Dr. Dobson Compromises Principle for Party Pragmatics… Will You?
November 1st, 2008 at 10:58 pm (Teaching)
Let me preface this article with the major point that many Christians may not be aware of and that is this fact: John McCain supports murdering babies in the womb. In cases where the human life is a result of rape or incest, McCain believes that even though that pre-born baby is fully human (he does believe life begins at conception), the mother has the right to murder her own child. I ask the rhetorical question: If a mother who is a rape or incest victim does not have the right to murder her two month old baby outside the womb, should she have the right to murder her two month old baby inside the womb?
Please visit this web page for a shockingly candid look at McCain’s pro-abortion position.
Now onto the the story of how one highly visible Christian man has exchanged his thinking on biblical principles for reasoning based on pragmatics and fear.
Dr. James Dobson is usually a man of high integrity and character. I have particularly appreciated his work in the political realm over the years. So it was with sadness that I watched him this year start strong on the pro-life position only to back pedal and cave into the Republican party’s scare tactics to change his position to one that supports a presidential candidate who is pro-abortion.
Below is Dr. Dobson’s original uncompromising statement regarding McCain back in February of this year (here’s the link to the audio file):
“I am deeply disappointed the Republican Party seems poised to select a nominee who did not support a Constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage, voted for embryonic stem cell research to kill nascent human beings, opposed tax cuts that ended the marriage penalty, has little regard for freedom of speech, organized the Gang of 14 to preserve filibusters in judicial hearings, and has a legendary temper and often uses foul and obscene language.
I am convinced Sen. McCain is not a conservative, and in fact, has gone out of his way to stick his thumb in the eyes of those who are. He has sounded at times more like a member of the other party. McCain actually considered leaving the GOP caucus in 2001, and approached John Kerry about being Kerry’s running mate in 2004. McCain also said publicly that Hillary Clinton would make a good president. Given these and many other concerns, a spoonful of sugar does NOT make the medicine go down. I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience.
But what a sad and melancholy decision this is for me and many other conservatives. Should Sen. McCain capture the nomination as many assume, I believe this general election will offer the worst choices for president in my lifetime. I certainly can’t vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama based on their virulently anti-family policy positions. If these are the nominees in November, I simply will not cast a ballot for president for the first time in my life. These decisions are my personal views and do not represent the organization with which I am affiliated. They do reflect my deeply held convictions about the institution of the family, about moral and spiritual beliefs, and about the welfare of our country.”
In this same NY Times Op Ed piece Dobson commented on a pro-family leadership meeting:
“After two hours of deliberation, we voted on a resolution that can be summarized as follows: If neither of the two major political parties nominates an individual who pledges himself or herself to the sanctity of human life, we will join others in voting for a minor-party candidate. Those agreeing with the proposition were invited to stand. The result was almost unanimous.”
So earlier this year Dobson based his thinking on biblical principles. Previous to these quotes he even made a vow before God to “never cast one vote for any man or woman who would kill one innocent baby”. Dobson was absolutely correct in his understanding of the issues of abortion in the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Those little babies are still babies whom God has granted life and no man has the right to take that life away.
The plain fact is that McCain is pro-abortion, he supports the murder of innocent children in the womb (from incest, rape, etc). We should not be voting for the lesser of two evils because that is still a vote for evil. We should cast a vote for righteousness. Whether one party wins or loses is not the primary principle, it is doing the right thing before God. Before the Sovereign God who is the One who lifts up rulers and casts them down. Our responsibility is to do what is right, what is biblical and leave the consequences to God.
Here’s a “what if” scenario. What if Obama is as terrible as he sounds. And what if McCain is exactly what he is, except for one new piece of information. What if McCain also happens to be a serial murderer. He happens to go out every weekend and murder an innocent human being. But his policies are all the same and Obama’s policies will take away all our freedoms. So would you still vote for McCain? Why not? Probably not because you have to stand before God and tell Him that you cast a vote for a murderer. God will not care about your reasoning that Obama was going to destroy this nation. You voted for a murderer. Now back to reality: anyone who votes for McCain, votes for a man who supports murdering babies in the womb. Do you want to stand before God saying you stood with this man?
Another scenario: what if Obama was a serial murderer and McCain was a serial rapist? Would you vote for the lesser of two evils? Or would you find a candidate who was a true Christian, truly pro-life and look into that candidate seriously?
It seems that fear of losing our freedoms (or personal peace and affluence) is the motivating factor to vote for someone who supports murdering babies. But the Scriptures are clear that we are to fear God rather than men. The Christian life is not about comfort, but about God’s glory. We are to focus on bringing glory to God, pleasing Him and allow Him to bring us comfort and joy in His timing. We don’t need to seek our own comfort, especially if that includes compromising God’s values.
For example, my children’s comfort is not my highest priority in life. My most important duty and desire (in regards to my children) is that they love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. If this means they must endure persecution and discomfort in order to have them be conformed to the image of Christ, then so be it. It will not be easy for me to see in the flesh, but in the Spirit, my soul will rejoice knowing that persecution for Christ’s sake will bring blessings in the long run.
What I’m trying to get at is the foundational principles of why Christians are disagreeing on who to vote for president. I will be voting for the thirdy party, Christian, pro-life candidate because he will honor God by supporting life. Others seem to be voting for the pro-abortion republican because they are afraid of what the democrat will do to America. The Republican party seems to be very successful using its scare tactics. But once again, God calls Christians to not fear what men can do. Trust in the sovereignty of God, that He will accomplish his will in this election. Our human responsibility is to do what is right in the sight of God regardless of the consequences. Sometimes this will mean persecution for the Christan, prison or even death but we must make our decisions based on God’s word, not based on pragmatism. Cast your vote in light of eternity, in light of biblical principles, for the glory of God.
In the fear of the LORD,
Tony
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