Dobson's Defeat

It is unwise to attempt to assess a person’s mental state after only listening to a two minute audio clip. That being said, Dr. James Dobson’s words reflect a tone of defeat and discouragement. As we have watched the waning influence of the so-called Religious Right, it is sad to listen to Dr. Dobson. I have no doubt that he is a godly man who has accomplished many wonderful things. But now in his twilight years, as his role in the ministry he created fades to black, this audio gives the impression that he is asking the question, “What exactly have I accomplished?”

That should serve as a lesson to us. If we desire our legacy to be political and cultural, we will one day look back in frustration at how little we accomplished. Our political activism and social involvement will never usher in heaven on earth. The very best we can hope to accomplish is what Dr. Dobson laments as a “holding action.” Every so-called progress made in stemming evil politically will be overwhelmed. Pornography will increase. Violence will increase. Immorality will increase. The culture of death will increase. Evil will continue to increase even as labor pains increase in frequency and intensity until the time of delivery (Matthew 24:8).

So what is the answer? Should we slink off in helpless despair? Should we curse the darkness around us and cry ourselves to sleep? That would have to be our reaction if our only hope was in our political activism and social involvement. But that is not our hope. Our hope is in the power of the Gospel. While we continue to work within the parameters of good citizenship to stem the tide of evil, that is not our hope. Our hope is in Jesus Christ. He will one day remove the curse and restore His creation.

Until that time, our most effective and productive activity is not a “holding action.” Our most effective and productive activity is an “expansion action.” Universally preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we spend a lifetime doing that, we will never look back on our lives in defeat and despair, for then we will have truly accomplished something.

Matthew 24:14