He didn't "issue a statement", he expressed his analytical opinion in a conversation with a U.S. News & World Report reporter. I don't think Thompson is a Christian because he has never given anyone any reason to believe that he is. What is so hard about confessing Jesus?
Luke 9
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
Romans 10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Mark 16
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
How many conversations and meetings did Dobson have with Thompson? Dobson has never heard me confess Jesus either, am I not a Christian?
Speaking to a reporter is the equivalent of issuing a statement, a press release, or going on any talk show. Just because issue a statement isn’t “technically” correct doesn’t negate the fact that Dobson’s point was to steer Christians who listen to him AWAY from Thompson.
If I wanted to get “technical” I could accuse Dobson of breaking the Ninth Commandment, but I don’t know for sure if he meant it that way, and that’s for God to judge. I have made a personal decision to scrutinize Dobson’s statements because of that.
What you don’t understand, is that when Fred said he was baptized into the church of Christ that is just exactly what that means. He believed in Jesus and was baptized.
Dobson didn’t understand that either. Not every church has the same way of expressing that they believe.
It is a false accusation to say Fred did not say he believed in Jesus, because he did say he believed in Jesus in the manner of his personal faith.
The church of Christ that Fred grew up in does not do “testimony” statements like some churches do and there are theological reasons for it.