On Fruitcakes, Bullying, Confusion, and Dragging Hermeneutics through he mud
Yesterday James Dobson talked about Barack Obama…it was not flattering in the least. According to the A.P. story, Dobson is quoted as saying that Obama has a, “fruitcake interpretation” of the Constitution. Also regarding his Biblical understanding, Dobson said…
“I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology,” Dobson said.
“… He is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter.” (source)
Now, I tend to agree with Focus on the Family on a number of issues but I have some problems with this. They include,
1. Does this really help the cause of your guy? Doesn’t this just get his people more riled up against the “evil right”?
2. More importantly, does this really help the cause of Christ? Does calling someone you disagree with those names and making those accusations build a bridge to those who do not yet know Jesus? Doesn’t this make powerful Christians look like bullies? (Something he has been accused of in the past.)
3. Is it right to be critical of person’s view of Scripture when your own are questioned by very smart and conservative scholars?
4. Is this really going to change anyone’s mind?
5. Isn’t there a more effective way to get your point across?
Being halfway though the book, UnChristian, I am more and more convinced that we need to rethink how we engage the world. This is probably not the way to go.
Am I wrong?
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June 26th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I’m torn. I agree with you that his comments were lacking the charity that we should expect out of a Christian leader. I personally feel that better words than “fruitcake interpretation” of the constitution should have been chosen.
Politics will not change hearts. Where I struggle is in our need to be salt, that means we are going to act as a preservative. That also means politics.
Much of what Barack Obama supports is just plain wrong, unbiblical and quite frankly evil. His abortion stance is frightening, and as a believer I feel we should be an advocate, a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves… namely the unborn.
So there is a tension. Ultimately you are right that Dobson’s remarks in this case are not helpful. I’m sure that it comes out of frustration of younger evangelicals flocking to him in what I see as blind trust of his rhetoric and lacking in discernment about his actual positions and beliefs.
I believe that many evangelicals who vote for him will in fact have “buyer’s remorse” if he is elected.
All that to say that I am not thrilled with John McCain either.
I think the problem with evangelicals in politics is our tendency, like many others, to be pragmatic and lack principle. We need to have a prophetic voice to both parties, and realize ultimately that only Jesus will transform lives and hearts, something that government will never do.
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June 26th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Thanks, Shane. Appreciate you taking the time to write a thoughtful response.
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