Out of Focus
by Mark Dewey

Dear Dr. Dobson,

I write this letter knowing that it is highly unlikely you will ever read it, yet with a burdened heart nonetheless. Burdened for you, for the many who trust your views, and for myself. For you, because I am deeply concerned about how you understand and teach God's Word. For those who trust you, because I know that many of them would become indignant if they ever read this letter, and this would reveal that they regard the opinions of man above the Word of God. For myself, because though it is my greatest desire to write for the glory of God and the good of His people, I am not convinced of my ability to do so. I am indeed burdened, but I must write anyway.

The events of September 11, sparked conversation, including comments on Larry King Live and this letter which is a response to those comments.

The night following the attacks Larry King had a segment of his program devoted to seeking answers and comfort through "faith". His guests that evening included you, Rabbi Harold Kushner and Father Michael Manning. As the interview progressed I became extremely discouraged -or to put it more honestly, I was livid. I was discouraged by the comments made by three men "representing" the God of the Bible. Though the intent of the program was to find answers and comfort concerning the events of the previous day, I believe there were no true answers and no true comfort found in anything that was said. Instead, there was only a feeling of helplessness. People were left feeling helpless because the god represented that evening was portrayed as helpless. Helpless either because he lacked the power to do anything to prevent the bombings, or because he has voluntarily laid aside his power. This whole segment of Larry King Live shouted that either god couldn't do anything or he wouldn't do anything.

As an evangelical Christian I am concerned with what you seemed to be saying. You seemed to deny the clear teaching of the Word of God. The Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, declares, I am the LORD, and there is no other; The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these (Is. 45:6c-7). And again from Isaiah, Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it (46:8- 11).

I have chosen the word, "seemed", because I continue to hope that I have misunderstood what you said. You said, "Well, Larry, it's certain that the situation is very difficult to understand. And there are no easy answers for it, and people who think they have it figured out just haven't lived long enough, I think." This was in response to Larry King's opening question (which was made in reference to your book, When God Doesn't Make Sense): "Dr. Dobson, we could well ask, did God make any sense yesterday?" In this response I heard you saying that we have no clue how to give concrete answers to such a profound question, and only somebody who is naïve would even attempt such a daunting task. But were you trying to communicate that the secret things belong to the Lord, and while we know that this event, like all others, is in the hands of God and is for His glory and the good of His people, we don't necessarily have all the answers?

You said, "Larry, let me first say that I agree with what the other two gentlemen just said. We can't blame this on God. I don't believe that He did it, and He has given us a free will. And if He had not given us that, we would be nothing but puppets on a string. And so people do evil things, and evil people do terrible things, like we have seen here." In this response I heard you saying you agreed with Rabbi Kushner who said he didn't think God was "pulling the strings" or "making planes crash" when the bombings took place, rather He was found in the heroism of the policemen and firemen. I also heard you agreeing with Father Manning who said an all-powerful God "could have prevented it, but the reality is He loves us too much to take away our freedom, He believes in us." I understand this to mean that the three of you believe in a god who grants
autonomous freedom to and believes in the goodness of human beings, but not in human beings who believe in a holy and sovereign God who has the freedom to do as He pleases. But were you trying to say that as human beings we are wicked to the core and when allowed to act according to our desires we will "do evil things?" And did you mean that while God decrees whatsoever comes to pass, "we can't blame this (sin) on God?" Did you want to tell a watching world that what humans meant for evil, God meant for good (see Gen. 50:20), or that these events took place according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, but by the hands of godless men (see Acts 2:23)?

Do I understand what you said or were you trying to say something else? If something else, I repent. If I understand correctly, I am deeply saddened. Saddened that God was not properly represented and people were left without answers or comfort. Saddened but not surprised; because these things are impossible apart from Jesus Christ and He was never mentioned.