[The following material is from O Timothy magazine, Volume 12, Issue 11, 1995. David W. Cloud, Editor. All rights are reserved. O Timothy is a monthly magazine. Annual subscription is US$20 FOR THE UNITED STATES. Send to Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org. FOR CANADA the subscription is $20 Canadian. Bethel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 9075, London, Ontario N6E 1V0. The Way of Life web site is http://www.wayoflife.org/]

A widely distributed article has made a number of serious charges against Focus on the Family. The article, "Is Dr. Dobson Focusing on Your Family?," is written by Cathy Burns. We do not know much about the author. She seems to focus on new age connections in various aspects of modern Christianity.

We definitely agree with the accusation that Focus on the Family is weak on Roman Catholicism. We have documented this in previous editions of O Timothy. Some of Burns' accusations deal with James Dobson's praise of Roman Catholic leaders, particularly Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II. Consider two excerpts from her report:

"Another person Focus has bragged up is Pope John Paul II. In an editorial in the January 1990 issue of Focus on the Family Citizen magazine, we find that the Pope is called 'the most eminent religious leader who names the name of Jesus Christ.'"

"Dobson (and/or his staff) have promoted a number of people who are New Agers or who have New Age leanings. For example, in November 1989 the Clubhouse magazine for children had articles on Mother Teresa. The readers were given the impression that Mother Teresa is a genuine Christian and that she is doing a great work for God. While she seems to be doing a good work in some areas, she is by no means a Christian. She is a New Ager and does not believe in being born-again and 'considers Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and other religions to be acceptable ways to God...'"

In August, Herman Otten, Lutheran Editor of the Christian News paper, wrote to Focus on the Family and asked for a response to Cathy Burns' accusations. The reply by Focus on the Family representative Steve Johnson (Director, Office of the President) is a model in how to deny an accusation without actually saying anything substantive.

Johnson pretended there was absolutely nothing truthful about the accusations which Burns has made against Focus on the Family. He labeled the accusations "ludicrous."

"On the whole, he [Dr. Dobson] maintains that Cathy Burns' criticism of our ministry is ludicrous. As a matter of fact, it is characteristic of those who make a living attacking people whom God has made influential and visible. Her claims are based on distortions, misinterpretations, facts taken out of context, and plain error."

Focus on the Family has the view so typical of those who are successful--that they are above criticism, and that critiques are motivated by jealously and self interest. This is unscriptural. The Apostle Peter was not above criticism. Paul rebuked him publicly for his hypocrisy (Galatians 2).

The Focus on the Family representative offered the following non- answer in regard to their position on Roman Catholicism:

"As for Mother Teresa, Dr. Dobson has had a very specific reason for commending her: He respects, admires, and appreciates her unflinching commitment to the sanctity of human life and her courageous, outspoken defense of the unborn child ... To say this is in no way to endorse the strictly Roman Catholic elements of her belief system--not in the least.

"The same applies precisely to Dr. Dobson's attitude toward Pope John Paul II. When humanistically minded Western delegates to the United Nations Conference on World Population Conference on World Population in Cairo were working overtime to force their anti-family, pro-abortion agenda on the nations of the third World, only the Pope and his representatives had the courage to take a stand and stem the tide (meanwhile, evangelical protestants sat silent on the sidelines). For this we believe he deserves our thanks and recognition, whether we happen to agree with his theology or not. To withhold such recognition would be nothing but mean and narrow-minded."

The man cleverly side-stepped the issue. The issue is that Roman Catholicism teaches a false gospel which has led multitudes to Hell. The eternal destiny of millions of people today depends on the veracity of Roman Catholic doctrine. If the Pope and Mother Teresa are leading men to Hell, how can they be praised and upheld in a positive light by God's people? The Lord Jesus Christ did not praise the Pharisees. He publicly condemned them for making their converts "two-fold more the child of hell than yourselves" (Matthew 23:15).

The issue is that Focus on the Family never warns its listeners of Rome's blasphemies and cursed sacramental gospel. When has James Dobson done this? When has he warned them to flee from Romanism? The Bible says he is responsible for the souls of those to whom he "ministers." The Apostle Paul felt this responsibility, and that is why he "kept back nothing that was profitable unto you..." (Acts 20:20). He declared the whole counsel of God because he desired to be "pure from the blood of all men" (Acts 20:26,27).

Focus on the Family refuses to declare the whole counsel of God because they claim that is not their ministry. They will find out differently one day, but then it will be too late for the multitudes of Roman Catholics who listened to them and were made to feel comfortable and self-esteemed in their error.

On October 12, I wrote the following letter to Focus on the Family's Steven Johnson:

"Dear Sir:

"I have read your reply to Editor Herman Otten of the Christian News in regard to accusations made by Dr. Cathy Burns.

"I appreciate the fact that Dr. Dobson is "committed to the authority of Scripture as contained in the plain meaning of its words." But I am concerned about what this means in a practical sense. Your reply did not answer the questions I have about the Focus on the Family's relationship with Roman Catholicism.

"You said, in regard to Mother Teresa, "To say this is in no way to endorse the strictly Roman Catholic elements of her belief system--not in the least." You said, in regard to Pope John Paul II, "For this we believe he deserves our thanks and recognition, whether we happen to agree with his theology or not."

"Those remarks to not give a plain position in regard to Romanism. I hope I am wrong, but your answer appears to be a clever attempt to dodge a hard question. While you left the impression that you might not agree with Roman Catholic doctrine, you did not say plainly whether you do or do not endorse Roman Catholic beliefs. You did not say plainly whether you do or do not agree with the Pope's theology. 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?

"Thank you for your help.

"Sincerely in Christ,

"David Cloud"

I know from past experience that I will not get a plain reply from Focus on the Family.

Those who disobey the Word of God always have an answer for the charges against them, but their answers dodge the hard questions and fail to deal with the heart of the matter. Beware of their clever non-answers.

Friends, if men or ministries refuse to speak plainly it is because they do not really love the truth or they have something to hide or they do not want to offend their supporters or they are afraid of what others will think. This is cowardly and carnal. It might be the way to build an impressive Christian empire, but it will crumble at the judgment seat of Christ. The devil is subtle; the man of God should be characterized by plainness of speech. Paul said he used "great plainness of speech" (2 Cor. 3:12). The Bible warns that it is the false teacher who is characterized by subtlety. They use "sleight" and "cunning craftiness" (Eph. 4:14). They bring in their damnable doctrines "privily" (2 Pet. 2:1).

Paul used plainness in regard to those who taught false gospels:

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). Paul was not concerned about the self-esteem of false teachers; he was concerned about the eternal destiny of his hearers.

Beware of those who will not plainly condemn false gospels.

[See "Focus on the Family Didn't Like My Letter," O Timothy, Volume 12, Issue 12, 1995, for follow-up on this report.]

See also "James Dobson and Romanism"