[Kmenze]

I have a dimmer switch that has black, green and red and white wires. The wall only has a black, green and red wires. I know the green is ground but where do I connect the red and white wires to. I had the black to black and the red to red with the white and it made it a strobe light. Any suggestions or should I get a different dimmer switch?

[Missouri Bound]

The power is your black lead, the red is to the light. How was your old switch connected? You need to determine where the power comes in and which wire goes to the light. Is this an electronic dimmer? It may require a neutral wire which you do not have. IF that is the case, you will need to get a different switch. Posting the model # of the dimmer switch will be helpful in giving you an accurate answer.

[donf]

Since the 2011 edition of the NEC, a Neutral (White) conductor has been required at switch outlets.

You have two choices, replace the cable from the fixture to the switch outlet with a 3 wire plus ground (Black - White - Red - ground) or change the style of a switch to one that does not require a Neutral conductor.

As indicated above, the cable conductors would connect Black from the fee to the light to the feed for the switch. Red, return from the switch to the light's Black. White to White at the ceiling box and ground to ground.

[stanfortyman]

First off, exactly what dimmer is it? Without knowing this everything is just speculation.
Second, it is doubtful that there is only a black and red at the switch. Are you 100% sure?