Focus On the Family Part 2: Focus On The Money

Just looking at the main page reveals the true nature of Dr. Dobson and company. Family.org is clearly more focused on money and finances than God – after all, if you don’t have good finances, how are you going to give generously to Family.org? Let’s take a brief look…

At the top of the page alone, there are three explicit calls for money, and a fourth disguised as a human interest article, which is designed to make you feel good about your past ‘gifts’. Under “Support The Ministry”, we have “Donate Online” and “Give Monthly”. “Give Monthly” takes you to the same page as the nice little family on the right hand side entitled “Become A Friend Of The Family”. How do you become a friend? That’s right, giving a “gift” is the only way. The “Because Of You” story of the day attempts to make you feel that your gift enables Focus On The Family to do SO many wonderful things.

Aside from multiple ‘gift’ solicitations, surely a fine upstanding Christian organization like Focus On The Family would fill their website with lots of articles on how to apply Christian principles to every day life, right? Well, if God truly wants you to be financially well-to-do, I suppose they are on the right track. In today’s Men And Women section, the feature article is “Getting Out Of Debt”. Among other thing things, there is this gem of advice:

Don’t decrease your charitable giving. Giving should be the first priority use of money, because it is recognition of God’s ownership of everything.

It is the only mention of God in the entire article – and of course, you should know by now who you’re supposed to be giving to.

Under “Frequently Asked Questions”, we see God-related questions like: “How can the new IRA charitable rollover laws benefit my family?”. Clicking on the question will bring you here, where the question now becomes: “How can I donate to Focus by way of a non-cash gift?” , and presents a litany of ways you can give Focus your childrens’ inheritance.

In “See Dick Hunt And Gather”, the question is asked: What kind of man does God want me to be? After reading the entire piece, the only logical conclusion is that God wants me to be the kind of person who is prudent with money so that eventually I can have a nice house and car while not worrying about money.

Uh huh. Unfortunately for Focus On The Family and its supporters, the Bible comes down rather hard on money and rich people:

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. – Matthew 6:24

In Luke, Jesus expands on this idea:

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” – Luke 16:13 – 16:15

Surely the good Dr. Dobson and friends know this story by heart:

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." – Mark 10:17 – 10:25

Really all the financial advice a Christian needs is found in that same book they claim to know so well:

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. – Luke 12:33 – 12:34

Finally, for those with any doubt left,

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. – 1 Timothy 6:6 – 6:11

…And they claim to minister and have God's backing?