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Calvary Chapel says Focus on the Family is inappropriate
KWVE, a California Christian radio station run by Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, has dropped Christian radio's most popular program, Focus on the Family, after 17 years. The broadcasts, hosted by James Dobson, "were not always reflecting the kind of content that fit with our primary purpose," the church board of directors explains on the radio station's website. The letter continues:

It all came to a head with a series of programs Focus broadcast earlier this year. The programs were called, "Women and Sexuality." In our opinion these three programs were not appropriate for our general audience. One of the programs was very verbally graphic concerning marital sex. In a portion of the program one of the women being interviewed declared, "We are not saying that a woman's experiencing of a physical orgasm is not important, but that can't be the total emphasis of the relationship." Dr. Dobson then asked, "But what about the use of vibrators in achieving an orgasm? From the aspect of a godly woman, does the Bible have anything to say about vibrators?"

It should be noted that the broadcasts began with a disclaimer that the content was not appropriate for young children, as Focus on the Family programs often do when discussing sexuality, abortion, or other potentially troubling topics. (But not always — today's broadcast, "A Message to Teens About Sex," doesn't have a warning, but is unlikely to raise any hackles.)

The letter also said, "The purpose of the station is not to promote Psychology as the answer to a person's problems, but to bring people into a deeper walk with God," but it's unclear from the context whether the church opposes Christian psychology — not uncommon among some evangelicals — or just doesn't think it fits with its station format.

Focus on the Family hasn't responded with a press release, but Paul Hetrick, the organization's vice president of media relations, told Charisma News Service that Focus was "shocked and surprised" by the decision.

The "Women and Sexuality" broadcasts, which aired in mid-February, are no longer available for free online, but if you're looking for the answer to Dobson's question, check out Christianity Today sister publication Marriage Partnership. "There is a vast array of possible sexual practices for married couples that are not mentioned at all in Scripture (we can find no reference to Internet pornography, vibrators, or videos)," says a Spring 2001 article by Louis and Melissa McBurney. "So, since we aren't likely to find a definitive answer, the best we can do is find the principles God has given us and apply them to the cultural setting we're living in." Marriage Partnership's "Real Sex" column, written by the McBurneys, is a good place to start.

Gong Shengliang, other Chinese Christians sentenced to life in prison
As Weblog noted earlier, five leaders of the banned South China Church had their death sentences overturned and were given new trials. Now, instead of being charged for leading an "evil cult," Gong Shengliang was accused of rape and battery — charges that observers say are a fiction. Nevertheless, the court found Gong Shengliang guilty and sentenced him to life in prison. Two other church leaders were sentenced to life for battery, and another two were given 15-year sentences. (Four others who had been convicted earlier on the cult charges were freed completely, but The New York Times quotes relatives saying they "showed evidence of 'brutal mistreatment.'")

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October (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46