The Last Nail in the Coffin
I’ll admit, I dislike Dr. Dobson and his social/religious/political drivel. Sure, some of his parenting stuff is decent (some of it, however is horrifying [and illegal in some situations] - like using hot sauce as discipline on small children!) Some of his relational advice is even pretty good (although his views on gender roles, relationships and family are sometimes both unbiblical and disturbing). I have to deal with that. Living in Southwest Michigan, I simply have to know that many in our community (and the congregation I serve) view Dobson as a nearly-divine figure. My dislike for Focus on the Family and it’s wealthy leader could have remained relatively quite, as it has for quite some time.
I’ll also note that I fully understand Focus on the Family is a large enough institution that one corner doesn’t necessarily understand what’s going on in another corner, and even more importantly, I undestand that sponsoring a forum doesn’t mean you approve of everythign everyone in that forum does or sells or says. HOWEVER, Obama Waffles?!
Recognizing everything I said in the previous paragraph, it’s possible to assume that Focus on the Family and “American Values” (I’ve put it intentionally in quotation marks!) have nothing to do with it, don’t agree with it and consider it aweful taste and inappropriate. HOWEVER, clearly they don’t think it inappropriate enough to say so on their websites. I searched them both. Neither one condemned the waffle fiasco.
I live and work in the mecca of the religious right. It’s simply the air many in SW Mighigan breathe. But this is absolutely unbelievable. A joke? “Tongue in cheek?” Come, on people, we’re not that stupid. This is obviously intended to capitalize on the racism, culturalism, lies and carefully-crafted-but-not-quite-lie deceptions that have simmered mostly-below-the-surface during this campaign.
This is the meanest campaign I’ve ever seen and the behavior of those who call themselves Christians is both hateful and dramatically unChristian. Faithful people, the world over, should be ashamed. Truly… Ashamed and, frankly, indignent.
Grace and … well… not “peace” … not this time.
`tim
5 Responses to “The Last Nail in the Coffin”
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September 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
How is this Christ-like? How does this glorify or honor God? How does this build up the body of Christ? It doesn’t. I’ve seen a lot of things ooze out of the far right, but this by far is the most disgusting one yet…
September 18th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
How is this Christ-like? How does this honor and glorify God? How does this build up the body of Christ? It doesn’t. I have seen a lot of drivel ooze out of the far right, but this is by far the most disgusting one…
September 18th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
bingo!
September 18th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
See i think that Christians unfortunately behave like that all the time… I once read a book called “When Bad Christians Happen to Good People: Where We Have Failed Each Other and How to Reverse the Damage” by Dave Burchett which was really more spot on in its evaluation of many “Christian communities” than I expected it to be.
A wise folk singer once said “Up Up Up Up Up Up points the spire of the steeple but God’s work isn’t done by God it’s done by people” which is also an important point. I am to do God’s work and I screw up every day… we all do. So where do we draw the line between following what we see as God calling us to reveal his (intentional pronoun use in the context of the people we are discussing here) Truth to the world, and relying on Grace to do what we cannot.
My over-reformed self tends to err on the side of relying on grace…
Most americans however are workaholic armenians (sp?)functionally and in that system spreading “His Truth” is an easier concept to wrap your head around because there is something you can do about it… you can convert those heathens or sinners or whatever they are. This is generally what focus on the family is up to. (an is a not so tacit implication of any goals that may focus on numbers of congragations or adherants fot that matter… but that is another story)…
So that all should in my humble opinion lead us as Christians who are striving to be more responsible with the Gosple that entrusted to us to ask two things… 1) How can we show the world that Dobson and crew don’t speak for all christians and 2)How can we continue to be Brothers and Sisters with these people who do think this way, how can we create more unity rather than more division in the Body of Christ?
The first part is pretty easy.. We just need to shout our message loud enough that is also gets heard. The second however is a lot harder… and requires a lot of reliance on Grace and erring on the side of Love (hmm how very reformed indeed.)
Sorry for the long reply… but thanks for something thoroughly worth thinking about.
In Peace!
JTC
September 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Thanks for the note… and welcome
I think you’re right, especially on the paragraph of what w should do. #2 is the one that sticks in my craw a little. Why? Because, inevitably “these people” (Dobson and his ilk) are not only uninterested in unity with those who disagree with them but actually fight against such unity.
Notice the flack Rick Warren got from “conservative evangelicals” for having Obama at Saddleback. It isn’t as if he was spouting some kind of “liberal epithets.”
My experience is that the more conservative religious groups get the smaller their understanding of the body of Christ gets and the more quickly they close the door on those they disagree with.
The answer? Well, I’d define myself as a gracious creedalist. In other words, like you said “grace” but on top of that creed. At a certain point Christians do well to say “here’s the fundamental aspect of what it means to be Christian. Everyone on that foundation belongs in the Body of Christ and must be recognized as spiritual siblings.” I’d say that foundation is either the Apostles’ or the Nicene Creed.
I’d also say that those who aren’t comfortable with that creedal “foundation” shouldn’t automatically be labeled “out” and even if they’d not self-define as Christian, should nonetheless be welcomed as “beloved people created in the image of God.”
I guess I’m all over here. Which is a long way of saying “yep,” “good thinking,” and “I look forward to more of your comments!”
Grace and Peace,
`tim