Riverwood Presbyterian Church

Culture Wars

Core Competency

by Clay Staggs

I’ve previously criticized Dr. James Dobson for his negative comments about Sen. McCain and some statements McCain had made about gay marriage. It appears that Dr. Dobson has again thrust himself into the 2008 GOP primary, this time to slam a guy who isn’t even a candidate (yet).

Drudge posted a link to this story, where Dr. Dobson opines about Fred Thompson, former Tennessee Senator and actor on the TV show Law & Order. Key excerpt:

“Everyone knows he’s conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for,” Dobson said of Thompson. “[But] I don’t think he’s a Christian; at least that’s my impression,” Dobson added, saying that such an impression would make it difficult for Thompson to connect with the Republican Party’s conservative Christian base and win the GOP nomination.

Wow. That’s pretty strong stuff to allege that he’s not even a Christian, even while acknowledging that he’s been supportive (“strongly”) for Dobson’s agenda. Why would a heathen support Dobson’s political agenda?

Thompson’s supporters immediately countered that he is in fact a Christian, and is a baptized member of the Church of Christ. Dobson left it to his spokesman to reply:

In a follow-up phone conversation, Focus on the Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger stood by Dobson’s claim. He said that, while Dobson didn’t believe Thompson to be a member of a non-Christian faith, Dobson nevertheless “has never known Thompson to be a committed Christian—someone who talks openly about his faith.”

So, now get this: unless you’re a noisy Christian, in evangelical politics, you aren’t a Christian. Do I have that straight? I think I’ve put my finger on the real problem here, too: evangelical politics. Now, I don’t want to be misunderstood. I hope many, many Christians are elected to public office. I think they should run, and I think their influence if elected will be salutary. However, having one man with a radio show in Colorado be the arbiter of who’s really a Christian for political purposes is completely insane.

I know that many folks respect Dr. Dobson, mainly for his views on raising children, and especially boys. The buzzword for this in the business world is “core competency.” And when a business gets outside its core competency, it runs a tremendous risk of failure. (Anyone remember Coca-Cola clothes?) I think that Dobson should stick to his core competency and quit trying to be the Christian political kingmaker.