Published by It was just a week ago Dr. James Dobson said he didn’t believe the initial allegations against Ted Haggard of indulging in illegal drug use and engaging in a homosexual relationship. Here is a small sampling of Dr. Dobson’s comments:
From where I sit, Dr. Dobson has done a bit of an “about face” now the allegations have been proven true. He has pulled out of the ministry team to counsel his “friend”, Ted Haggard.
This goes high up on the Christian excuse list with, “I/we just didn’t feel led to do that”, which is truly a sad commentary on the state of the Christian body.
If I were in his shoes, I would look at what’s really important and weigh it. In this case, it seems Dr. Dobson’s ministry slash business has more weight. Jesus warned us about serving two masters, and from where I’m sitting, this was a cash and carry decision.
If someone I called “friend” was in trouble and disgraced, I wouldn’t be thinking about the money the business might lose or how it may stain my own reputation. An anonymous audience will always think what they want based on any number of factors, but a friendship is a personal connection. What is more important: the view the public, or the connection you have established with a friend? It seems Dr. Dobson wants to protect the incoming cash flow by minimizing his contact with a man who fell (or jumped) into a basket of snakes.
Dr. Dobson surely could have put his ministry on hold or had someone else guest host the radio helm while he was gone. I somehow suspect the stations that carry his program or the sponsors might have gotten to him with threats of, “distance yourself or we’ll pull the plugs on you.” I admit that’s speculation, however, there’s a lot of precedent for such behavior from outside sources of cash. Either way, he has made a choice to ignore a lamb in the flock. Luke’s gospel lovingly reminds us that even though the shepherd has ninety-nine sheep, he will look for the lost one until he finds it. Dr. Dobson, by his own actions, has decided to let others look for the lost lamb.
The fact he has chosen to back out of the ministry team to help his “friend” is not only a poor reflection of Dr. Dobson’s character, it also clearly illustrates how “family friendly” he is not. Ted Haggard is one person in the scandal, but his family is also suffering and needs a support system. Knowing Dr. Dobson’s ministry is named, “Focus on the FAMILY” should leave a sour taste in the mouth of Christians who followed his advice.
This isn’t the second time the ministry has made decisions that are anti-family, as Kathy Roever found out. After her daughter was raped and murdered, Kathy had her world turned upside down. She was an employee of Dr. Dobson’s ministry , and being geared towards the family, they of all Christian outlets should have understood the incredible emotional stresses Kathy was under. In fact, they didn’t, and they fired her after nine years on the job, citing “poor performance”.
Matthew 6:24 should remind us money doesn’t come first. “ No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. ”
We as Christians often believe God raises up leaders in the faith while forgetting Satan places his ministers inside the church (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Outside persecution results in the church gaining strength, but attacks from the inside are always fatal to the body of believers. I could be wrong, but with the way Dr. Dobson is behaving towards Ted Haggard, it doesn’t appear to be very Christian to me. It appears exceedingly selfish. John’s gospel has a piece of wisdom Dr. Dobson seems to be ignoring: “ No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ”
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