The Good Work of James Dobson
Dr. James Dobson stepped down from his position as board chairman for Focus on the Family last Friday. This isn’t a controversial move--he wasn’t upset with the organization or forced out in any way--it’s merely part of his succession plan for the ministry, another wise move by a man who has made a career out of giving evangelical Americans great wisdom.
I don’t know of many Christians in the U.S. who haven’t been touched by Dobson or Focus on the Family in the last 30 years. He and his company have effectively wielded nearly every communication tool available to give good advice, counsel and guidance to millions of Americans.
The company has particularly excelled at helping families function in a Christ-like manner. I’m sure countless marriages have benefited from their wisdom. I know a whole generation of children (including me) were raised on things like Adventures in Odyssey, an amazing resource for learning to grow up as a child of God. And I’m sure it’s almost impossible to count the ways Dobson and his organization have helped parents over the years. They have dealt with nearly every challenging topic, from the earliest stages of child rearing to adolescence and teenage years, in a godly, well-balanced way.
It’s interesting today that many associate Dobson with his foray into politics over the past 10 years or so. This has made him a more controversial figure, particularly in the mainstream media. But I will always prefer to think of him as the gentle-voiced psychologist who helped me learn to grow up as a strong Christian with rock-solid wisdom and insights from the Word of God.
I don’t know of many Christians in the U.S. who haven’t been touched by Dobson or Focus on the Family in the last 30 years. He and his company have effectively wielded nearly every communication tool available to give good advice, counsel and guidance to millions of Americans.
The company has particularly excelled at helping families function in a Christ-like manner. I’m sure countless marriages have benefited from their wisdom. I know a whole generation of children (including me) were raised on things like Adventures in Odyssey, an amazing resource for learning to grow up as a child of God. And I’m sure it’s almost impossible to count the ways Dobson and his organization have helped parents over the years. They have dealt with nearly every challenging topic, from the earliest stages of child rearing to adolescence and teenage years, in a godly, well-balanced way.
It’s interesting today that many associate Dobson with his foray into politics over the past 10 years or so. This has made him a more controversial figure, particularly in the mainstream media. But I will always prefer to think of him as the gentle-voiced psychologist who helped me learn to grow up as a strong Christian with rock-solid wisdom and insights from the Word of God.
posted by Editor at 12:37 PM
7 Comments:
Excellent tribute to a man who has truly served God in his generation.
His book, "Tough Love", was a major factor which ended my marriage. A 24 year old Pastor reading Tough Love, advised my wife to leave me because he believed her claims that I was abusive.
That Pastor drove her to court in an automobile that I donated to the church, helping her get an emergency order of protection, removing me from the house.
I was NOT invited to come to court.
The reaction of my children was, "We hope Mom and Dad don't get divorced, but if they do, we want to live with Daddy and our Daddy NEVER abused us."
So she divorced me and I was awarded sole custody of my children and that church was closed down.
The problem is that James Dobson believes the lies of the Radical Feminists that when there is domestic violence, men are always the abusers.
You can see that in the literature which Focus publishes. Nearly always male pronouns are used to describe the violent one.
So I'm sorry, I don't agree with people who say Dobson is wonderful. His teaching ended lots of marriages which did not need to end.
By the way my ex wife was abusive and she was accused several times of abusing my children. Her accusers included Licensed Social Workers and our Pediatrician.
Our Pediatrican sent my wife to a Psychiatrist who referred her to a mental hospital. This same wife after getting out of that mental hospital, was then convinced by a Pastor reading James Dobson to end our marriage.
During that whole crisis I was told over and over again that they were following the advice of Dr. Dobson.
Yet ten previous marriage counselors all agreed that my wife and her mental issues were the only significant problem in our marrige.
I've asked Focus on the Family and Dr. Dobson to update that book "Tough Love" to warn people that 75% of the time women cry abuse, its a lie to gain an advantage in a divorce which they want where the husband was NOT abusive.
However the staff at Focus have never allowed me to express my view directly to Dr. Dobson, so I'm not sure he ever heard it.
While I certainly don't know you, it sounds like you issue boils down to who is telling the truth.
If you are telling the truth, then blaming Dr. Dobson for your ex-wife's ability to lie to and trick a trained pastor and a court judge is pointless. The problem was her sin, not Dr. Dobson's.
If she was lying, then she obviously wasn't taking God's opinion on marriage into consideration, and was simply being selfish. Of course having to continuously lie through the court proceedings certainly doesn't paint too nice of a picture of her moral compass at any rate.
If she was telling the truth, well then there's no real reason to continue the discussion..
It honestly sounds to me like you are hurt and disillusioned, and are looking for someone to blame. Dr. Dobson didn't make your wife leave you, she chose to leave. If you WERE being abusive, then I don't blame her.
If she did "dupe" everyone, then her sin is on her head. Pray for the Lord to get a hold of her life, and to restore her to Him.
Wow. I don't know you as well and I'm definitely not here to cast judgment on either you or your wife. For the point of the conversation at hand though... I do believe Mr. Dobson was honestly doing what he thinks was right in his own heart; as well as you are. Thank God your wife left. You just alluded to the fact that she has abused your kids. So if Mr. Dobson influncing a pastor to help her get a divorce was the answer your kids having freedom with a loving dad such as yourself and a life free from abuse, THANK GOD. I dont think there should be any blame placed but for the fact that it wasn't done sooner. Children are precious in God's eyes and they should never be subject to physical or verbal abuse from anyone. Does that mean that I agree with divorce? Absolutely not, so I guess that would be the other question. In the confines of your marriage, what was done to protect the children from this type of attack? God will take care of your wife if she is in the wrong, but I believe turning your eyes on Jesus and working with him on the stress you feel could potentially restore what was once a broken marriage. Much prayer for you brother. I know this has to be a hard and trying time. God bless you.
Hi anonymous,
Have you read any of Dr. Dobson's books or listened to any of his advice or are you just broadbrushing him and FOF based on second hand info? I want to challenge you to reconsider his advice because it's probably very likely that Dr. Dobson's advice was taken out of context and used to fit what someone wanted it to. Much like people do with scripture. I know that is what my parents (especially my mother) did with us. She would take certain portions of what he said & use it to make it fit her logic. My older brother is doing the same thing with his kids now as well. I don't agree with everything he teaches or some of his political views but over all he is pretty much right on target. So don't blame him or his ministry for your marriage ending. Blame your screwed up ex and some bad advice given to her by y'alls former pastor. Chances are they did exactly like I suggested. Instead of looking for someone to blame start praying for the people involved and enjoy life with your children. Ask the Lord to change you. Then it won't matter what anyone else does. God Bless.
InvitationToVisit:
Christian resource links-
Christian Liberty: What Is It?
http://christian-newcovenant.angelcities.com/index.html
Fresh attacks on personal freedom in the Christian community: The Quiverful Movement and/or those who would equate moral birth-control with abortion is not supported by the Bible and should be challenged by the Christian community.
http://christian-birthcontrol.angelcities.com/index.html
Page2 = The Question Of Masturbation And Other Acts of Human Sexuality Within The Christian World-view.
http://christian-birthcontrol.angelcities.com/page2.html
Is Divorce a God-given human-right?
http://christiandivorce.1hwy.com/index.html
Novel (Christian Worldview Perspective):
http://dukestevensoutofdust.angelcities.com/index.html
Story: David Christopher had not recovered from his feelings that he had failed his wife. After she died, he left everything and everyone familiar and tried to begin life over again.
Then, he met Catherine Chandler and knew that he couldn't simply stand by and let things continue as she had known them.
James Dobson = Evil.
He serves the mean, hateful, spiteful, vengeful evangelical "God", but not the true God of the universe. His heart is full of hate for all those who do not agree with him or his religion (don't give me the BS about your "relationship with Jesus not being a religion" either) or his politics, then hell it is for you.
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