Posted by
Christine Pack and Cathy Mathews
I hope that anyone reading our articles or seeing our online commentary about
Mark Driscoll, the Mars Hill megachurch pastor who recently resigned under fire for documented instances of plagiarism, public lies and spiritual abuse, understands that we take absolutely no pleasure in Driscoll's meltdown, and the implosion of Mars Hill. I (Christine) remember liking Driscoll's sermons back in the first few years of my Christian walk. Piper had recently keynoted him at Desiring God and Todd Friel at Wretched occasionally featured his sermons. He taught a lot of good things there for a season. But Driscoll reminds me of one of those great Shakespearean characters, a character who, though powerful and compelling, has a tragic flaw. Shakespeare was masterful at creating these larger-than-life characters; the character was often a hero or sympathetic character, but he had this flaw, one which everyone else around him was aware of, including you as the audience. And you would find yourself while reading it or watching a play almost wanting to shout at the character, Stop, please just STOP!! Don't you see how your (fill-in-the-flaw) is about to destroy your world? But that's the thing about our blindspots, we can't see our own. That's why I have a few people in my life that I tell on a semi-regular basis, hey, tell me what I can't see about myself. Don't let me fall into some profound sin because of something I'm too blind or dumb to see. And I'm not saying that I'm so great in doing that, I'm saying that because I'm so stupid and sinful and blind. We all need accountability. I wish that Driscoll had taken heed of those around him who had tried to help him. He showed so much promise.
Unfortunately, although Driscoll has stepped down (
at least for now, though he is said to be considering a return to ministry), there is no question but that his reach and influence have extended far and wide, and still do. Like the spores of a dandelion being blown into the wind, young Christian men all over America picked up on his style of "doing" church and sought to do likewise. Thus, Driscoll's domineering and aggressive pastoring style (if you can even call it "pastoring" since he doesn't seem to have the ability to gently shepherd souls entrusted into his care, as a proper shepherd should) is widely admired and more than that,
emulated. A close friend of mine is dealing with a situation at her church where the youth leader, who has been heavily influenced by Mark Driscoll, has such starry-eyed visions of planting churches ( à la Driscoll's aggressive church planting mechanism Acts 29), that he can't even be bothered to look after the souls of the young people who are in his care
right now, several of whom are my friend's children, and who are being negatively impacted. He casually told my friend, "Well, I'm not really interested in kids, this is sort of a stepping stone to the next thing for me." Newsflash, Mark Driscoll wannabes: the Mark Driscoll model for doing church is not the biblical way to do things. Casually disregarding people entrusted into your care while you seek a bigger and better platform is not the model.
Pastoring 101 - Here's what should happen when seminary students show up for their first day of class: they are handed two live sheep. And the professor then tells them this: Your assignment is to look after these sheep for the next semester. You are to feed them, care for them, tend them, comb their fur, and protect them from wolves. If at the end of the semester you return both of these sheep to me, alive and in good condition (i.e, they not frightened, malnourished or missing any limbs), then next semester you will have earned the right to graduate to the next step: learning how to minister to actual people.
1 Timothy 3:1-13 - Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
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Titus 1:5-10 - Qualifications for Elders
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
Additional Resources
Mark Driscoll: A Timeline of His Downfall (Sola Sisters)
Documenting the Problems with Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll [UPDATED]
Former Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll Considering New Ministry, Still Has Not Repented, Sought Reconciliation Say Former Mars Hill Members/Elders
What John Piper Said When He Finally Addressed the Issue of Mark Driscoll......What We Wish He Had Said Instead
Mark Driscoll's Failed Publicity Stunt That Ended With Him Lying About What Really Happened
Mark Driscoll Repents? Not So Fast, Say Phil Johnson and Chris Rosebrough
John Piper and Mark Driscoll: Lessons Not Learned? (Pyromaniacs)
