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James Dobson Endorses Trump But Denies Saying He's a Christian

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Key evangelical Christian leaders are endorsing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. One of the most recent is Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson.

"I believe he is the most capable candidate to lead the United States of America in this complicated hour," Dobson said in a statement Thursday, several hours before Trump gave his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.

Dobson said his endorsement is only on behalf of himself and not on behalf of his Family Talk organization or Focus on the Family, according to Religion News Service.

Dobson is a part of Trump's evangelical advisory board. He also took part in the meeting last month in New York City between Trump and nearly 1,000 Christian leaders.

Earlier, reports had surfaced that Dobson said that Trump was a Christian. CBN spoke with Dobson last week about those reports.

"I did not say that Donald Trump is a believer," Dobson told CBN. "It was reported in probably a thousand newspapers around the country. I didn't say that. I talked to probably 4 or 500 people that day, and one of them put a microphone in my face and asked me how it was going, and I said, 'I have heard that Donald Trump had accepted a relationship with Christ."

"I don't know. I wasn't there. I don't know what the nature of that transaction was, that commitment to Christ," Dobson continued. "I just heard that that had occurred. I said that."

"But if it is true, that's good news," he said.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said at the RNC he was voting for Trump, indirectly addressing the concerns that still linger with some Christians about voting for the billionaire.

"I will urge my fellow Americans to do the same," Perkins said. He also said he was at the convention as a citizen and not for his organization.

"From his judicial nominees to his running mate to the party platform and the policies it promotes, Donald Trump has committed to upholding and protecting the first freedom, and therefore our ability as citizens to unite our nation once again under God," Perkins said.

The chancellor of Liberty University, Jerry Falwell, Jr., also spoke about his approval of Trump as president at the RNC, saying he's one of the "greatest visionaries of all time."

Trump has been seen surrounding himself with evangelicals, especially Falwell, Jr. over the past few months. In his address before the RNC, Trump expressed gratitude to those in the faith community who support him.

"I would like to thank the evangelical and religious community in general," he said.

Not all conservative Christian leaders are in Trump's corner, though. Religion News Service came out with a list of seven who are not supporting him. 

They include:

  • Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, 
  • Denny Burk, professor of biblical studies at Boyce College,
  • Max Lucado, pastor, Oak Hills Church, and author,
  • Thabiti Anyabwile, pastor of Anacostia River Church,
  • Erick Erickson, conservative blogger, The Resurgent
  • Robbie George, McCormick professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University, and
  • Alan Noble, editor of the website Christ and Pop Culture

Dobson also spoke to CBN about the importance of prayer and asking the Lord for guidance during this time.

"America's hanging in the balance; it really is. I mean we could very easily make a wrong turn here, and that would result in this country not being what the Founding Fathers had intended," he said.

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About The Author

Mark
Martin

Mark Martin currently serves as a reporter and anchor at CBN News, reporting on all kinds of issues, from military matters to alternative fuels. Mark has reported internationally in the Middle East. He traveled to Bahrain and covered stories on the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mark also anchors CBN News Midday on the CBN Newschannel and fills in on the anchor desk for CBN News' Newswatch and The 700 Club. Prior to CBN News, Mark worked at KFSM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas. There he served as a weekend morning producer, before being promoted to general