James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family, did the unthinkable today. In ripping Obama down, he accidentally admitted he was full of crap. Please, I know a lot of folks mean well in listening to him, but the man was not put on this earth to lead people closer to Christ.
Dobson and Minnery accused Obama of wrongly equating Old Testament texts and dietary codes that no longer apply to Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament.
–From Rocky Mountain New’s article
Sounds like he’s trying to say one of two things here:
- He can pick and choose what you follow out of the Old Testament.
- The New Testament trumps the Old Testament.
Now, if #1 is true, that he no longer considers the Old Testament to be an accurate representation of the Will of God, and any arguments which depend on Old Testament citations are nothing more than friendly disputations between philosophers and not really inarguable or sacred.
And if #2 is true, then any argument depending on an Old Testament citation is to be taken through the lens of Christ’s own words. The guy legendary for throwing the money changers out of the temple, Mr. How-Much-Is-Your-Net-Worth Dobson? Heard of him?
And I seem to remember that this whole anti-gay thing depends on arguments out of the Old Testament, since the New Testament says mostly things like, “Be good to each other. Don’t be a hypocrite. Take responsibility for your actions. God’s will is mysterious, so don’t get cocky.” And that’s just the beginning.
“I think [Obama’s] deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology,” Dobson said.
Actually, um, Mr. Dobson? I think you’re suffering from an attack of Do-Unto-Others-As-You-Would-Have-Them-Do-Unto-You. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
Alas, it’s not *quite* that simple. There are NT passages that (in the best known translations) condemn homosexuality — 1 Corinthians and Romans, I believe. Both are epistles ostensibly from Paul, mind you — Jesus was silent on the topic.
Christianity, in general, has some rationale (not altogether satisfying to me, mind you) for picking and choosing which OT laws are passe, which are still, um, gospel. See comments at my post http://www.hill-kleerup.org/blog/2008/06/24/nuttier_than_a_fruitcake.html …
So Dobson is, as a general principle, not completely out in left field on this. Though he’s still a hateful nut who’s going to get some serious rubbing-nose-in-the-mess-he-made treatment upon his departure from this sphere.
One thing at a time, Dave, one thing at a time. Paul, we can deal with him later.
I read your entry on the picking-and-choosing thing, but I still think it depends on the NT being more valid than the OT.