Video: Jim Wallis talks about Dobson and Obama on CBN
The Christian Broadcasting Network talks to Jim Wallis in a recent segment on James Dobson's criticism of Barack Obama. Bishop Harry Jackson of the High Impact Leadership Coalition is also interviewed. Watch it.
CBN has also made extended audio content of their interview with Jim available.
posted by God's Politics @ 10:30 AM | Permalink | 
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Comments
Peter Wehner at NRO has your number*, Mr. Wallis. As for myself, I find it difficult to understand how a true Christian can support or defend a candidate who believes the Bible isn't infallible truth, that Hell doesn't exist, and that there are other paths to God's salvation besides Christianity, such as Islam, Buddhism, etc. Those aren't Christian viewpoints, and Obama spoke them to a Chicago Sun-Times reporter in 2004.
* http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZGM0MDA4ZjQ0MTRhYmQyNTI3NGRiNzA0MzhmM2QwNWQ=
Posted by: Matt | June 26, 2008 11:21 AM
So you are really interested in civility and not alarmest viewpoints. Well aren't you the hypocrite! Here are your own very uncivil and alarmist words....
I believe that Dick Cheney is a liar; that Donald Rumsfeld is also a liar; and that George W. Bush was, and is, clueless about how to be the president of the United States. And this isn’t about being partisan… I’ve heard plenty of my Republican friends and public figures call this administration an embarrassment to the best traditions of the Republican Party and an embarrassment to the democratic (small d) tradition of the United States. They have shamed our beloved nation in the world by this war and the shameful way they have fought it. Almost 4,000 young Americans are dead because of the lies of this administration, tens of thousands more wounded and maimed for life, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis also dead, and 400 billion dollars wasted—because of their lies, incompetence, and corruption.
But I don’t favor impeachment, as some have suggested. I would wait until after the election, when they are out of office, and then I would favor investigations of the top officials of the Bush administration on official deception, war crimes, and corruption charges. And if they are found guilty of these high crimes, I believe they should spend the rest of their lives in prison - after offering their repentance to every American family who has lost a son, daughter, father, mother, brother, or sister. Deliberately lying about going to war should not be forgiven.
Posted by: patrick o'neill | June 26, 2008 11:58 AM
I believe Jim Wallis has it right on a number of points. Dr. Dobson's motives are suspect, especially as he sees a good number of "evangelical" votes actually in play with Obama v McCain. He is also correct that Dobson greatly mischaracterized Obama's meaning, and that he used negatively loaded language in his attack. Beyond what Jim Wallis stated, Obama's references to scripture were far more deferrent, humble, honest, and accurate than any use I have ever heard from Dr, Dobson.
Posted by: Harry Harris | June 26, 2008 3:59 PM
I agree 100% with what Jim Wallis has said about Dobson and Focus on the Family. When Dobson talks about how Barack Obama has misinterpreted the Bible, he's probably correct in that everyone (religious or not) misinterprets the Bible. That's because the Bible is a collection of dozens of different authors written over a period of hundreds of years. It's IMPOSSIBLE to correctly interpret the Bible. When he talks about the Bible, you have to ask which Bible? Is it the mainline Protestant Bible? The King James? The Good News for Modern Man? Is it the Catholic Bible? I could go on. And what about the parts of the Bible that were left out? I think it extremely interesting that the Apostle according to Judas was unearthed recently.
The fact is, the Bible (and your religion) is a matter of personal interpretation, faith, and conviction. You may want to be an iddependent interpreter of the Bible, as I am, or you may wish to have your minister do the interpretation for you. But either way you do, it will be only be a personal interpretation -- not the authoritative, end all interpretation of all time for all people.
Until we realize the relativistic nature of religious experience, we will be doomed into falling into the idea that OUR morality and OUR religion is the only true religion and that all other people are destined to go to hell. This is a very slippery slope. After all, the Nazis felt that God was on their side.
The Moral Majority, Focus on the Family, and other groups are dishonest in a variety of respects, as they are trying to pan off their very narrow interpretation of morality and religion, and are trying to impose it on everyone, whether they want it or not. Even worse, these group's emphasis on relatively peripheral issues like right to life, or flag burning take our attention away from much deeper issues facing the world like poverty, injustice, global warming, war, and nuclear disarmament.
Once again, Mr. Dobson has exposed himself to be a huckster for his own narrow vision and personal empire building at the expense of America.
Posted by: Karl Eysenbach | June 26, 2008 4:01 PM
Can someone explain to me what a "moral compass" is?
Posted by: Jasmine | June 26, 2008 4:07 PM
I think all of your eyes have been blinded by something. Dr. Dobson is right on the mark!! He is a very strong Christain man and is a man of God. There is nothing wrong with Dr. Dobson telling Barack Obama where he is wrong with his inturpertation of the Bible. Barack Obama is not infalable. He is a man, who is extremely liberal and wants government to tell us everything we can and cannot do. There is nothing wrong with pointing out Obama'sflaws, like the media and others think is wrong to do. No one is allowed to disagree with this man without being attacked and called a racist, among other things. I think people need to wake up and realize what The so called ALMIGHTY OBAMA is really all about. Obabma says he is a Christian, but yet he says it ok to abort babies, and if any of them are born alive after an abortion, he believes they should be left to die. Is this not killing? I believe anyone who believes in abortion should go and work for a clinic, and watch partial birth abortions, or any kind of abortion done being done.
The Bible is right ALL OF THE time, and should be followed in Church and in PUBLIC. If you will remember this country was built on Gods word and has always been a Christian nation. You can deny this county's roots, all you want, but it is true!
Maybe if this country got back to what our forefathers worked so hard for maybe, just maybe things wouldn't be in such a mess right now.
Posted by: Marge | June 26, 2008 4:36 PM
At one time I financially supported Jim Dobson. In 1995 we received a request for additional funds which contained examples of anti-Christian legal actions. One supposedly took place in the "bible belt" of Pennsylvania. It seemed so out of character for the area that I undertook an investigation.
It did not take much research to find that the incident did not occur as described, but had been instigated for publicity. When I presented documented findings to the Dobson organization I received a letter essentially saying don't bother us with facts, our minds are made up, and we stick by the original story.
I agree with a previous writer that one should not say that someone is a liar. Rather I can say without fear of contradiction that James Dobson does make statements that are untrue.
What makes Dobson so dangerous is that he fills many of his programs with good healthy advice. People believe him. When he slips something in like this latest incident, who will check it out?
Posted by: Frank Gastner | June 26, 2008 4:44 PM
Mr Wallis,
How you can compare 30,000 killed in Iraq and 1.5 million babies killed by abortion in this country alone. What about the abortion rate in Russia? How many babies are killed around the world through abortion? You seem to be silent here! You condemn Dobson about his political comments as a child psy, but what about you. Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black. Who are you that we should listen to you. You said you have not picked a candidate. When Obama became the official Democratic candidate for president you were elated and said quote "my friend of 10 years Barack Obama" Are you saying you may vote against your friend. Now who's not being honest?
Posted by: ron hobelman | June 26, 2008 5:40 PM
Thank the Lord that without Obama realizing it,
the universalists are being exposed.
Does Jim Wallis or other liberals really
want the Bible discussed anyway?
Posted by: Lauretta | June 26, 2008 6:14 PM
Jim Wallis, Kudos to you!
That was well written & thoughtful.
I plan on making copies and distributing them at local Truth Movement events that I organize. It is certainly an eye opening Truth about the spiritual dangers of mixing politics and religion.
I am a Ron Paul kinda citizen who doesn't embrace any religion, but do agree the unjust attacks on Obama, based on his 'religious' beliefs, need to be exposed for what they are and think you did a fine job!
Like Dobson, I don't care for McCain or Obama, for different reasons I am sure, but in this case "The enemy of my enemy is NOT my friend". My alliances are based on mutual respect and trust; not a common hatred/fear.
For those reading this who may not know much about Dr. Dobson, you should look at this website http://www.lovewonout.com/. Understand that hundreds, if not thousands, of young gays and their Christian families have suffered unneccessarily thanks to this child psychologist and his cure for homosexuality. Only God knows how many good people have been driven away from the teachings of Jesus because they or a loved one was homosexual and could not change or embrace celibacy. This 'Love of God' cure may have worked for Dr Dobson, but not for most and not even for Mel White (soulforce.org).
I mention this because "homo-intolerance" sermons seem to be another way that old time religious leaders of all faiths, keep their flocks united and offering plates full.
Reminds me of a saying "Not all Religious folk are good people and not all good people are Religious folk". May the Light of the Force continue to illuminate your journey thru life.
Jack
Posted by: Jack Heginbotham Jr. | June 26, 2008 6:34 PM
As a former "conservative" minister I know that the religious right as well the republican machinery will have a campain, as strong as can be- of desinformation and distortion of truth using their priviledge of tax free propaganda to "inform" and "educate" people. It is a shame that religious leaders- as Dobson, Robertson and the likes- are so devoted to do politics that just forget about their espiritual mission. We as people of the church need to be cautious about what those people are saying and use wisdom, discenmente and common sense.
Posted by: francisco Duarte | June 26, 2008 6:48 PM
It does not take too long to see people in the true sense of who they are. We all claim to be God's spokesmen and spokeswomen, but one can hardly figure out which "God" we are really speaking for. The ongoing discussions, shall I say debates, sort of reminded me of Apostle Paul's admonition in Romans Chapter 2.
There is no doubt that everyone is opinionated when it comes to all these issues. But as the Church, i.e. the body of Christ, we must do well to remember that it is our duty to make known the the manifold wisdom of God to power and principalities, (notably politicians), not only on earth, but in heavenly places, (notably the media), too, (Ephesians 3: 10).
Posted by: Titus Oyeyemi | June 26, 2008 7:27 PM
I have to disagree. Senator Obama has invited exactly this sort of criticism. His statements referencing the Bible show a breathtaking superficiality and lack of understanding. Clearly he is not a man versed in the Scriptures and his attempts to portray himself as such are in a word, pathetic.
As can be said of the party to which he belongs, he who embraces everything, stands for nothing.
Posted by: Dean Poirier | June 26, 2008 8:46 PM
James Dobson doesn't speak for me.
http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com/
Posted by: Quetzal | June 26, 2008 9:16 PM
Don't know exactly what is going on with the above video. When I try to click on it to hear Jim Wallis, it jumps to a different page, where I get to hear Dobson attacking Obama, but we never get to hear Wallis.
Posted by: Mike Hodge | June 26, 2008 9:29 PM
I generally agree with Jim Wallis on the need for reformation in this country on the way we view social needs and how we address them. I don't agree that it's always the job of the government to provide for those needs or to make entitlements the method of provision.
On this subject of Dobson vs. Obama, I can see both sides. Barack took the principles from the Scripture he referenced and applied them in a wrong context. Dobson not only comments on this but insinuates his opinions on Obama's political position.
However, Jim Wallis is disingenuous in this election process at large. He's been at many Obama events, debates, and discussions, talks to him regularly, and yet coyly claims he hasn't endorsed a candidate. He doesn't need to officially do so, his actions speak for themselves. So of course he pretends to take an unbiased approach while defending the candidate he is supporting. His insinuations on associations and attacks on Dobson's position or qualifications to make statements is no different from Dobson's attacks on Obama's statements and political agenda.
Hypocrisy? Go figure...
Posted by: common_sense | June 26, 2008 10:11 PM
I disagree with Jim Wallis. Why is it Ok for everyone else to speak out in favor of or against the candidates, but don't every let a Christian do it or everyone will jump down their throat and call them intolerant. Well it is time to let the Christians speak as well and their entitled to their point of view just as everyone else is. Like it or not the bible is the absolute truth and just because you don't believe it or say it isn't true that doesn't make it so either. "Don't resent the messenger (Dobson). Truth is truth and Christian theology and scripture are truth. A persons view of God....based on our own revelation and reason doesn't automatically equate to truth. There lies the problem...when one attempts to make scripture/truth fit their worldview rather than making your worldview fit scripture."
Posted by: GeorgeL | June 26, 2008 11:09 PM
Who's to say that James Dobson's worldview of scripture is the be all, end all?? The Irony is that when I hear Dobson speak, it appears to me that he also "attempts to make scripture/truth fit (his) worldview rather than making (his) worldview fit scripture".
Posted by: M Lee | June 27, 2008 12:25 AM
I think it is distorting scripture to focus so much attention on specific sins and ignore the Gospels. Christian leaders who do not have a heart for all God's children are my problem. The famous, rich, self-proclaimed holy prophets of God who indulge in self-aggrandizing and who love attention and who tell us about an angry God who sends terrible storms and terrorists as punishment. I am saddened when I hear Ann Coulter calling herself a Christian and then using hateful rhetoric toward anyone who does not agree with her. I am saddened when I hear millionaire Pat Robertson tell his gullible viewers to touch the tv screen for a miracle, that God wants them to give and tells them to give to him. I am saddened to know that fake holyman Gordon Robertson carried on an extramarital affair and never stopped his on-air "healings" or "words of knowledge" or telling others to confess THEIR sins and repent. That any Christian leader would claim to know the mind of God and inform us what God is telling him is embarrassing. I am now sad that Dobson uses his position of power and trust to tell us about sin and rules and to tell his listeners and followers how to think and how to vote. I am saddened to know that so many pastors are using their pulpits for political purposes instead of for the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am dumbfounded over what has happened to Christianity. The legalism that religious leaders depend on for their powermongering and political maneuvering is so UNChristian. The way they place so much attention on certain sins is not right. It may appear holy and righteous but it is the opposite. Nitpicking about scripture and ignoring the heart of it is such a waste of time and goes against the spirit of Christianity.
Posted by: Cheryl Spencer from Lewes Delaware | June 27, 2008 3:11 AM
Mr. Wallis, I am not interested in watching you on CBN. I would like to ask you why you or any responsible and reputable person would appear on that "network" which is run by a glaring fraud? Is fraud not a sin in your eyes? It is a crime in this country so why would you associate with Pat Robertson at all? You know that he is all about personal power and profit, manipulation, and political organizing. Prayer and healing are a profit-making tool for those cons on that show. I guess adultery is not a sin for the son of a holy prophet of God. They are excellent dramatic actors and they understand stagecraft and their target market so well.
Also, I made some mistakes in my earlier comment and I apologize for not being more careful.
God, Heavenly Father, please forgive me for making mistakes, especially when I communicate with and about righteous holymen who think the rest of us Christians do not have a brain or any kind of independent thoughts.
Posted by: Cheryl Spencer from Lewes Delaware | June 27, 2008 3:20 AM
oh and by the way
that "news lady" on the screen
i think her name is Wendy
she knew all about Gordon Robertson's extramarital affair with Gigi Lacey too and helped him keep it hidden
she knows exactly what is really going on there at CBN and how profitable "prayer and healing" is for those cons
they all are frauds
they are all actors playing out their roles of spirit-filled Christians
thanks but no thanks
i do not want to watch Wallis on the 700 club
Posted by: Cheryl Spencer from Lewes Delaware | June 27, 2008 8:14 AM
Thank you, Mr. Wallis, for the best article I have read about the agenda of the Religious Right during this current political campaign. Dobson and his ilk need to be counterbalanced; they have too much power and influence in spreading their own personal interpretation of religious views and morality. I agree with you 100% that issues should be argued on the basis of morality and not one's particular religion. Many people refuse to believe this, but as you correctly stated, we are not a Christian nation anymore, but a pluralistic nation. Keep up the excellent writing.
(P.S. Yes, I am a Christian. That does not put blinders on me so that I can't recognize the truth that we are not living in a solely Christian nation. Please observe actual reality and not just what you think reality should be.)
Posted by: Julie Laird | June 27, 2008 10:14 AM
Well it is time to let the Christians speak as well and their entitled to their point of view just as everyone else is. Like it or not the bible is the absolute truth and just because you don't believe it or say it isn't true that doesn't make it so either.
Because when conservative Christians speak about "God" they often do so not so much out of conviction but because they intend to run the show in His Name. In other words, they're bullies so deeply insecure about what they believe that they have to shove it down everyone's throat to justify themselves.
Posted by: Rick | June 27, 2008 11:08 AM
Jim:
I am a retired Clinical Psychologist. I agree fully with your comments regarding Dr. Dobson. I knew Jim Dobson many years ago when he had a practice in Azusa, CA. Since then, his rationale for pushing the evangelical agenda has been seriously skewed. I am a Christian, seminary trained, and I feel that many of the Christian faith are confusing religion and government. We are a secular Republic, not a Theocracy. Our citizens still have the RIGHT to believe what they want whether they agree with me or not. I would hope that others of my faith would also allow this.
Posted by: Lawrence D. Morrell, Ph.D. | June 27, 2008 11:31 AM
Is there a difference between Jim Wallis' comments on the current administration and Dobson's comments on a current candidate? Heck yeah! The current administration was voted in AND THEN LIED TO THE NATION! Our great "Christian White House" has turned out to be the most deceptive group of people to serve there since Nixon.
How can so many people continue to be so gullible to just blindly believe someone because he can parrot "faith statements". This President and this administration will be judged on their actions, and their actions have been deplorable in every sense.
One commentator said "The Bible is right ALL OF THE time, and should be followed in Church and in PUBLIC." Has this person actually ever done any serious Bible study? Yes, the Bible is the infallible Word of God, but NO, the Bible is not black and white. Dobson and all of his cohorts would want to make it so. But only so they can control your thoughts, and actions, and the outcomes for the nation.
I have read the Bible many times and still can't find the part where abortion is supposed to be the main issue of our lives. Of the thousands of injustices that God hates, why is this the one divining issue?
We've had 8 years of a man who professes the "right kind of faith". Aren't we all proud of his accomplishments? The only people who are better off than they were 8 years ago work for government contractors with ties to Dick Cheney.
Posted by: Bill Gilliland | June 27, 2008 12:35 PM
I believe Dr. Dobson speaks for himself not Christ followers.....our journey is to love God and our fellow man....I don't see this in Dobson's comments...He is puffed up and proud whereas Christ expects Christians to be humble....As our example, Christ was compassionate and loving toward others. The people who He confronted where the religious leaders that were distorting His message...He did not confront civil government....Since He is our model, Dr. Dobson and those who support his actions that are contrary to Christ's need to go to the closet and pray for humility and to again focus on what God has directed out to focus on....Blessings to all...
Posted by: Jerry | June 27, 2008 3:32 PM
Evangelicals willing to bend biblical truth to make Christianity more politically correct are denying Christ. Is the Bible the Word of God? Liberal postmodern evangelicals have been saying that no one knows for sure what the Bible means for years, yet Jesus never gave anyone excuse for twisting Scripture in the Bible. He held people responsible for knowing and understanding the Scriptures! He called his disciples on the road to Emmaus ". . . foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe" because of their ignorance of the Old Testament's messianic promises (Luke 24:25). Their own sluggish faith, not any other reason, was the problem with the Bible. Paul expected churches to understand his letters and held them responsible for obeying instructions. Christ also said it is a Christian's duty to study and interpret Scripture rightly. God's word is plain enough for the average reader to know and understand in order to come to a saving knowledge of Christ. The Bible is the Word of God and has every truth essential to our salvation and eternal life. Our sin is bondage which we cannot escape from without Jesus. Jesus paid the price of sin and salvation is by grace through faith in Him, not by works. True Christians have been in agreement on those points of biblical truth. Yet today, "liberal Christians" think that it is "too unclear" to interpret. That is a denial of Christ's lordship over the Christian church. Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." Jesus told us to depart from sin. Liberal Christianity (such as found in Sojourners' blogs and articles) winks at sin and says, "Obama is ok. He is for good works and social justice." Yet God is a holy God and does not wink at sin. He does, however, forgive sin. If we repent of our sins He is faithful to forgive us and take us back. I implore those of you who are on the fence, to study the Scriptures for yourselves and see if this "new, liberal Christianity" is what God would have you to embrace. It is a fatal apostasy. You may actually imagine that you are serving the cause of truth but have willfully rejected the truth, with sufficient knowledge and understanding to be fully responsible for it. Influential people who profess or pretend to believe the truth although they do not savingly believe it are the greatest danger the church faces today. I applaud James Dobson for having courage to stand up for the Bible, God's Word. A love for the truth should be part of every Christian's life; but a deliberate rejection of the truth after the truth has been heard and understood is tragic. A so-called leader who only believes half the Bible is not a Christian. He is an apostate.
Posted by: contending | July 1, 2008 10:55 AM
As a Jew (and a not particularly observent one), I have read Senator Obama's remark about basing public policy on Leviticus, which says "Slavery's OK and eating shellfish is an abomination.", and have come to this unavoidable conclusion: It was a gratuitous, thinly-veiled swipe at kashrut, the dietary lifestyle of millions of Orthodox and Conservative Jews. Can somebody (Please!) convince me otherwise?
Posted by: Michael Keller | July 4, 2008 9:00 AM
Calling yourself a "Christian" does NOT mean you are a follower of Jesus Christ, and the Bible is quite clear that He is the only truth, and the only way to enter the gates of Heaven. While man may look at the outward appearances, God looks at the heart! People can call themselves "Christians," yet without a personal relationship with Jesus and an indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they will not receive salvation. No one knows the heart of Barack Obama except God Himself, yet it is quite confusing to hear a "Christian" proclaim that there are other paths to heaven and that he does not take the entirety of Scripture as God-inspired. But all of this to say...it is not our job to judge ANYONE, for we do tend to look at the "talk" and cannot even pretend to know the true heart condition of any one person.
Posted by: Crystal Dee | October 12, 2008 12:16 AM
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