The Virtual Pew Daily: James Dobson, Oh No! Has He Left the Right?

Special Note here. I just visited the Wittenburg Door web site and visited the blogs, there is belief that the email sent out was an April Fools Joke. I am not positive about it yet and didn't consider it an April Fools Joke because I actually received the email on Saturday, not Sunday from the list I am on. So read, wishing, hoping, but knowing it didn't happen, of course when it comes to the other thoughts, expressed, I'm still holding to em, no April Fools Joke there.

I have to admit, I have been disturbed in the past regarding much of the debate on Global Warming. I have been disturbed because there is a faction of individuals who think they know all of the answers and actually demonstrate to a tee the persona of Dogma. Not in a good way, but in a ravenous Pit Bull sort of way. I have no doubt that there is some right, and some wrong on both sides of this debate. I have no doubt that there is room for criticism of individuals like Al Gore, as well as some on the Religious Right.

Here is my primary issue, The Politicizing of Christianity.

No longer is Christianity based on a relationship with Jesus Christ, it is instead based on which political party you belong to, what your views are on creation, and more importantly to some, your position on issues such as abortion, the death penalty and war. Sadly in all of this distraction, we have lost sight that Christianity is based on a relationship with Jesus Christ. The continued danger for the issue orientated, political orientated groups, is their focus on issues as opposed to the relationship a person has with Christ.

I could get off on a long rant here, but those Fundamental Conservative Christian Evangelical Bible Believing and whatever other moniker you want to throw on there Christians just took a major blow this week on the issue of Global Warming. One of their darlings has already started taking hits. He has been led astray by the devil incarnate, and the devils horrible influence. This person, James Dobson has just been thrown in the fire with all of the nasty books, the pornographers, and all of the liberals by some on the extreme religious right. Why? Because he wrote a letter of apology regarding a stance where he recognized his thoughts as being wrong in the area of Global Warming.

The following explanation and letter was sent to me from the mailing list I belong to from The Wittenberg Door. I challenge you to read it, think about it, and if among the group to ostracize James Dobson now, please consider, who died and gave you all of the answers so you can now proclaim exclusive truth on issues like this. My perspective, even if Al Gore is a hypocrite for not practicing his preaching, even if 50% of the statistics are incorrect, that don’t change the mandate that God gave us to keep the earth clean. Unfortunately we have one issue Christians who would give their life to save a child from abortion, while at the same time, not care about the world that child is going to grow up in. Anyone else see the hypocrisy of this? Here is the letter and email I received. It doesn’t happen often, but Kudos to James Dobson.

A letter from The Wittenburg Door:

We have tweaked our friend the Rev. James Dobson pretty regularly in the past, particular for his involvement in politics. And when Dr. Dobson called for the resignation of the Rev. Richard Cizik, president for the National Association of Evangelicals because he believed that Cizik was spending too much time worrying about global warming and not enough time spent on core Religious Right issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriages, we gigged him pretty hard then, too.

However, we received this e-mail this morning from Dobson’s Focus on the Family ministry and we think it is a remarkable document. It is probably the most honest, most revealing statement ever made by the normally carefully controlled Dobson.

So, in the spirit of Christian reconciliation, we’re making available Dr. Dobson’s complete statement, without editorial comment. (If you would like to send Dr. Dobson an e-mail of support for his courageous reassessment, we’ve kept his contact information at the end of his statement.)

Perhaps he should rename it FICUS on the Family
Robert Darden, Senior Editor Wittenburg Door

Colorado Springs, CO Dear friends and supporters:

Since my ill-advised attack on my dear friend Dick Cizik a few days ago, I have had an extraordinary week of reflection and spiritual enlightenment.

Through the counsel of godly men, such as the Rev. Dr. Jack Hayford, the Rev. Rick Warren, Richard Stearns (President, World Vision), David Neff (Editor, Christianity Today) and other members of The Evangelical Climate Initiative (www.Christiansandclimate.org), I’ve come to see that my assessment of Dick’s motives and, in fact, global warming, have been in error as well.

I have been guilty of a particularly pernicious form of short-sighted Dispensationalism, believing that since the earth has no future with the blessed Second Coming nigh, we, as Christians, have no responsibility to care for Creation.

Through loving testimony, instruction and careful study of the Bible with these and other mentors, I no longer believe that Dick is as I said earlier, much to my regret -- guilty of a relentless campaign to save the planet at the expense of what I called more serious issues, such as same-sex marriage. I see now that I have strictly exploited those issues and others like them to manipulate my audience and as a calculated and callous form of fund-raising.

As part of my penance for my unmerited attacks on a courageous, godly man, I have initiated contact with both the Rev. Jerry Falwell and Don Wildmon, with the earnest desire to convince them of the error of their ways as well. While both continue to condemn what they call earthism worship, I will continue to pray that this revelation will be made available to them as well.

As for the rest of my penance, I will devote the rest of my career however long the Lord sees fit to continue in this capacity to working with my Christian brothers and sisters to insure that all life on the planet, God’s first and greatest gift to us, is protected and cherished.

God bless you all,

Jim Dobson
Focus on the Family
8605 Explorer Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80995
1-800-232-6459
www.family.org

Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives.

You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Here is our contact information