Considering Mark Driscoll

Actually, we’ll be considering the CT Article on Mark Driscoll.  I read my copy a few weeks ago, and have meant to get to this.  But… I’ve been busy.  The author, Collin Hansen, tries to paint a picture of Driscoll that is honest, balancing his strengths and the criticisms laid against him.  I found the balance a bit off.  It seemed more negative than positive- typified by the reference to Driscoll’s appearance at the 2006 Desiring God Conference, placed under the heading Throwing Rocks: “John Piper says no other speaker at his Desiring God conference has caused such a stir.”  This, in my opinion, sets Mark in an unnecessarily negative light.  His message there was powerful and truthful.  I suspect Piper will have him back again- because John Piper loves the truth and Mark Driscoll does too.  Piper often speaks at Acts 29 and Resurgence conferences.  But this statement can be read to imply that Piper regrets inviting Driscoll.

All of us have blind spots.  Unfortunately for Mark, the whole evangelical world seems to know some of his need for growth.  Mark recognizes many of these sins and weaknesses in his character.  A pastor receives few commendations greater than this: “He asks forgiveness more than any pastor I have ever seen,” she said. “He publicly confesses sin. He’s such a great example to young, idealistic, confident, inexperienced, immature pastors that you have to say you’re wrong when you’re wrong. And he does it to women. I know. He has apologized in times when he has gotten things wrong, and I’m thankful he doesn’t apologize for the things he hasn’t said wrong.”

Not all pastors know their blind spots.  Not all of them are honest about their sin and failings.  Yet this very thing is what is used against Driscoll by many.  Hmmm, didn’t Jesus come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the most prominent (1 Timothy 1:15)?  If Mark was not repentant, that would be a different story.  But that does not seem to be the story.  Unfortunately some people confuse relevance (partaking of indifferent matters) with sin.

But that doesn’t make up for his “infatuation with the vulgar aspects of contemporary society,” MacArthur wrote last December in Pulpit magazine.  “[T]he lifestyle he models—especially his easygoing familiarity with all this world’s filthy fads—practically guarantees that [his disciples] will make little progress toward authentic sanctification.”

What about the lifestyle he models is so vile?  What filthy fads are at issue here?  This is what troubles me about John MacArthur- an extra-biblical legalism.  I think he’s holding another man to a standard not found in Scripture (the Bible has vulgar language in it; drinking alcohol is not a sin, drunkenness is; ultimate fighting is a form of competition that isn’t for everyone but doesn’t necessarily violate any commands of Scripture).  This is an easy way to write him off.  As an elder brother, MacArthur has made no attempt to reach out to him.  John Piper, Tim Keller and others have.  MacArthur threw rocks, and Mark Driscoll handled it in a mature fashion, with typical color.

Driscoll relates many stories of God’s transforming power in his Confessions book. Still, Driscoll says receiving MacArthur’s criticism is “like a frat guy getting paddled. It doesn’t feel good, but I guess it means you’re in.” As a new Christian, Driscoll picked up hundreds of tapes to learn from MacArthur’s preaching. He regrets that MacArthur chose a public forum for criticism, when he would have gladly flown to Los Angeles to hear MacArthur’s advice.

Overall, a good article to see where Mark Driscoll has come from, what God has used him to do, what he hopes God will use him to do and how he seems to tick off both atheists and old guard Christians.  I didn’t want Hansen to cover his warts (or revel in them), but I guess it would have been great to see he has brothers who affirm his ministry.  Instead, he comes across as a man alone (apart from his flock and Acts 29 cohorts).  It’s a shame people like MacArthur and the SBC can’t say “I don’t always agree with him, and sometimes I cringe, but I’m glad he’s on our side and God is pleased to use him to reach people I have a hard time reaching.”