unfortunately the stats are usually lumped together.

What drove me to agnosticism is the simple fact that I've seen no concrete evidence that a higher power exists.

Though, unlike an athiest...I wouldn't at all be surprised if a higher power does exist.:2cents:

What Brave said. I'm agnostic b/c I'm one of those people that wants proof or empirical evidence. It's not that I don't think there is a God, it's that I don't really know what to believe, if that makes any sense. Like Brave, I would not be surprised at all if God did exist.

[Corcaigh]

Left out of Dobson's letter...

Quote:

Land of the free? Every night' date=' a homosexual named Jeff comes into my home and ****s me in the pooper. And there seems to be nothing I can do to stop it. I blame this on President Obama. [/quote']

I think it would be Ted (Haggard) not Jeff.

[skinstzar]

He is not the first one to put out a 2012 message.

Its a worse case scenario as the article says.

James Dobson has been studying the bible for over 25 years but people still believed Obama when Obama said therew was many paths to Christ critisizing James Dobson.

As a God fearing Christian how can anyone support Obama?

People like you make it real easy for us.

[AsburySkinsFan]

I just read the letter.... James Dobson is really obsessed with Homosexuals isn't he?

Think of it like Communism and the Red threat that existed in the 50's and 60's and you'll begin to undestand the obsession. The problem is that Dobson wants a "Christian society" and instead of reaching people he and others decided that the best way to construct that society was to enact laws, because at least with the laws he can maintain the illusion of the Christian society so he has a platform to condemn those he disagrees with. I wish you all knew how hard it is for me to write that, because Dobson was a man that I used to repect, some of his books were formative for me early in my faith, but over the past decade he has slowly drifted alongside the Pat Robertsons. I honestly wish that Dobson would figure out what D. James Kennedy figured out when he closed down the political action wing of his ministry at Coral Ridge in order to focus on the core of their ministry which is about changing lives not legislation.

[skinstzar]

Seems like a lot of people are

Did you read the Marc Fisher article in the Post yesterday?

One of the quotes that cracked me up about people's fear for voting Obama

"He will give homosexuals the rights"

Whatever that means

Here is the article

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/

So this pretty much proves the "Real Virginia" is a racist state that probably should have been allowed to suceed from the Union. This pretty much proves my point that Maryland is the superior state.

[AsburySkinsFan]

So this pretty much proves the "Real Virginia" is a racist state that probably should have been allowed to suceed from the Union. This pretty much proves my point that Maryland is the superior state.

Oh come on now, you know the "real Maryland" is in Western Maryland once you pass Baltimore.

[alexey]

As a God fearing Christian how can anyone support Obama?

There are also God loving Christians.