I Admire Ed “Dust Up” Dobson
Jan 17th, 2009 by John
Just before I left for Ukraine the Grand Rapids Press ran a front page story about Ed Dobson’s pursuit to live like Jesus. I commented to my wife Julie, “Ed is going to draw some fire for this.” Ed Dobson is the former pastor of Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI.
While in Ukraine I saw that Ed appeared on Good Morning America/ Weekend telling why and how he attempted to imitate the life of Jesus Christ. I admired the simplicity of Ed’s quest and the honesty of Ed’s spirit as he admitted that he, in effect, bit off more than he could chew.
Living here in religiously burned over territory (West Michigan), my comment to Julie proved to be true. Ed Dobson, while pursuing a serious quest, was called silly and his character questioned. How can a Bible-toting, God-fearing Christian vote for Obama? Can anything good come out of the Democratic Party? But it’s worse than that. Ed, saturating himself weekly in the Gospels, confessed that he voted for Obama because Obama’s positions on many issues (not all) seemed closer to the Jesus Way. For those who read the conservative, fear-mongering, political prophets more than the four (inspired) Evangelists, Ed’s comments must have sounded like words on the slippery slope toward blasphemy.
In a religiously burned over area, keen theology always trumps real life. Why? Theology is a non-contact sport. You can whittle away at your doctrinal precision without getting near a bar and a beer and a nasty person whose story matters deeply to God. In a burned over district what you believe is more important than how you live. Indoctrination trumps incarnation. Words remain words, precise words. Like epitaphs sharply carved in headstones, the stillness of death may pervade good theology rigid and cold. Ed Dobson decided to get hot, to get risky, to not only believe Jesus, but follow the Jesus Way. Ed wanted to see words become flesh…in his life. Like the Apostle Paul, Ed wants to say with his life, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”
The current newspeak is “dust up.” I like it. No doubt Jesus “dusted up” his culture. It, too, was a severely religious burned over district. To be burned over is to be so saturated for so long with opinions, factions, and viewpoints about the (right) Way that inevitably religious conflict trumps God’s mission. Burned over people are experts with words, precise with viewpoints, quick with criticisms. Along comes someone who is “word made flesh” and the conversation changes dramatically, traumatically. Suddenly words written by the Spirit on the tablets of human hearts carry an authority that no theological formulation can muster.
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John –
This is the best blog post I’ve read this year. Thanks for your thoughtful look at the paradox of following Jesus.
Well worded. The post is worthy of reading a few times over.
amen. amen. and amen.
I saw the media coverage and made my wife watch it with me. As an evangelical this story gives me alot of hope – hope that we can change for the better. Evangelicals cling to their positions like life vests in the ocean depths. But we need to change to stay true to our calling.
I recall another time where I felt this hope and it involved Ed Dobson also. I attended Mars Hill Bible Church and Rob Bell got up on stage to introduce the speaker for the service – it was Ed Dobson. There was a time when Ed may not have accepted that speaking invitation.
He is a hero.
Hey, I was there too! Go, Ed!
J. R. Briggs,
Thanks for the affirming comments. I like your sire, too. Ed Dobson is a gutsy man. God bless!
watchman,
It is great to see a man like Ed Dobson follow Jesus no matter what the chatter will be.
Post Blackbird Song,
Three cheers for Ed!!
money post John! you and your talent really shown through this one…keep it up this year my friend!
-jeremy
“In a burned over district what you believe is more important than how you live. Indoctrination trumps incarnation. ”
Powerful! I think Neil Cole said, “We are educated beyond obedience.”
These are sobering words all – worth a deeper look.
Jeremy,
Thanks, Brother. I’ll try.
Ken,
Pithy word by Neil Cole. Thanks for sharing it.
Ed “Dust up” Dobson will always be Dr. Dobson to me. I am looking for a book Dr. Dobson wrote in the 90’s while pastoring at Calvary on prophecy. Now I find he is with Cornerstone U with Dr. Stowell. Never would have figured on him voting for Obama though. I am surprised that this knowledge has not resurrected Dr. Falwell from his grave. It saddens me to hear of his Lou G. disease. I considered Dr. D both a very fine man and mentor.
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