Wink-wink, nudge-nudge: Dr. Dobson leaves questions about Trump’s regeneration

When James Dobson announced that a friend of his had led Donald Trump to “accept Christ,”  some questions niggled at my mind – in spite of the fact that I hope Trump is saved – for real.

I mean, wouldn’t it be great if Donald Trump really did become a Bible-believing, repentant, Christ-following Christian? I would love to know that God’s Grace was lavished on this man who a year ago said he’s never sought forgiveness for his sins:

“People are so shocked when they find out I am Protestant. I am Presbyterian. And I go to church and I love God and I love my church,” he said.
Moderator Frank Luntz asked Trump whether he has ever asked God for forgiveness for his actions.
“I am not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there. I don’t think so,” he said. “I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture. I don’t.”
Trump said that while he hasn’t asked God for forgiveness, he does participate in Holy Communion.
“When I drink my little wine — which is about the only wine I drink — and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed,” he said. “I think in terms of ‘let’s go on and let’s make it right.'”

While I still hated Him, I played church as a false convert and said some pretty awful things too. But God…

Anyway, Trump’s conversion would surely be good news, but it seems that Dobson has stirred up more questions that have caused many to hold back their celebration. While I wouldn’t judge a man’s salvation, It seems Dobson is excited to do so, making the following comments in an interview with Pennsylvania megachurch pastor Michael Anthony following that meeting in New York:

“I know the person who led [Trump] to Christ. And that’s fairly recent. I don’t know when it was, but it has not been long.”

What person? Was it this year? This month? How did that go down? What are we to make of this third-person report? Why the secret wink-wink, nudge-nudge? Could this person simply be a tale-teller? Why does this sound like borderline gossip?

“I believe he really made a commitment, but he’s a baby Christian.”

Okay, I know that a so-called baby Christian is at the very beginning of his or her sanctification process, but is anyone discipling Donald? And what do you mean by “made a commitment”? Trump has made many commitments that didn’t quite work out. Why do you believe Trump’s commitment equals salvation? And why do you need Evangelicals to believe that? Furthermore, why isn’t Trump announcing this himself? Why didn’t he say something to the pastors gathered?

“He used the word ‘hell’ four or five times. He doesn’t know our language. He refers a lot to religion and not much to faith and belief.”

Shouldn’t that be a little red flag that Mr. Trump doesn’t have the spiritual eyes of a converted Christian? Not that he has to know Christianese, but that one would think he would understand basic concepts of repentance, being washed clean, faith, belief… You know…concepts that even baby Christians know when their eyes are first opened.

“You got to cut him some slack. He didn’t grow up like we did.”

Who is “we?” I didn’t grow up like you did either. Actually, I will cut Trump some slack, as he may be a baby believer or still in spiritual blindness. However, shouldn’t Evangelical leaders and Christian reporters be held to a higher standard? If Donald Trump were not running as the Republican candidate, would any of these pastors have taken the time to fly to his side?  Would they do the same for Hilary if she asked them to?


© Berean Research, 2016

,

26 Responses to Wink-wink, nudge-nudge: Dr. Dobson leaves questions about Trump’s regeneration

  1. Manny1962 June 27, 2016 at 12:10 pm #

    Folks, it won’t make a difference if the Donald is a Christian or not, we need to redefine what a Christain is, thanks to the Warrens of this fallen world, the definitions of many words that were strictly Christian are corrupt. Dobson is just as heretical as Warren, he helped to infuse psychiatry into mainstream Christianity, if you haven’t been looking long enough, the presidents of this country are allowed to play social engineers, the powers behind the curtain tell them what they can and can’t do, that’s why foreign policy stays in place no matter which “party” rules the roost, that’s for you who still believe there’s a right/left political paradigm…………clue: there isn’t! People, do not put your trust in men! You will always be disappointed! Christianity and politics are mutually exclusive, don’t expect the “right” candidate to change the corruption in the culture, that is ingrained in the heart, legislation is not the new birth! Many still believe by putting the “right” man in power all this moral turpitude is going to go away, we put on our rose colored glasses and the America of Leave it To Beaver magically appears! Sorry folks, this country, this world, is slipping further into judgement…….there is a man coming, millions or perhaps billions will follow him, he won’t bring peace, he’s going to bring hell on Earth. The right candidate might be someone you don’t want! Be careful of what you vote for! The outcome might not be what you expected! Maranatha!

    • berlorac June 27, 2016 at 3:54 pm #

      Manny, Mark Twain once said, “If voting made any difference, they wouldn’t let us do it.” So true. We can either play the world’s game or we can focus on the Lord Yeshua and His return. I appreciate your comments, brother…

    • berlorac June 27, 2016 at 4:02 pm #

      Manny, there’s a new book out by Philip Haney — “See Something, Say Nothing.” He worked in Homeland Security. He reveals that it doesn’t matter who’s in office, that what’s going on is well beyond politics, that it’s a war in the heavens, outside of our control. He was a whistleblower concerning the erasure from our database of any mention of the pandering relationship between the Muslim Brotherhood and Obama. I haven’t read it yet, but it looks like something you might be interested in.

      I have a friend who wonders why Obama seems to make bad decisions regarding the Middle East and Islam. He wonders why Obama seems to not understand Islam and their political agenda. I keep telling him that Obama’s doing exactly what he set out to do.

      • Manny1962 June 27, 2016 at 4:17 pm #

        Thank you B! I’ll buy book today! Obama is doing exactly as he said he would do, change this country! But, what he does not understand is that he is doing Satan’s work! Hillary is no better than he is! She’s just another minion, who on several occasions has let it slip out where she get her “marching” orders…….the CFR. Equally to share blame Nuxon, Ford, Carter, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2 and Barry……..

      • Manny1962 June 28, 2016 at 10:12 am #

        Just bought book!

    • Ben June 27, 2016 at 10:40 pm #

      Nailed it Manny 1962

      So true

  2. Nellie June 27, 2016 at 2:10 pm #

    When I hear the Donald praise Jesus with his lips, then maybe I will have hope of His salvation. We are called to confess for ourselves, not have another speak for us.

  3. Sola Scriptura June 27, 2016 at 2:37 pm #

    Our salvation is not in politics. Revelation and Daniel tell the tale of the end…and it does not include political salvation for christians. This world will quickly degrade as the antichrist rises, and then, it will be destroyed. Hopefully, we are gone when that goes down..and then, a certain rider on a white horse, with a his vestiture dipped in blood and a name written on him, which no one knows but he himself, shows up. THEN and only Then, do we reign:
    https://followingjesuschrist3.com/2014/12/28/hell-and-the-wrath-of-god-almighty-what-do-the-scriptures-say/

    We must set our hopes on the gospel, and nothing else. Everything not built on the Jesus Christ of the Bible…will burn.

    • Manny1962 June 27, 2016 at 2:50 pm #

      AMEN AND AMEN!!!!! One of the reasons the NAR is so dangerous! Telling the sheeple NOT to read Revelation, not to study eschatology! When fully one third of the bible is prophetic! No wonder they don’t want Christians reading about the return of our King! It will derail their earthly hope for ushering His kingdom and they being the overlords!

    • Ben June 27, 2016 at 10:43 pm #

      Preach IT Sola Scriptura

      His Word has never Failed

  4. Manny1962 June 27, 2016 at 2:43 pm #

    I would rather he turn to Jesus Christ for salvation, than become president. God takes no pleasure in the death of sinners! All his billions are corroding slowly, this whole planet is coming apart at the seams…………the trinkets and baubles men lust after are insignificant to the glory of our God. This world will soon pass, then all these conversations will be moot!

  5. Darrel June 28, 2016 at 9:49 am #

    “While I wouldn’t judge a man’s salvation…”

    This is one of the biggest problems for “church” attendees today, either the inability, the unwillingness, or a combination of the two to know and expose false “brethren.” If a person says “I am a Christian” then believers everywhere are just supposed to take him/her at this word and NEVER question the validity of the claim. This they do in direct disobedience to the Lord Jesus when He told us to “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24) and Matt.7:15 & 16 “Beware of false prophets…you will know them by their fruits.” But today’s call is for everyone to accept everyone else no matter how far away from the truth of the Gospel they fall. Huge loads of guilt are applied to those who dare to point the finger and say “False prophet” or “Liar” or even to hint that a man may be. It is assumed that Dobson is “saved” but show us the evidence, Mr. Dobson. The fruit of Dobson’s mouth is ecumenism, “self-esteem” teaching, and a “psychiatric, psychological” pile of garbage that he passes off as “gospel” but because he claims to be Christian (and has made his living bilking church goers of their money under this guise) he can say anything he wants and get by with it. And we are supposed to believe that he got all this “wisdom” from the Holy Spirit AND that he has achieved infallible status in Christendom. Dobson allows for Trump to assume that he is forgiven and therefore saved because he “drank his little wine and ate his little cracker” when the truth of this is that if salvation were acquired in this manner it would be a “works” salvation, one that is never allowed because it circumvents the sacrifice of Christ (that is the whole of Dobson’s teaching and life, circumventing the sacrifice of Christ). What Dobson has failed to tell Trump is that taking the ‘wine and cracker’ does not assure him of salvation, rather it assures judgment upon himself 1 Cor. 11:27-34. Thus Dobson has shown himself again to be a false prophet—and Trump his false convert.

    If a person is unable or unwilling to call a false prophet a “false prophet” then they are useless to the Body of Christ in the matter of “discernment” and are doing nothing more than playing a game, a dangerous game with the minds and hearts of the people they claim to be “ministering” unto. By refusing to expose the wolves in the midst of believers because they are your favorite hireling preacher is a sign of complicity with and approval of those very same false prophets. But what is in the heart always comes out, usually via the mouth. Having heard the tired old saying “you can’t know what’s in a man’s heart” until I’m blue in the face perhaps a reality check would be in order. You not only can, but you are supposed to know, at least enough to determine whether a person is a brother or a liar—“you will know them by their fruits.” I do not care to know the deepest recesses of another man’s heart, nor do I wish to visit my own again for it is all black and full of sin, but to sit idly by knowing full well the overwhelming evidence that a man (or woman) is an unsaved heretic and yet remain silent is inexcusable. The internet is overrun with such people, playing their games, riding high on their ego trips while all they are really doing is adding to the problem and heaping up judgment for themselves.

    May God deliver His elect from such people.

  6. Manny1962 June 28, 2016 at 10:33 am #

    Amen Darrel, amen! Rightly said, so many are “embarrassed” to call out a wolf, under the “it’s unchristian to name names” fallacy! This is how they crept in! Everyone was tripping over themselves not to be unkind, while harm was being done to the body! This is why I take utter exception to those blaming the bride for the ills of the culture! Blaming Christianity for the corruption in this culture! I blame the leaders, the boards, the elders, when they saw heresy breaking out, what did they do? Did they kick out person bringing in this abomination? Did they confront him? No! They tripped all over themselves not to be “unkind” as Darrel said! We are salt, we are to evangelize, we are to live above reproach to shame those enemies of the cross! Before we can blame the bride of anything, we must look at those that call themeselves leaders and ask them, “why didn’t you protect the sheep?” You let the wolves in, too late now! Before anyone thinks of cleaning up the culture as a whole, we must clean up house! Our house! It’s filthy and full of rubbish! We need to kick out all the wolves behind the pulpits! With no shame or embarrassment, call them out, and kick them out! Judgement begins in the house of The Lord! We must clean and seperate from these false teachers, we must evangelize individuals, no wine and crackers, but a return to systemic and correct bible teaching, we must get on our collective knees and ask to be cleansed of sin, to follow this mandate that’s been our failure! We have not been good stewards of the bride of Jesus! All of us! What will it take!

    • Maggie June 28, 2016 at 12:20 pm #

      Once the leaven of false teaching (like the purpose-driven junk) comes into a church, it permeates the whole system of the church, including the elders. It clouds their judgment, they see nothing wrong, and are therefore unable to “clean house” because of the delusion. That’s why the individuals who see what’s really going on have to leave; they no longer fit the system that is in place.

      In looking at my copy of The Purpose-Driven Life which was used in my church for small group study over 10 years ago, I see the book endorsed by Billy and Franklin Graham, Bruce Wilkinson, Lee Strobel, and Max Lucado. With these stellar endorsements/seal of approval, the elders embraced this book without question. Years later, the fruit of this bad teaching can be seen; they continue in using business management principles and I imagine they used the methods they learned to remove me from the body as one of the “resistors.” The sheeple know no better, and the elders are entirely unable to discern where the church has been led.

  7. Manny1962 June 28, 2016 at 12:55 pm #

    Hi Maggie,

    Why couldn’t those “leaders” see through Warren’s deception ten years ago? Where was their discernment? Their theology? Their doctrine? Why did “elders” embrace this devilish book without question?

    This is exactly my point, if these so called leaders were real leaders, real salt, really studying their bibles, Rick Warren would have been stopped cold on his feet! But he wasn’t! Why? I can understand some undiscerning new Christian, but men who had been in the “ministry” for years? It’s because the Grahams, Wilkinson, Strobel and definitely Lucado, have a heretical view of salvation and scripture. Their ministries were not real ministries but cheap easy believism. That’s why I blame them for opening the door to wolves such as Warren, who in turn opened the doors for the emergent/seeker gurus that came in droves to pillage and destroy!

    But thanks be to God! He always has a witness and a remnant! Jesus never said His church was going to be about numbers as these wolves will have you believe, it’s about quality not quantity! Yes we can clean up house! What we need is courage! Courage to admit to our God there’s a huge problem, get on our knees and pray, God will save his own! He will seperate! Where I live it’s almost impossible to find an uncompromised church! God bless you Maggie! Keep fighting the good fight!

    • Ben July 3, 2016 at 2:28 pm #

      Manny 1962

      Exactly, Pied Piper Rick gets his New-age Change Agent pastors and followers to open and Study Eugene Peterson’s New-age Message Bible

  8. Manny1962 June 28, 2016 at 1:03 pm #

    If leaders, elders, deacons, pastors, assistant pastors refuse to stop preaching heresy, then as a follower of Jesus Christ, you must get up and leave! No excuses, write a letter, send an email, point out the heresy, and politely say your conscience cannot be violated! Error is error, and you will not be party to it. Speaking for myself, I would email the whole congregation, and explain and show the heresy, so as not to give the leadership the upper hand after you leave and the usual back talk that comes after.

    • Maggie June 28, 2016 at 3:52 pm #

      Being naive and unprepared at the time, I did not expect the backlash I got from just asking questions in the church. Almost immediately, I was being watched and started to be villified behind my back so I don’t think sending an email to the congregation would have done much. I was a “nobody” in the church, and I believe the congregation had a passive and blind trust in the leadership anyway. That was my experience in talking with individuals.

      In hindsight, I would have gotten a copy of the bylaws and insisted on the leadership’s adherence to them. Maybe I might have had better standing to be heard. In particular, I ended up being excluded from the elders’ meetings (which I had been told were open to the congregation) after I quietly attended a few times. Even then, they had ways to get around that by having meetings via conference call. Having pulled back the curtain, I was surprised by the politics and lack of theological understanding by the elders. Ultimately, my conscience is clear in trying to point out error and I just had to shake the dust off my shoes and move on. God was kind in providing another church for me, though I was ever so vigilant until I felt it was safe to relax and just grow in that body.

      • Manny1962 June 29, 2016 at 10:57 am #

        Hi Maggie!

        I’m just glad you’re out of that situation, there are very few congregations left that adhere to the bible, very few. It gets worse and worse as the days pass.

  9. among the forgotten June 28, 2016 at 6:22 pm #

    I love these comments and agree. But might I ask, “Which person if any, let alone a professional Christian, who rules over a named institutional enterprise, is paid a salary, stands before not among the saints, controls what the saints can say and do, orchestrates all service and makes themselves the key focal point among the saints is following the Bible?

    God is crushing all institutional religion! It is these self-made religious organizations that prop up these people and allow them to disseminate their own versions of the truth. I’ve asked many of these “leaders” to explain how and why they continue to promote the concept of “church as an organization” that is no where found within the scriptures. Guess how many have or even attempted to offer an answer? None, not one.

    Feeling courageous? Don’t bother with me. Just take your Bible and go visit your own Senior Pastor. Start with why do you have a title that is not scripturally warranted? That exalts you above others? That promotes a religious hierarchy which Jesus condemns.

    Better pray first. You won’t like his answers if you even receive any- and they most certainly won’t echo New Testament Christianity.

    Thanks for the comments. Sounds like many of you already see the light (leaving churches and meeting in the wilderness)

  10. Lyn June 29, 2016 at 12:03 am #

    Great comments – this whole fiasco is like a bad dream. People like Dobson slap a label on themselves, ‘evangelical’, and we are all supposed to bow down. There is as remnant, and we are not fooled.
    Among the forgotten, great comment as well. The ‘organized religion’ of our day is nothing more than powerful people lording over others their superiority and fleecing them while they do so. The way America does ‘church’ is not even close to being biblical – many of the true sheep are discovering this – praise be to God!

  11. Manny1962 June 29, 2016 at 11:12 am #

    Amen Lyn!

    Can you just see the separation happening? That’s why they resort to gimmicks and entertainment! That’s why the younger generation is pulled in with so called “Christian” entertainment! They’re brainwashed and turned into little seeker friendly, emergent robots, unsaved, merrily singing their way unto damnation! And you’re right! Slapping a label on someone does not make them a follower of Jesus Christ, no more than me sitting in my garage turns me into a car!

    1. Apostasy run amok! Christ no longer the only way to salvation!
    2. Europe realigning! Two days ago, Germany and France call for Superstate!
    3. Israel, in her place, sorrounded by her enemies that want to destroy her!
    4. The world seeking for a leader amongst the chaos being unleashed, economically and
    politically!
    5. Everyone asleep at the wheel, merrily going about like in the days of Noah!
    6. Islam floods Europe!
    7. Russia armed to the teeth again!
    8. Kings of the East ready! China builds road all the way through to Iran!
    9. Meeting place for everyone the plain of Meggido!

    Maranatha folks! This is a great time to be alive! As we who can see and hear, we see the day growing closer! Let’s get to praying! Let’s get to witnessing! Blessed is our God!

    • Lyn June 29, 2016 at 1:34 pm #

      Amen Manny, amen! The coming of the Lord draws near – the world is coming unglued, and the masses are like those in the days of Noah – oblivious as to what’s happening. Everything really is falling into place isn’t it?
      Be watchful, be alert, be on guard. Our God is coming, we must be patient and wait on Him.

  12. Faith June 29, 2016 at 11:07 pm #

    Been out a while, but I LOVE the passion now! Keep it up!

    Yes, Dobson is a wolf too, Billy too, you name it, the more fame, the more it’s true.

    It’s a total ploy. There was that scandal about the playboy pic in the back of a photo, some gossip, and next thing you know….Ta-da! Spin on a dime and NOW he’s a believer! Just in time go scoop up the Evangelical vote…. whew!

    But the damage control is already set up, did you catch it?
    “he doesn’t know the language” translates into “don’t expect any Christian talk from him or any public confessions” the excuse is already in place!

    As for the state of the visible church, it’s a gonner folks, don’t try to resucitate this cadaver! There is pretty much nothing biblical left about the way they do anything. They’ve all been swallowed up by the deception/delusion.

    “But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.” Luke 12; 39
    Sounds like the infiltration of the church to me, along with:
    “For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. ” Jude 1; 4

    By the way, it’s later than you think. The antichrist rises before the false prophet.
    Then, the fp endorses the ac. It’s all in Revelation.

    God bless you guys!

  13. Faith June 29, 2016 at 11:15 pm #

    And those verses above also speak of the reality of conspiracies, as the one below among many others:

    “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the
    earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed …
    saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” ”
    Psalm 2; 1-3

    Conspiracies are real. And so are the Theorists.
    : D

  14. Ralph July 28, 2016 at 4:12 am #

    The book of Acts shows us many examples of how to obey the gospel and how God adds us to His church.
    Many today are misled as how to be saved.
    It is our jobs as Christians to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus the Christ.
    Look at the conversion examples in Acts and compare to what you have been taught. God’s word does not change and is the same for all.
    Take the narrow gate, not the wide one that is taught today.