"For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." (Luke 21:22)
Posted on 09/12/2007 9:05:47 AM PDT by topcat54
Today as I drove my Mom home from her dental appointment, we listened to Focus on the Family. All this week, FoF is focusing on "Radical Islam and the Family." I'd like to make a few observations.
1. Granted, we only caught the last fifteen minutes, but at no point was there any discussion of "the family and Islam," unless by this, one means something like, "Radical Islam wants to overthrow America and we should support the Iraq War."
2. Most, if not all, of the broadcast focused on Joel Rosenberg's bestseller Epicenter.
3. Consequently, we were treated to a short discourse on Ezekiel 38 - 39 on Gog and Magog.
Now, there's nothing wrong with that, except the words "evangelical Christians should..." were repeated several times. The insinuation, in my opinion, was that if you don't believe as Rosenberg and Dobson say, you aren't really an evangelical Christian. Further, no alternative view was ever presented.
Of course, none of this ever got around to topics like:
a. How do we interact with Muslims in evangelism?
b. How do we interact with them in apologetics?
c. How does Muslim family structure / relationships within said structure, fall short of the biblical standard and how can we show this when evangelizing Muslims or discipling those coming out of Muslim backgrounds who are now Christians?
Rather, it was "We must protect ourselves from Islam by supporting President Bush," who, as we know, has Dobson's approval - which he was sure to state many times.
(Excerpt) Read more at triablogue.blogspot.com ...
Likewise, I am hoping that we get so hear about evangelizing Muslims, etc. It's high time FoF talked about the gospel as the tool to counteract Islam, not supporting the war and keeping an eye on Iran. Sure, the latter has its place, and I don't deny that; but, as Christians - as Christians in a ministry - they should be helping people realize that our ultimate tool is the gospel itself.So, I'd like to conclude this article with a challenge:
1. Granted, I doubt anybody from FoF reads this blog, but if so, I'd like to challenge them to bring on somebody like O.P. Robertson or Kim Riddlebarger to present an alternative biblical presentation.
2. I'd like to encourage the readers here to contact FoF and ask them to do just that as well - and to get FoF away from "Insert Issue Here Alert of the Day" and how many petitions to sign or which representatives to contact to actually discussing the biblical foundations of family life, evangelism, discipleship, etc.
"For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." (Luke 21:22)
Evangelism takes years, maybe generations and we do not have that much time to counteract this threat. The private sector needs to continue reaching out with the Word but the government must continue its path of vigilance and proactive intervention.
The writer heard 15 minutes of one session out of four...and draws these conclusions. That is 15 minutes out of 2 hours. Wouldn’t a little more research be advisable before jumping?
I heard a good portion of the presentation today and that was my conclusion as well.
FoF has become largely a Republican PAC, esp. when it comes to Bush.
The alarm bells are sounded such as “if we don’t do anything ...” usually resolves to Bush taking action against radical Islamists around the world rather than “the Church militant making disciples of all nations”, including Islamic ones.
Let’s face it - much of Dobson’s core market consists of premil dispys. Much of his material is good, but I’m not surprised to see him marketing to that group.
IOW, “Christians United for Israel” meets the Republican Party.
***Of course, none of this ever got around to topics like:
a. How do we interact with Muslims in evangelism?***
Why, that is because the church in America today is little more than an Arminian political arm with a political agenda, not an evangelical agenda. Instead of focusing on the great commission “preach to all the world as a WITNESS” and letting conversions and the end of the world be up to God, it is “you should support.”
Not that I have a problem with politics. I just have a problem when politics becomes the gospel.
LC
Now, there's nothing wrong with that, except the words "evangelical Christians should..." were repeated several times. The insinuation, in my opinion, was that if you don't believe as Rosenberg and Dobson say, you aren't really an evangelical Christian. Further, no alternative view was ever presented.
My wife was telling me about this. It sounded like pretty typical stuff. The default evangelical eschatological theory -- some variant of Hal Lindsay's Late Grate, adjusted to reflect the menace of the decade, and how Rosh really is Russia, etc. You can fill in the blanks yourself.
Granted, I doubt anybody from FoF reads this blog, but if so, I'd like to challenge them to bring on somebody like O.P. Robertson or Kim Riddlebarger to present an alternative biblical presentation.
To bad (for us, not for him) Meredith Kline is dead. I just finished his God , Heaven and Har Magedon (a first, rushed pass through on a borrowed copy, anyway). Dobson, et al, interacting with that would be interesting.
Although I am one of those darned premils, I completely agree that the Gospel is one our best tools in the struggle for civilzation.
I just finished reading Unveiling Islam by Ergun and Emir Caner (Now Christians but raised as Muslims). The book gives detailed information about the history and beliefs of Muslims and then shows how Christians can begin a dialogue and eventually present the Gospel. It’s pretty good IMHO.
marinamuffy
I bet Dobson does that as soon as your church hosts John MacArthur’s lecture on premillennialism.
LOL!
It’s radio. If you don’t like the program don’t listen, don’t donate.
But, puh...leeeeese, don’t say inane things like: “They only talked about stuff that THEY support and believe in.” Rothlol!!
Thanks.
Will check later. Am at the college.
Well? Which is it? Kim Riddlebarger, or a Biblical presentation?
yes
Now this should prove an interesting read!
Kind of like a Fairness Doctrine for Preterists, right.
It’s radio. If you don’t like the program don’t listen, don’t donate.
[shrug]. I haven't listened to Dobson or FotF for close to 20 years. Back in the day, every other show it seemed he was bashing men (playing to his audience). It got to be just too much.
“Christians United for Israel” meets the Republican Party.
Been done (train wreck warning -- painful to watch).
It’s good you had some sense of what you wanted to listen to and what you didn’t.
I wish Congress had a channel changer.
One consolation in the era of Osama bin Laden would be Kim Riddlebarger
Since Satan is bound, that means that we can't be the Great Satan.
It also means that Osama, if you remember the Satan head in the smoke of the WTC burning, can't be Satan.
In fact, it means Osama ain't even satanic, and that everything is peachy keen, rosey as far as the eye can see.
One day with the newspaper is better than truth serum when it comes to any amillennialist.
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