How Dr. Dobson [And YOU] Can Take a Risk for True Greatness
by Dr. Richard A. Jones
01/23/08
I knew that a January 15, 2008 Focus on the Family (FOTF) radio
program would be challenging as I listened to Dr. James Dobson
and Rev. John MacArthur join forces. Their topic was the obvious
fact of national moral decay with the culmination of the two-day
series being the role played by the public schools in contributing
to the decay. The failed schools defy common sense so I listened
to see if their stress would be on what parents need to do about
what public schools are doing to their children, or whether a
sense of perplexed anguish would be the theme. Sadly, it was mainly,
“How did they ever get this bad?”
MacArthur and Dobson did their best, but ultimately their joint
anxiety had to have confused listening parents more than supplying
inspiring guidance. The point FOTF was trying to make began, as
it should have, with the diagnosis that ours is a nation beset
by sin. MacArthur even went so far as to say that God has already
abandoned us. At the end of day two, FOTF set about confirming
his conclusion with a school story dramatizing that deteriorating
public schools prove how much we really do deserve His abandonment.
I respect and agree with Rev. MacArthur about our society’s
moral decline, nevertheless his remarks contained a half-sad,
half-amusing inconsistency leading up to the school story I’ll
present in a minute. Using Psalm 81:11–16, a great passage,
he said we’ve reached a point where only prayers for revival
can possibly help the U.S. which made me wonder, which is it to
be, abandonment or revival? But even if revival is possible, will
God’s response mean an extended season of righteousness and
moral sanity, or can we, at best, hope only for a brief reprieve
prior to the end-times chaos that MacArthur’s doubtful eschatology
predicts? To me, his call for revival sounds more nearly like
a dutiful cliché than something truly attainable. After
all, he’s already told us that trying to “[reclaim]
the culture is a pointless, futile exercise.” I’m convinced,
he writes, that “we live in a post-Christian society—a
civilization that exists under God’s judgment.” Perhaps
he even believes that the sick public schools are proof positive
of that judgment. I hope, however, that his pessimistic assessment
will be resisted by AV readers. Instead, far-sighted parents must
meet the school dilemma head on and put it to rest via the biblical
obedience solution you’ll find at the end of this article.
As a climax for the two-day FOTF presentation, a recording was
presented obtained during a student assembly at a Boulder, Colorado,
high school last April 2007. The purpose in airing it was presumably
to give more evidence of abandonment by God. The tape featured
a visiting group from the morally sordid “Conference on World
Affairs” organization. On tape their several representatives
were pushing concepts so repugnant that FOTF asked the home radio
audience to remove their little ones before listening. On it,
9th thru 12th graders asked the panel about sex, drugs, and alcohol;
questions which were answered with a strong encouragement to “do
it.” (“Responsibly,” of course, the COWA added.)
Included were plenty of endorsements for homosexual sex as well.
Following the tape, Dr. Dobson’s program-closing response
came as a shock given what he already knows about the anti-moral,
anti-education, anti-Christian public school agenda of lunacy.
His first words were that he “could have wept” at what
he’d just heard. “Why do parents permit it?,” he
cried. “Who is holding the schools responsible?” What?
It’s not as though this kind of school depravity is anything
new, having been the norm now for years, countrywide. Even Dobson
himself has written lamenting about it. Not only that, he’s
clearly suggested that homeschooling is the best education option.
But it’s what Dobson didn’t say that hurts; namely
that the real solution to the public school disaster is for Christians
to gird up their loins of obedience and simply remove their children
from the schools. It’s late, but not too late. One wonders
why Dr. Dobson misses this. After all he has Moses (Deut. 6:1–9)
and the prophets (Ps. 1; Prov. 1:7, 13:20, 22:6; Is. 54:13; Jer.
10:2) and Luke 6:39–40 as a guide for FOTF parents. These
passages explain why God wants the kids removed. Ironically, his
FOTF ministry would actually become more blessed, including increased
financial blessings, if he would cast fear aside and make a “holy
risk” decision to be biblically obedient.
Conversely, Rev. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary
and respected national radio talk host has heeded Moses and the
prophets. He’s listened, heard and responded and re-responded:
“I believe now is the time for responsible Southern Baptists
to develop an exit strategy from the public schools. This strategy
would affirm the basic and ultimate responsibility of Christian
parents to take charge of the education of their own children.
The strategy also affirms the responsibility of churches to equip
parents, support families, and offer alternatives.” He goes
on to say, “I am convinced that Southern Baptists will find
their way toward a common understanding of the public school challenge.
The only question is when.” These are the words of a good
and wise man.
I’m praying for a true, permanent revival that may last
hundreds or thousands of years before Christ returns. But, I’m
also praying for another good man, Dr. Dobson, to halt FOTF silence
regarding the only solution to the offense of the public schools
that there is—removal of the children. I’m also praying
he’ll use the biblical knowledge he knows to be true to move
and inspire parents to the position a patient but demanding God
requires of them. And, I pray that many of you will join with
him in making this commitment your own.
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