I have a healthy respect for Mark Driscoll. Really, I do — title not withstanding. Mark serves as the founder of Mars Hill Church (1996), the Paradox Theater, the Acts 29 Network, and the Resurgence Missional Theology Cooperative. He founded Mars Hill with the desire to have a conservative, orthodox, Bible-preaching church right in the hub of Seattle — not exactly a conservative hotbed. Yet, 10 years and two books later, his church exceeds over 3,000 in attendance.
I am not going to attempt to review his ministry or his books. Many other capable individuals have reviewed his work and their links are at the end of this blog entry. My comments are more personal in nature. What do I mean?
Once of the acid tests for me when I listen to a preacher or speaker is this: could I in good conscience recommend this particular preacher/speaker to my people here at Boone’s Creek? Yet, there are some who may have outstanding content and great theological prowess who couch these truths in such a way that would certainly be offensive to the average Christian.
Let me define “offensive.” There is a difference between preaching the pure truth of the Word of God and having the scandal of the cross and the double- edged sword of the Word of God offending in a good, godly and appropriate manner that leads to repentance and restoration.
Then there’s “offensive” in ways that are inappropriate. The use of hurtful jokes and the use of vulgar, crass, and distasteful language in order to make a point or to “relate” to the audience. This I believe is out-of-place for the pastor and minister and will be a stumbling block to many Christians.
Driscoll is a theological beast — his sermons are filled with such good theology and good practical content that he goes very much against the conventional wisdom of church growth experts who say, “The liberal Seattle crowd cannot handle theology, especially conservative theology — and what is more, even Reformed theology.” Mark is not shy about what the Scriptures say, even if it debunks what the culture in Seattle holds to.
He is also a church growth guru in the sense of his results. In his newest book, Confessions of a Reformation Rev, Driscoll’s chapters are divided up to correspond to the stages of growth the church has experienced in 10 years (hint: it’s over 4,000 attendees right now). Plus, his Acts 29 Network Church Planting ministry is making some serious in-roads into difficult-to-reach places in our country.
The man is a force to be reckoned with. And his honesty about the trials and tribs of ministry endear many (myself included) to his struggles — although mine and Driscoll’s settings couldn’t be further apart in culture and style.
Thus, my dilemma.
For instance, Mark right now is going through 1 Corinthians. It is an absolutely excellent study, especially the one on Paying Your Pastor. Yet, in this example, he uses an illustration on how he explained what the ministry was like to these young Bible college guys who were wanting his advice. His response (and I’ll tailor it a bit) was that it was the equivalent of having a defensive lineman knee you in the groin area. As if that was not inappropriate enough, he used a very high schoolish depiction more appropriate to a locker room than a pulpit. But the rest of the sermon was so good! My frustration lay in the fact that if I wanted to pass that sermon along to my Finance Committee or Personnel Committee, I couldn’t do it because it mixed in juvenile comedy with deep theological meat.
That’s why I cannot recommend Mark Driscoll to my average church member because they would possibly find themselves so distracted by his comedy in making theological truth more digestable that they would miss the main content of his messages. And with the language he tends to use to ‘connect,’ I find myself slightly embarrassed telling others that this guy has something to offer.
What Can I Recommend:
This Desiring God Conference video on Cultural Values and the Preaching of Repentance must be digested by every church leader and member. He basically says, “We as the church are who we are — and we shouldn’t apologize for that.” Amen!
Reviews
Book Reviews: The Radical Reformission & Confessions of a Reformission Rev by Mike McKinley, 9 Marks
Confessions of a Reformission Rev: A Review by Tim Challies
Radical Reformission: A Review by Tim Challies
A Theo-doping Scandal (A Humorous Tribute to Driscoll) by Challies
Review: Mark Driscoll’s Confessions of a Reformission Rev by Steve McCoy (Reformissionary)
