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Wolves in Sheep's Clothing and Hirelings |
A clinical psychologist who goes by the title `Doctor', James Dobson not only is a wolf in sheep's clothing, but also a Judas-goat who has betrayed the trust of the multitude of Christians who look to him for spiritual leadership. Though venerated and trusted perhaps more than any other leader of the Christian community, Dobson has devoted dis career to the subversion of the Christian Faith, through introduction of the Jewish pseudo-science of psychology, and by promotion of this non-Biblical concept as a legitimate adjunct to the Scripture.
The fundamental accomplishment of Dobson has been to legitimate, in the eyes of the Christian community, the Jewish pseudo-science of psychology, and to gain acceptance of psychology as an adjunct to the Scripture. But Dobson has gone much further: with the aid of Hollywood and Madison Avenue, Dobson has managed, in the eyes of many Christians, to elevate psychology to an eminence above that of the Scripture, and the psychologist, to a position of authority, respect, and trust above that of the pastor-teacher of the local congregation.
The initial inroads of psychology into contemporary Christianity were made by Clyde Narramore, with his Psychology for Living broadcast, which aired many years ago on Christian radio stations. The work of Narrmore served to penetrate the defenses of the Christian community, though, of itself, the broadcast received little notice. In effect, Narramore, brought into the Christian community an alien who generally was viewed with suspicion, if not with outright contempt. Narramore gave the alien lodging and protection, and Narramore did all he could to ensure that the alien would not be run out of the community. With the passage of time, more and more members of the community came to tolerate the presence of the alien, until at last the protection of Narramore no longer was needed. However, not until the cause was taken up by Dobson did the alien gain acceptance as a member of the community; only then did psychology attain to any degree of respectability within mainstream Christian circles.
While Dobson and his followers give lip service to righteousness, the fundamental principle which they proclaim and teach is the doctrine of self-esteem, together with the doctrine of tolerance and unconditional love toward others.
According to the teaching of Dobson, the sodomite is not to be condemned; nor is he to be hated or made to feel inferior; rather, he is to be loved and `understood'; and, through psychology, the sodomite is to be brought to Jesus. This, despite the fact that the Scripture declares that it is because of deep-seated rebellion in the heart of the individual that God turns over the individual to depravity and ruin, sodomy being the final stage in his destruction.
According to the teaching of Dobson, the important thing when one is dealing with another is not to be truthful with him; rather, it is to make him feel that his thoughts and opinions are of merit and have value, even if his thoughts and opinions clearly are in error.
As might be expected, this policy of tolerance and unconditional love immediately is set aside when Dobson and company come across those with whom they disagree, and when their own position is criticized or attacked. For example, Dobson is quick to denounce as a murderer the doctor who performs an abortion.
Dobson today sits at the head of a large and well-funded organization, Focus on the Family, which has the ability to exploit numerous avenues of outreach. By far the most effective avenue of outreach is a pair of daily radio broadcasts which is aired nation-wide. The organization of Dobson likewise publishes a variety of periodicals, each targeting a different segment of Christian society.
The first of the two daily broadcasts features commentary, an interview, or a testimony, often with Dobson himself in the studio. It is in this broadcast that Dobson at frequent intervals directly addresses his supporters concerning various national issues. The announcer for the broadcast always is live in the studio, even if Dobson is not; the consequent intimacy and immediacy contributes greatly to the effectiveness of the broadcast.
The second of the two daily broadcasts is a series of radio drama titled “Adventures in Odyssey”. For inherent effectiveness, this broadcast hardly can be surpassed.
One measure of the effectiveness of the work of Dobson is the funding which the organization receives. The magnitude of the funding is reflected in part by the physical facilities which the organization enjoys: Focus on the Family broadcasts originate from state-of-the-art studio and production studios which have few, if any, peers, aside from the facilities of the Establishment-funded Public Broadcasting System.
Undoubtedly the most effective instrument of subversion in the Dobson arsenal is radio drama production Adventures in Odyssey, which has appeal for both child and adult. In the Odyssey productions, the character John Whittaker (whom the producers freely admit represents Dobson) is the mature, all-wise, all-knowing anchor of the local Christian community. Almost every `adventure' centers about or somehow involves Whittaker. Whittaker is proprietor of the local youth emporium called `Whit's End', a facility which includes a multitude of amusements and an ice cream parlor.
In his de facto role of resident counselor for the community, Whittaker constantly is providing counsel to children concerning their affairs and relationships, whether at school, at play, at church, or at home. Thus does the Adventures in Odyssey subtly instill in the child the concept that it is the psychologist, rather than his parent, who should be his first resort for counsel whenever he encounters a situation for which he is unprepared. As is to be expected, the counsel which Whittaker provides typically is an admixture of principles drawn from psychology and principles drawn from the Scripture.
In marked contrast to the father-figure of Whittaker, the pastor of the local congregation is portrayed by Adventures in Odyssey as a young man, struggling with the responsibilities of family, who not infrequently is confused and often seeks the counsel of Whittaker. Thus does Dobson and company subconsciously condition the adult listener to seek out a `counselor' rather than going to the Scripture.
and, if necessary, to his local pastor.
Jewish themes frequently are featured on Adventures in Odyssey; typical story lines involve `holocaust survivors', Jewish artwork stolen by the `Nazis', and stories from the Bible in which the characters almost invariably are `Jews', rather than `Israelites'.
The organization of Dobson almost invariably portrays the Jew as competent, intelligent, wise, noble, of impeccable character, and devoutly religious. A principal character of the Adventures in Odyssey series is a Jew—a college student having extremely-high intellect and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Scripture, who is honest to a fault and diligent, though often inept in the realm of personal relationships. A major story line involves the eventual conversion of this Jew to Christianity and his subsequent courtship of and marriage to a Christian girl.
Dobson thus fosters an image of the Jew which is entirely benign—an image in which the only essential difference between the Jew and the Christian, in terms of morality, integrity, and way of life, is the fact that the Jew has not accepted Jesus as the Christ. Dobson's image of Jewry has no trace of the fundamental hostility of the Jew toward Christ Jesus and the Christian Faith; this, despite the fact that Jewish leaders freely have declared that such hostility is the only characteristic which all Jews have in common.
These, having put the world in commotion, are also here present...and these all do contrary to the decree of Caesar, saying another to be king—Jesus.– Acts 17:6–7
We ought obey God rather than men.– Acts 5:29
This document was translated from LATEX by HEVEA.