I was a Brio girl. My little sister and I (now in our 30s) still know the zip code for Colorado Springs. It’s 80995. The influence of James Dobson, who died Thursday at the age of 89, was everywhere in my childhood.
From the tween/teen girl magazine the ministry created to hearing his voice or children’s programs on any Christian station across the nation when I grew up, the reach of the ministry was seemingly ubiquitous in this millennial Bible Belt homeschooler’s life. The only other opinion on AM airwaves I heard almost as much was that of Rush Limbaugh via WBAP.
My father and other men from our church went to a Promise Keepers conference. My mother bought his books and curriculum. And every Saturday morning, my two sisters and I would listen to Adventures in Odyssey on the radio.
The first argument I ever heard about being pro-life I heard was from Dobson’s show, and for decades, Focus on the Family has provided care centers, sonograms, and services for single mothers due to his pro-life beliefs.
He was known for working with presidents from both parties and would meet with anyone, whatever their politics, to discuss the dangers of gambling, pornography, abortion, and the normalization of sexually charged culture.
When I produced the Sean Hannity radio show and I got to visit the Focus on the Family compound, seeing Whit’s End was the highlight of my trip.
Despite leaving Focus on the Family in 2010, Dobson’s hand in the impact on culture for any Christian child in the ‘80s and ‘90s is still obvious to this day, positive and negative.
Some on the Left and among the LGBT community have been very vocal about their perspective on Dobson’s “Love One Out” ministry, but others in the gay community and Christian ministry whom I spoke with said his intent was always, first, to help parents love their children no matter what, and secondarily to work with a young person to learn what God says and thinks about sexuality.
His passion for Christians to be engaged in the “civil war on values” is something that is still applicable today and necessary in the Church.
Friends of mine who have newly come to the faith will ask me questions about Dr. Dobson and the work of Focus on the Family. People are still finding his early works and devouring his books.
And, despite his somewhat old-fashioned views on women, a close friend, when she worked at the organization, helped overturn the “pantyhose rule” that required women to wear pantyhose with skirts and dresses.
Within the Christian community, especially among my fellow unchurched millennials, there are mixed reviews about Dobson’s impact. But, it turns out, whether it’s President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, King David, or Aristotle, there are mixed reviews on everyone from everyone.
The perspective of many Christian parents from the era was that Dobson was never clickbait. He never trolled the Left. He stood up for his Biblical beliefs with empathy and compassion for the person experiencing hardship and held them accountable for more.
Boomer parents were greatly affected by his perspective and support of the nuclear family and the unborn. One mother told me, “He was unafraid of sharing his beliefs rooted in the Scripture, and did so in kindness.”
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Christianity Today noted the same in a piece from the 1980s when he started in his early ministry that he led with “gentleness.”
Despite some TikTokers rejoicing and baking cakes celebrating the death of someone they view as a racist, bigoted, and a homophobe, the broader Christian community in America needs to follow in the footsteps of Dobson when we go throughout our daily lives, with gentleness.
Elisha Krauss is a political commentator, podcast host, and conservative activist.