Family News From Dr. James Dobson

Family News From Dr. James Dobson August 2007

Once, again I like and support many of the things Dr. James Dobson stands for but if he goes against the Bible- I do not agree with him.

In his, August 2007 Newsletter he has a diary comment from Mr. Stuart Witt on the Iraqi war. R. Witt writes that on 7 February 2007, “1^st Lt. Jared Landaker, United States Marine Corps, hero, from Big Bear California, gave his life in service to his county.” I agree with Mr. Witt that Jared was a hero and sacrificed his life for his country.

But then Mr. Witt goes on to say “His death occurred at the same time as Anna Nicole Smith, a drug-using person with a 7^th-grade education of no pedigree…” She received national attention while Jared received none. I agree that Jared Landaker death was another number to the news, us and the president. However, that gives us no right to say that Anna was worthless and a nobody- she was a child of God.

IS that what JESUS would say about one of his children dying without knowing him? The Bible states:

Roman 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, ^{Ro 3:23} for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ^{Ro 3:24} and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Mark 2:15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” ^{Mk 2:17} On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mathew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

From the above three books three main themes jump out at all of us that call ourselves ‘Christians’:

1. We all sin and fall short of God- justified freely by his (Jesus) grace. Grace, is that a word us fundamental Christians understand?
2. Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but sinners- yes, you read it write Jesus calls sinners not righteous people.
3. Simple- do not judge others! It sounds like Dr. Dobson like many of us Christians was judging when he writes, “a drug-using person with a 7^th-grade education of no pedigree.” What does he mean by “no pedigree” what pedigree is he, what pedigree am I, what pedigree are you?

I am also, sorry that Mr. Witt and Dr. Dobson uses Jared’s death to state that we need to become a nation committed to winning the fight, and elect leaders with the spine to ask Americans to sacrifice in order to win (the war in Iraq).

I have said before this war and now during this war that this fighting in Iraq has nothing to do with stopping terrorist, in fact it makes more terrorist! I pray we have Christian in the USA they say the killing is enough and bring are American boys home!

My prayer will continues to be that Iraqis can live in peace and that our (USA) military personnel can come home. Like Dr. Dobson I believe that our men and women in uniform deserve our utmost respect but I disagree with him that they are putting their lives on the line in defense of our freedom. They are loosing their lives for President Bush’s war- full stop.

SIDE NOTE: Yes, I’m a pacifist as many of you know but I read an interesting devotional from Ligonier Ministries and Dr. R.C. Sproul:

Old Testament violence seems excessive to us, especially since the Lord does not give the new covenant church the right to conquer with the sword. We fight God’s holy war today with prayer and evangelism to make His enemies obey His rule willingly (2 Cor. 10:4; Eph. 6:10-20).

Our battle is not wholly different from old covenant holy war. Even then, foes like Rahab could be conquered spiritually and join our Father’s army as soldiers (Josh. 2; 6:22-25). Moreover, physical battles will not always be absent from our warfare like they are presently, for the Lord’s forces will cast His enemies forcibly into hell at His return (Matt. 13:36-43). Still, in this era of abounding grace in Christ, God sends us forth with the Gospel, not the sword.

Once, again there is that word grace, “abounding grace in Christ” Grace is what fundamental, conservative, liberal, neo, believing Christians need to understand!

Remember Ligonier Ministries and Dr. Sproul are not pacifist but they do know and study (systematically) the word of God.