Teaching Team
Obama and Dobson Talk Some Torah
Tags: Dobson, Obama, torah
Like it or not, the 2008 Presidential campaign is in full swing. First Fruits of Zion typically does not delve into the political arena. Normally, we're interested in a different kind of politics, namely the Kingdom of God. But recent criticisms from James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, lodged at Democratic candidate Barack Obama got our attention.
Commenting on the diversity of Christian interpretations of Scripture and the difficultly of deciding which ones should shape public policy, Obama told a crowd gathered for the 2006 "Call to Renewal" conference:
Whose Christianity would we teach in the schools, would we go with James Dobson's, or Al Sharpton's? Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is okay and that eating shellfish is abomination? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount - a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application? So before we get carried away, let's read our Bibles. Folks haven't been reading their Bibles.
Comments like these elicited a stern response from James Dobson. Dobson accused Obama of "disparaging a serious understanding of the Bible." According to Dobson, these questions "confuse the dietetic laws of the Old Testament" with the teaching of Jesus. It is a misinterpretation to think the Law "somehow applies to the church age, the New Testament." He continued:
The laws that applied to [Israel] then, the Levitical code, the dietary laws, no longer apply. Many of the principles in the Old Testament apply, but not those laws. It seems he is trying to confuse people by equating those with what Jesus said in the New Testament...He is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter.
Aside from the common interpretive fallacies in Obama's quote (such as equating indentured servanthood in the Bible with the American perception of slavery), Dobson's words, in my opinion, are even more problematic. If the teachings of Jesus have no foundation in the Torah, then we're in trouble. Deuteronomy 13 clearly lays out the qualifications of a true prophet of God, that is, fidelity to the God of Israel and his Torah. Deuteronomy 18 follows up on these qualifications and affirms them for the coming Prophet like unto Moses. If Jesus' words are in some way a violation or abrogation of Torah, sorry, we have the wrong guy.
But thankfully, Jesus does not teach contrary to the Torah. In fact, he states so explicitly in Matthew 5:17-20. And even more than his words, his exemplary life is a perfect model of Torah-ideals. You could even say He was the Word made flesh.
Whether or not these should be instituted as America's public policy is one question, one we'll leave to politicians. But as for the Master's teaching regarding Torah, there is no ambiguity. Jesus lived Torah.
If you are interested in learning more about the anti-shellfish party and Jesus' true policies on the issues, see Restoration: Returning the Torah of God to the Disciples of Jesus. You can order a copy here.
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Visitor Feedback:
Shalom Bro,
Thanks for the info, I was looking into this story yesterday. I too thought Dobson's quotes were a whole lot more errant than Obama's. He misunderstands the interconnectedness of the Covenants, and Obama appears to try and compromise all of scripture, (something that is inevitable in his position in my opinion) for the sake of the diversity within our country.
Your affirmation concerning who Christ is according to the scriptures in Deuteronomy was awesome, all praises to our Father that we "DO" have the right guy, **smile**
D.A.Fluker II | June 25, 2008 9:24 AM
Here's the links to read more on their discussion:
Original Article
Obama’s speech at Call to Renewal
Obama’s response to Dobson's comments
**Seth's response:** Thanks for those links Amy.
Amy | June 25, 2008 9:59 AM
I wondered if anyone here would pick up on that! I had the same thoughts reading the back and forth between the candidate and Dobson. Unfortunately, both men represent common ideas about the Bible - both start by finding some parts irrelevant. They just disagree about which parts and how much.
I'm so very grateful to the work you all do here at FFOZ, proclaiming the relevancy of ALL Scripture to our lives. It's had a huge impact on my family's walk of faith!
Shalom!
Pati in WA | June 25, 2008 11:18 AM
Shalom, I heard it this morning, in Dobson's response to Obama's twisted view of scripture - he clearly revealed his own lack of understanding of the words of Messiah Yeshua "not one jot or one tittle will pass from the law till all be fulfilled." Or how about "I have not come to abolish but to fulfill." Maybe we should try and get Boaz on his show to discuss the relationship of Torah in the body of Messiah?!
Jon Howell | June 25, 2008 7:46 PM
A classic pot n' kettle exchange.
Daniel F | June 25, 2008 9:52 PM
Great points! I was an avid Dobson fan before learning about Torah and actually reading my Bible as one book. I learned much from him and always enjoyed his 30 radio program. Just 8 short months ago I would have been in complete agreement with him about Obama's comments. It would have never crossed my mind that he could be confused or not understand such important matters about the Bible. Today I feel sorry for him because I know that he does not KNOW the Messiah that he loves so much. It is a blessing to see the truth being revealed and I look forward to the day when all who love the Messiah are willing to KNOW who He was and dance with the Torah! As for now though, I can't help but be saddened by the current state of Christianity. Thanks FFOZ for all you are doing to shed light.
Shalom from Tryon, NC
**Seth's Response** I wouldn't go as far to say that Dobson doesn't know Messiah. None of us know the Messiah perfectly. We all have levels of understanding–some more, some less. There may even be aspects of Messiah that Dobson knows better than I. But in the area of Messiah's teaching and its relation to the Torah, comments above show his imperfect understanding, colored as it is by dispensational theology.
Roni Macias | June 27, 2008 9:23 AM
Shalom,
I believe that the veils of both mens eyes will be lifted concerning Messiah in Torah. Some more, some less.
Anthony M | June 28, 2008 11:33 PM
To take it a step further the specific Laws that are referenced are reiterated by Jesus. He tells us how to treat our "Slaves" in Luke 17:7-10, and he advocates putting rebellious children to death in Matt 15:4. Problematic for both Obama and Dobson's conclusions that Jesus is preaching something different from Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
This whole discussion shows just how relevant Torah is to real life issues today.
Randal Weidenaar | June 29, 2008 5:24 PM
**Seth's Response** I wouldn't go as far to say that Dobson doesn't know Messiah. None of us know the Messiah perfectly. We all have levels of understanding–some more, some less. There may even be aspects of Messiah that Dobson knows better than I.
Thank you for your response,Seth. It is so easy to think that we know it all because we see that God's Torah is Holy, Rightious and Good-even now! Dr. Dobson has been a blessing and no, I do not agree with everything he says, but he gives some solid instructions. He also has a great love for Israel. He is not an enemy and let's not treat him as one. Yeshua said that the world would know that we are His because of our love for one another. May God continue to bless the ministry that God has given Dr. Dobson and may we as Followers of the "Living Torah" be humble and realize that we don't have it all correct either.
Mountain Woman | July 5, 2008 8:50 PM