Doctor Dobson is dead. His life impacted many for the good, including me. This is my tribute to the great man.

According to Wikipedia: “James Clayton Dobson Jr. (April 21, 1936 – August 21, 2025) was an American evangelical Christian author, psychologist and founder of Focus on the Family (FotF), which he led from 1977 until 2010. In the 1980s, he was ranked as one of the most influential spokesmen for conservative social positions in American public life. Although never an ordained minister, he was called “the nation’s most influential evangelical leader” by The New York Times while Slate portrayed him as being a successor to evangelical leaders Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. As part of his former role in the organization he produced the daily radio program Focus on the Family, which the organization has said was broadcast in more than a dozen languages and on over 7,000 stations worldwide, and reportedly heard daily by more than 220 million people in 164 countries. Focus on the Family was also carried by about 60 U.S. television stations daily. In 2010, he launched the radio broadcast Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson. Dobson advocated for “family values”—the instruction of children in heterosexuality and traditional gender roles, which he believed are mandated by the Bible. The goal of this was to promote heterosexual marriage, which he viewed as a cornerstone of civilization that was to be protected from his perceived dangers of feminism and the LGBT rights movement. Dobson sought to equip his audience to fight in the American culture war, which he called the “Civil War of Values”.”  

Many have paid tributes to the man and have reviewed his life and legacy, including in the following videos, all of which I have checked out and commend as worth watching:

1. Remembering Dr. James Dobson (click here)
2. Legendary Evangelical Leader and Founder of Focus on the Family Dr. James Dobson Passes Away (click here)
3. In Memory of Dr. James Dobson (click here)
4. CHARLIE KIRK HONORS DR. JAMES DOBSON (click here)

This tribute sums up a lot of what I think, titled “Andrea Minichiello Williams reflects on the legacy of Dr James Dobson” (click here) reads: “I give thanks to God for the life and witness of Dr James Dobson who has been called home to glory. I first remember finding out about him and Focus on the Family as a student at university in the 1980s and have followed his ministry and unyielding gospel witness ever since. Dr James Dobson loved Jesus; he was a steadfast defender of the family, pointing to marriage, parenthood, and the raising of children in the fear of the Lord as the very heart of a healthy, strong and civilised society and at the root of mature Christian discipleship. As founder of Focus on the Family and later Family Talk, Dr Dobson brought biblical truth into homes across America and far beyond. His clear teaching, practical wisdom, and tireless advocacy helped countless parents to see that raising children in the fear of the Lord and in righteousness is not a secondary concern but a calling of eternal significance. For him, standing for the family wasn’t relegated to merely a cultural or political issue but at the root of faithfulness to Christ, and about passing on the hope of the gospel to the next generation. As we at Christian Concern contend for family in our nation, we honour and recognise Dr Dobson’s great example in proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord over every sphere of life and to resist the erosion of God’s good design for marriage, sexuality, and family. He understood that morality and a healthy family was to be found in God’s given design, rooted in creation and fulfilled in Christ. His voice was prophetic, compassionate, and courageous. His life reminds us that defending truth and loving people are never opposed; they belong together in the mission of the gospel. We at Christian Concern give thanks for his witness and pray that many will rise up to follow in his footsteps, unashamed of the gospel, unyielding in truth, and unwavering in love.”

Dr. Dobson had played an important part in my becoming the “Gospel preaching, community activist, watchman on the wall”, that these days I pass myself off as being and am seeking to live up to. I can’t recall when, and while it has been some time ago when I listened to “Focus on the Family” or read any of his books, but 25 years ago, say, I was a regular listener to his daily radio broadcasts, having come to the view there was little else around that offered the same pertinent for the times we lived in insights that he was bringing, and did so with such clarity. Of course, he was criticised and steered clear off by the woke Christians that were coming to prominence at that time, but as I listened, not necessarily agreeing with all he or his often-amazing guests said, I came away with a sense that he was saying what needed to be said and, considering where we are now at as a society, it was good that he said it.

Thankfully, there are many around now (it seemed then that he was a lone voice), some of whom were influenced by him, who are saying the sort of things that he was saying then, for while specifics have changed many of the same issues remain the same. I have never met the man, and I can’t apologise for him, e.g. in the light of one gay friend’s criticism that he pushed homophobia that harmed those like him who were homosexual. He was not perfect (none of us are) and I can imagine that we might have rubbed each other up the wrong way. Concerning which, my impression was that he invariably spoke the needed truth in love and was prepared to pay the price doing so, fearing God and not man. His contribution to those of us who are in the thick of fighting the culture wars was monumental. And that is what sums up my own tribute. There was no let up either – he continued the good work right up to the time of his death. As for me, I just want to be a worthy exemplar of those principles he stood for, often going against cultural norms, and pass on what he taught.