"Let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers JUST men who will rule in the fear of God…If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will so be corrupted...If government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws."
—Noah Webster, History of the United States, 1832
Dear Friends,
I want to begin my letter this month with an expression of deep appreciation to those of you who supported Family Talk financially during December. You were here for us when our obligations were great. Your sacrifice will help keep this ministry vibrant and effective in the winter months. Thank you so much!
God has been gracious to us. Family Talk is now heard on more than 1,100 radio outlets. If you are not in an area where one of them airs, remember that an "app" store can quickly rig your smart phone, if you have one, so that you can hear our program 24 hours a day with the mere touch of the app button. Now you have no excuse for not listening (smile).
Now let me share my heart with you. I'm sure many of you are discouraged in the aftermath of the National Elections, especially in view of the moral and spiritual issues that took such a beating on November 6th. Nearly everything I have stood for these past 35 years went down to defeat. Consider, for example, these four shocking components of the Democrats' 2012 platform. They are:
1. Abortion should be legalized through nine months of pregnancy. Imagine full-term, healthy babies across the nation being poisoned or dismembered a few days before normal delivery. What a tragedy!
2. Same-sex marriages should be permitted by law in every state in the nation. In May, Barack Obama was pictured on the cover of Newsweek with the caption, "The First Gay President." His policies for the family were affirmed by liberal voters on November 6th. The Supreme Court recently agreed to consider the same-sex marriage issue. If they rule that it is the law, they will open the door to a redefinition of marriage in every state in the land. The family and the nation will never be the same. Nevertheless, neither Democrat nor Republican Congressmen have uttered a word of concern about it. They are deaf and mute while the very future of this great country hangs in the balance. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed by an overwhelming vote a few years ago, but it will be overridden if the Supreme Court issues an adverse ruling. But, who in Congress cares?
3. Democrats took every reference to God out of their platform during the Convention. Then leaders of the Democrat Party began to rethink the political implications of snubbing the Almighty, and held an impromptu voice vote to reverse the decision. Millions of Americans watched on television as the majority of delegates failed to vote in the affirmative. The "no" votes equaled or exceeded the "yeses." The befuddled chairman posed the question again, with the same result. Finally, he decided on his own authority to return God's name to the platform, which produced a chorus of boos in the hall. It was the first time in U.S. history that God has been booed during a political convention.
4. Finally, it was decided that Israel would not be permitted to locate its capital in the city of Jerusalem. What arrogance it was for a political party in the U.S. to tell another sovereign nation where it could locate its seat of government. It was nothing short of anti-Semitic. Scripture tells us that Jehovah Himself chose the Holy Land as the home for the Children of Israel, and Jerusalem became its principal city. King David wrote this about Jerusalem, "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God" (Psalm 87:3). He also commanded all people of faith to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and promised those who love it will prosper (Psalm 122:5). No other city in the world has been so honored in this way by God, yet Democrats came up with a better idea. Delegates got cold feet on this issue and reversed their votes.
The brazenness of these policies represents a kind of spiritual warfare that has not been seen before in American politics. The Republicans' Platform, by contrast, was one of the finest conservative documents of this era. It was strongly pro-life, pro-marriage, and contained other components that conservatives cheered. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, chaired the writing committee and he is to be commended for his work.
Governor Mitt Romney approved the final document, but unfortunately, he chose not to talk about its content during the campaign. Indeed, he virtually ignored the social and moral issues altogether. Almost every speech the Governor gave for more than a year was about the economy. In fact, I once referred to him in a World Net Daily editorial as a "one trick pony," because of his determination to deal with only one issue. It was as though America cared about nothing but money. I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now. As important as the creation of jobs is, this nation is also about righteousness in the culture, about the preservation of families, about the welfare of children in the schools, and about the military and its gay agenda. (Note: A few weeks ago, the U.S. Army permitted same-sex weddings to be held in the West Point Chapel.) Romney also avoided references to the reversal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell," or the yet to be decided Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA.)
Likewise, very little was said by the GOP during the campaign or the debates about terrorism or the makeup of the Supreme Court. The imperious judiciary is arguably the most dangerous issue facing America because it imposes itself on almost every dimension of culture. Nevertheless, it was hardly mentioned by those seeking office. Silence also prevailed in response to the radical U.N. treaties that Democrats are about to raise in the U.S. Senate. If ratified, they will change this nation forever. I will say it again: both parties ignored these and dozens of other critical issues throughout the campaign.
Do you remember the courageous position taken by Chick-fil-A in defense of traditional marriage? It became a national discussion with people buying chicken sandwiches by the millions. Gov. Romney was asked if he supported Chick-fil-A's campaign for marriage during that time. It provided a perfect opportunity for him to identify with an important conservative cause. He blew it off and said, "It's not part of our campaign."
Well, the election is over and we have a president who often ignores the Constitution and imposes dictatorial powers on the American people. Some people believe, and I am one of them, that Barack Obama is the worst president in American history. Pundits are scrambling to explain what happened and offering advice for the future. Karl Rove and others are telling the nation that conservatives need to abandon their long held moral beliefs, such as opposition to abortion, and become more like liberals. They have said, "We will never win another election unless our party develops a bigger tent." Being interpreted, that means political parties should stay away from the moral and social issues. Those controversial topics, they say, just drive voters away because at the end of the day, "It's the economy, stupid." There we go again!
Unfortunately, what we are hearing from some of our Christian colleagues is that believers must become "softer and gentler" in response to sin and evil, and to compromise our basic beliefs. Let me say emphatically that our responsibility as believers in Jesus Christ extends far beyond winning elections. Christians must continue to defend righteousness in the land, regardless of the political consequences. I can tell you without equivocation that Family Talk will not compromise with evil. We will not huddle up with Planned Parenthood in an attempt to find "common ground" with them. As long as their business is killing babies, no compromise is possible. It is never right to do what is wrong, and we will stand our ground in the defense of biblical principles. If that firmness in response to evil means hostile books, articles and Internet blogs will be written about us, then that is the price of carrying the banner for Christ. Our goal must continue to be winning souls for Him. Everything else is wood, hay and stubble.
January is Sanctity of Human Life Month, remembering the tragic day 40 years ago, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was legal to kill babies throughout nine months of pregnancy. The case was called Roe v. Wade, and it has now resulted in the murders of fifty-four million preborn infants. We have lost one battle after another in the effort to reverse this decision. But we must not "grow weary in doing good" (Galatians 6:9). William Wilberforce labored for 30 years to end the slave trade, but he and his colleagues in the British Parliament eventually prevailed. I believe America will one day recognize the infinite value of every human life. Until then, we must stay true to our righteous cause. Unborn babies have no voice but ours.
Join with us, won't you? Every dollar you give will be used conservatively and wisely for the preservation of the family. The frugality of the ministry is our watchword. Shirley and I have never accepted a salary in 35 years because God has provided for us. We would be honored to have you stand beside us. Please do pray for us, too. The load is heavy but the rewards of serving in these times are great.
If you're looking for a Christian organization that will NOT go wobbly, this is the place. God's richest blessing on you and yours.
Sincerely,
James C. Dobson, Ph.D.
President, Family Talk
P.S. I shared with you before that we are completing a new film series involving eight DVDs. It will be titled Building a Family Legacy. The final three messages will be delivered on Saturday morning, January 19th, 2013, in Dr. John Hagee's beautiful church in San Antonio, Texas. It will seat 5,000 people, and we would love to have you there. There will be no charge, but you do need to reserve your seat. Log on to buildingafamilylegacy.com or call 210-499-1669.
Read the Q & A from Dr. Dobson about the Massacre in Newtown, CT here.
A Message For Life!
Before I Formed You in the Womb has one very simple message: To unmistakably showcase that each life is designed and purposed by its Creator. The unborn are lives destined and knit together by Almighty God. If God is for Life, who are we to think otherwise?
This painting came from internationally best-selling artist Ron DiCianni’s own experience. In 1951, he was scheduled to be aborted; but God spoke to his mother and she instead walked out of the doctor’s office and chose Life. Ron’s critically acclaimed 40-year career and incredible ministry is the result. In Before I Formed You in the Womb, Ron’s goal is simple - to speak a message of truth in the hope that unborn lives are saved.
This powerful painting is available in print form from Tapestry Productions (TapestryProductions.com) and also represents the centerpiece of the new Pro-Life initiative, the Before I Formed You Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to reaching out to every Crisis Pregnancy Center, Legislator, Doctor and Abortion Provider in America in the hope of Making a Difference for Life. See how you can be a part: FormedYou.com.
Look closely...
Notice that, at the place where Christ’s hand is touching the mother’s pregnant stomach, there is the shadowed outline of an unborn child reaching back. You will see a star of light, right at the point where they touch. Also, if you look at the shadows cast by Christ’s thumb, you will see that they form a cross.
Other details...
Before I Formed You in the Womb is a universal statement on the sanctity and value of each human life. Notice that there is no wedding ring on the mother’s hands. Whether an unintended pregnancy or the ultimate proof of a couple’s love, each baby is known and wanted by the Creator.
Before I Formed You... takes its name from Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...”
About Ron DiCianni...
In a world dominated by visuals, Ron considers himself a Christian, cleverly disguised as an artist. Despite winning countless awards in both the secular and Christian realm, Ron has stayed focused on his two-fold goal of proclaiming the Message of Christ through Art and reclaiming the Arts for Christ as a vehicle to reach the world with the Good News of Jesus as Savior. In addition to paintings like In the Wilderness, The We Believe Murals and The Resurrection Mural, Ron has over 50 book projects to his credit and is a seven-time winner of the ECPA Gold Medallion Award.
Before I Formed You in the Womb is Ron’s latest painting, completed in July of 2012.
Tune in as Ron DiCianni is the featured guest on
Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk radio program
January 21 & January 22, 2013
To order Before I Formed You, visit TapestryProductions.com
This letter may be reproduced without change and in its entirety for non-commercial and non-political purposes without prior permission from Family Talk. Copyright © 2013 Family Talk. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Printed in the U.S.A. Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk is not affiliated with Focus on the Family.