Can They Get Together?
Apparently, James Dobson Won’t Be Voting For President . . .
Having long ago declared that he would not vote for McCain under any circumstances, Dobson has now decided to tackle Obama. Dobson has decided to argue with Obama on Biblical interpretation. He’s entitled, but in this case, I have to side with Obama:
Dobson reserved some of his harshest criticism for Obama’s argument that the religiously motivated must frame debates over issues like abortion not just in their own religion’s terms but in arguments accessible to all people.
Dobson counters that he has a right to argue for what he believes, which he does. So happens I believe it too. But Obama is right, if you want to be effective in the argument, you have to appeal to more than faith because a lot of people, in fact a majority of the nation, holds their faith differently than I or Dobson.
There is a difference between teaching and motivating the faithful and carrying the debate to the greater public.
In Other Arenas . . .
This has nothing to do with presidential politics, but it has a lot to do with LDS and Evangelical political involvement. Here in California we have had our Supreme Court redefine marriage for us, so we need to amend the constitution of the state to squelch a court that clearly does not listen to the people.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will participate with a “broad-based coalition of churches and other organizations” to promote the amendment, which will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.
But, will they be welcome? Check out this website designed to promote the amendment:
Dear Pastors, Friends and Christian Leaders
Let’s see, LDS does not have pastors and a lot of people do not consider them “Christian,” so this could get weird.
This is a natural issue to foster Evangelical and LDS cooperation, but will we?
This is also an issue that illustrates Dobson’s problem. Whether we are defending marriage either as Evangelicals or LDS, it is not, nor will it be enough, to carry the day by arguing from scripture on this one. In my experience, scriptural mandates are rooted in reason. It is that reason that we need to tap into.
Lowell adds: We have a copy of the letter that will be read across all LDS pulpits in California this Sunday. There is no daylight between the position expressed there and the views of any politically conservative Evangelical on same-sex marriage. My concern is not that the website addresses itself to Pastors, Friends and Christian Leaders; it is what those words mean. Are members and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcome on the pro-amendment effort?
For those who don’t know, the Church was the leader in getting Proposition 22 passed in 2000. It is unclear whether the Church will be just as active this time, but I do know that a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles was in California last week to discuss interfaith cooperation on the issue. I will bet that the Mormons will be allied with the Orthodox rabbis and the Catholic bishops, just as they were in 2000. Will Evangelicals join in with that group?
On Sunday I e-mailed ProtectMarriage.com and asked if Mormons are invited to paticipate in their effort. No response yet.
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stevenrushing on 24 Jun 2008 at 8:25 am #
First comment for me, although I have been enjoying this blog for well over a year now. Great job guys!
I think you are reaching here. I can only imagine that if the website had opened “Dear Pastors, Friends, Christian Leaders and LDS members” then this article would be about how evangelicals didn’t consider LDS members friends or Christian leaders.
How would you have addressed a coalition of Christians uniting for Life?