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| Disgusted but not Surprised |
or
The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Friend
Pick your own title.
It has been a long time since I've had much respect for James Dobson, so today's broadcast was not disillusioning, but it still disappoints me when Christians are willing to buddy up to men of ill repute in order to further a political agenda. I think that is exactly what Dobson did by having Newt Gingrich on his program today (listen here or read about it here).
Whether Gingrich has repented of his sin or not and whether or not he is a genuine believer, as Dobson believes he is, is irrelevant. When a man in a public position has shown himself to be immoral and untrustworthy, Christians ought not to set him up in a position of influence again. To give a man like Gingrich, who nearly out-Clintoned Clinton, a national platform to promote morality and righteousness makes a mockery of that morality and righteousness regardless of his present spiritual state. No wonder the "Religious Right" is such a joke when their spokesmen are philanderers like Gingrich and gambling addicts like William Bennett.
I do hope that Newt Gingrich has reformed his ways. More than that, I hope he has been or will be born again. I have no objection to his involvement in politics. But, at present, prominent Christians ought to leave him on the sidelines until such a time as his reputation is restored.
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8 Comments:
Ken Fields
David,
The political bedroom seems to be getting more crowded! Falwell has scheduled Gingrich at Liberty University's graduation.
Story is available here.
Vanessa
You know I heard Dobson talking to Gingrich too and I wondered about Dobson for doing this. Then I dismissed it as being a wrong notion. Thank you for confirming my thinking.
David
Ken, that's no surprise, I guess. Falwell and Dobson are birds of a feather.
Leon Cunningham
I submit to you David of Old Testament fame.
Brendt
I'm still not sure what I think of all this, but how is the reputation of someone of such prominent stature to be restored?
David
It's possible that it can't. However, I think of Charles Colson. After Watergate, who knew that he would earn the respect he enjoys today? His restoration was accomplished when, after some considerable time, his transformation and repentence was proven real. Still, he didn't go back into politics, and he hasn't become a leader in the church. He also was never heard to explain how his sin was different than someone else's, and so not pertinent to his trustworthiness, as Gingrich did on Dobson's program. That's the part of this thing that really smells. This was clearly an effort to clean Gingrich up for a run at the Whitehouse. Another difference between Colson and Gingrich is that Colson never pretended to represent "family values" or any form of morality. He fell from--what?--a ruthless political hatchet man to a convicted conspirator. When he was saved, he never implied that he was a good guy who made some mistakes. No one can now listen to Colson and say, "Sure, that's what he said before, but look what he did. How do we know he won't do it again?"
Brendt
Fair enough.
Another David
Republicans sin?!
Seriously though you have a point. Whether Gingrich has received salvation it is better to wait a bit to see. If it is merely an attempt at personal reformation he will fall flat on his face and take those that trot him out with him.
I wish Dobson would invite Jesus to his program by doing bible studies on the Gospel accounts. He is so law oriented he would no doubt get it wrong as would Falwell.
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