JAMES DOBSON REVISITED
Updated June 17, 2003 (first published February 13, 1997) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -

I have received a number of letters in response to things we have mentioned about Dr. James Dobson and Focus on the Family. Most were based merely on an emotional knee-jerk reaction to negative comments about one’s hero, but one letter, in particular, was not only gracious but also very thoughtful. I would like to share this letter (anonymously) with our friends. At the end of the letter I will include my reply.

LETTER FROM A READER, FEBRUARY 12, 1997

“I just finished reading the article, New Evangelism, which mentioned James Dobson and other modern day figures. I feel the need to defend him, because I feel that he has done a lot of good for our country. I will not deny that he may have some error in his endorsement of the Promise Keepers or his ideas on evolution, but there are other areas in which he has done much good:

--His defense of the traditional family. --He has spoken out against ‘safe sex’ and spoken out for abstinence --He is a strong advocate for the plight for the unborn (anti-abortion)
--He has written numerous outstanding books on the discipline of children (he advocates reasonable corporal punishment) and has refuted much of modern psychology which opposes traditional discipline and authority in the family.
--He has done much research and writings on the relationships between husbands and wives, with a biblical perspective
--He has defended the position of women who choose to stay home full time with their children and who also choose to home school.
--He has spoken out against ‘Planned Parenthood,’ ‘SEICUS’ and other organizations that promote the promiscuity of our youth, which has increased the number of ‘out-of-wedlock’ births, abortions and child abuse (which occurs frequently with too-young parents).
--He is currently studying the impact of gambling on families and our nation.

“His organization, Focus on the Family, has been attacked and placed on ‘black lists’ by organizations of the ‘left’ persuasion. In a word, he has ‘stuck his neck out’ on many moral issues of our day. He has truly, in my opinion, been ‘salt’ for our nation in boldly speaking out against the evils of our current generation and of the direction our country is going in. I believe that the Lord gives each one of His people different functions in his body to perform, just like different members of our own bodies for different purposes.

“However, he too is human and subject to error like the rest of us, and may have fallen by promoting the ‘joining of hands’ with Catholics (I used to be one myself) which has resulted in compromise. Despite the errors he may have committed, I don’t think we should discredit all the good he has done to serve our country’s best interests. Many of the issues which he has spoken out against are issues with which you would likely agree with, as mentioned above.

“I am not saying these things out of hate, as many others have done. I respect your work and have no choice but to agree with many of the issues you address that affect the Church and our witness. ... I think a lot of God’s people are oblivious to the ecumenical movement which is occurring in our world today; I was until I started reading your articles. They have opened my eyes. It is frightening to see so much religious deception running rampant in our country. Perhaps many Christians are looking at the New Age movement and other cults (including eastern religions) as the ‘Mystery Babylon, Mother of Harlots,’ instead of within their own ranks. That creates the greatest deception of all. Perhaps that is what Jesus meant when He said, ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ Today, to stand for the truth, you have to ‘stand alone’ and suffer scorn of other men. That is not an easy thing to do.

“However, there might be some people who respect Mr. Dobson, who may be turned off by your message and miss the rest of it, and misunderstand your intent. They may highly regard the stand he has taken for many important issues that affect our youth, and understandably get offended by your stance against him. I believe that church members can regard the error of another fellow believer, but still support him in the other positions he holds, if the message is presented to him appropriately. We are all subject to error, and many of the important stands we take can be missed due to one error we make. That can happen to any one of us. We should pray for him, that he should see all the truth and not lose his hard work through error.

“Although I reacted to the stance you take of James Dobson, I still enjoy receiving your articles and am growing spiritually from them. I know that God is speaking to me through them. ... God has used them to edify me.

“Thank you and God bless you.”

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REPLY FROM BROTHER CLOUD, FEBRUARY 12, 1997 --

In reply to this letter I made the following comments:

Hello,------. Thanks for the note.

I fully understand your thoughts about Dr. Dobson. He has done much good, and I will gladly and readily acknowledge that. I have often prayed for the man. You gave an excellent list of some of his accomplishments, which have benefited many people. In my estimation, though, Dr. Dobson’s error is not a matter of failing in one or two matters. His error strikes at the very heart of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of many concerns I have about Dr. Dobson’s ministry, my chief concern is that he refuses to clearly identify the Gospel and he refuses to warn of false Gospels. That is why he can be so widely popular among Roman Catholics, members of liberal denominational churches, etc.

On October 12, 1995, I wrote to him and asked two questions: (1) What is the Gospel, and (2) has he ever warned of the false Roman Catholic sacramental gospel, and if not, why? I said, “The eternal destiny of millions of people depends on whether Roman Catholic doctrine is correct. Could you plainly state for me Focus on the Family’s position? Do you believe the Roman Catholic gospel is biblical? Has Focus on the Family ever issued a statement warning its listeners of false gospels and identifying the same? Have you helped your listeners understand what a false gospel is? If so, could I have a copy of that statement?”

After a couple of weeks I received a letter dated October 26 from Diane Passno, Vice President of Ministry Correspondence, Focus on the Family. Following is an excerpt from this brief letter: “I cannot honestly bring myself to express gratitude for input as ill-intentioned as yours. ... Despite anything we can say, you continue to seek grounds to mock and vilify Dr. Dobson to the full extent of your vitriolic capabilities. Since it is abundantly clear that this is your motive, we must recognize the fruitlessness of any further communication with you. This is the last letter you will be receiving from anyone here at Focus on the Family. ... I’m sorry to say it, but ‘Christians’ of your stamp are doing more to discredit the gospel than a whole army of papists and atheistic evolutionists ever could. This is tragic in the truest sense of the word.”

Those who have read my articles and who love the Word of God would not characterize them as “vitriolic” or caustic and sarcastic. I deal in a straightforward manner with the issues at hand, but I also deal with them in a gracious and careful manner.

I am going to send some articles we have published about Dr. Dobson. I hope you might find time to go through them prayerfully. I am very conscious of the fact that I will stand before the Lord and give account for my public judgments, and I do not take these matters lightly.

I realize that many who could benefit from my preaching are “turned off” because I mention key Evangelical leaders in a negative manner, and they therefore refuse to listen to what I say. I can assure you that the temptation to refrain from dealing with these men directly is always very powerful. I could have a much larger ministry, humanly speaking, and it would be much easier for me if I could deal with issues of ecumenism and compromise in a general sense and not name names. The problem is that I must name the names of those who are leading the way in the various compromises if people are to understand what I am saying and who I am warning of. A general warning is insufficient. When I name a man, it is because he is a leader, and he illustrates the particular error about which the Lord has urged me to lift the voice.

As for Dr. Dobson’s good in the ministry, so to speak, outweighing the bad (I know you didn’t make that statement, but many have), I would cite 2 John 8-11:

“Look to yourselves, THAT WE LOSE NOT THOSE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE WROUGHT, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: FOR HE THAT BIDDETH HIM GOD SPEED IS PARTAKER OF HIS EVIL DEEDS.”

The Bible warns that if I refuse to deal plainly with the error of false teachers, if I treat them as brothers in Christ and fellowship with them and speak highly of them and help them, I am partaker of their evil deeds, and I will lose my rewards. I believe this warning and judgment falls directly upon Dr. Dobson’s head (and that of a multitude of other ecumenical leaders today).

Thanks for the words of encouragement about the articles. Our constant and earnest prayer is that we can be a blessing to God’s people in these evil times.