Urban Reformation

I must say its been a struggle for me in understanding the
perspective of Mark Driscoll, it is something that has me wrestling
a great deal lately. There is a part of me that understands in a sense
where Mark Driscoll is coming from and then at the same time,
well let’s dive in to the examples.

The latest article from Christianity Today: Pastor Provocateur

Essentially the article didn’t say much new to speak
of, just sets himself up by purposely striking out at critics
often inviting a stone thrower.

I think this little quote from the article explains
the “Driscoll” style.

“Mars Hill teaches that only men can serve as church elders
and that fathers should lead their homes. But Driscoll
frequently turns his sights on “men who cheat on their wives,
beat their kids, look at porn, get divorced.” Driscoll grew up
behind a strip club in a rough neighborhood. He’s still
brawling today.”

I thought rather than completely make up my mind from
seeing the wave of bloggerings from all the people out
there who love him or hate him, I would listen to him myself.
I’ve still come up with a healthy love and major skepticism but
my spirit is a little more at ease.

I first listened to this message from the: Vintage Jesus Series

This was really good in parts and absolutely inappropriate and
disgusting in parts of the sermon. Have a listen for yourselves.

I listened to this and one of the comments that caught me
unawares was when he was making a crude joke about the
Pharisee’s telling them that when Jesus said their father was
the devil, which was like saying to them, “Your mom shagged
the devil.” This was just one example. Some may think this nothing,
but if you’re reverencing a Holy God or is this appealing to carnal man?
So ultimately it was the cavalier attitude, where there was seemingly
little fear of God before him and time to entertain men….
some say Spurgeon used humor, others use other means so is
this just a discussion of means and methods?

I ask myself is it me, my likes, taste, am I being self-righteous? …….
I must examine my own heart in the process of wrapping
my mind around understanding the topic.

Doctrinally I am amazed, how on target he is, and am amazed
at his gifting in understanding culture and expositing scripture
seemingly for the most part without compromising the truth of
the gospel. That said….

I am caught between the crux of Driscoll making Mars Hill, which
was not a church, into a church, again an evangelistic tool for the
church. Bringing the debates of the world and “culture” inside the church.

Some folks have said to me, we go across the ocean and learn
to speak the language of another culture, and isn’t this that?

I don’t think so. What concerns me is to is being so “in tune”
with culture that you roll around with it as if it’s still something
you’re “into”, and something you still love, maybe just a little bit
less…. but you love the sinfulness of the world nonetheless,
inviting strife into your life.

What I find truly amazing about Mark, is it is as if in a moment
the he is expositing scripture, understanding culture and applying
it to all of mankind, and in the next moment he turns for some
laughs, and dips down into vulgarities which are far from bringing
Glory and Honor to His father. So then I ask myself the question
is being “vulgar” in speech and “sarcastic quips” and “sexual Innuendo”
is that part of contextualization?

It is speaking the language of the lost, but how far is
too far to dip down to?

I’m not saying spending time with sinners, wearing jeans,
hanging out in bars as Driscoll does, or even going places
that invite sinful temptations, I’m not saying these things
are that which is truly what’s bothering me, what I am
saying is that his speech at times evidences his own immaturities
that are still unconquered by the sanctification process.

And in this “unsanctified” state, he’s leading other men into,
although sincere and very real, he’s leading them into an
immaturity which may have grave spiritual consequences
in their ministry. Perhaps that’s why he’s still preaching
most or all the services….. (speculation on my part)

I do believe I’ve listened to Mark enough to realize that
the man is definitely saved, totally sincere, and as far as
I can tell doctrinally sound. The difficulty lies in regards
to “Sanctification” as MacArthur put it.

From the article in Christianity Today on him:

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.”

“The evidence seems to belie MacArthur’s criticism.
Alsup likens Mars Hill to an emergency room triage,
with so many new believers working through so many
horrible problems. Before the service I attended, I talked
with Lynette Palmer, who became a Christian a few years
ago at the University of Washington. Her family has endured
lots of physical and emotional abuse. In the last few years,
her mother and three sisters have come to faith and begun
attending Mars Hill. But her father spent eight years in jail—
for raping one of Lynette’s sisters. Driscoll’s sermons have helped
bring healing to Palmer.”

I believe there to be truth in this, that in as much as we deceive
ourselves by continuing to encourage men and women to embrace
a godless culture I think we are asking for a difficult life. In so many
senses it’s have your Jesus and Cake or World too.

Piper had Mark Driscoll to his Desiring God conference and
commented briefly on Mark’s “style” if you will, at the end
of the conference. Piper seemingly has a similar struggle,
loves some of the things Mark is doing but at the same time
not desiring this “talk” of contextualization to be given
equal latitude w/ the simple gospel that is an offense
to the world and men who deny Christ with their life.

Piper says in this video clip, although we need to speak the
same language, the gospel will blow the minds of anyone. —–
few minutes long, worth the watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVjPhSTSNYM

Now all this to say I’m still on the fence with old Mark Driscoll,
in many ways I love the fact that this guy is acknowledging
errors in behavior, repenting in front of people, and passionately
reaching lost people and planting churches. He has every right to ask
“The Fundi’s” as he calls people, where are the converts?

While we spend much time attempting to evangelize other churches
sheep who is evangelizing the lost?

Which leads me to this, I listened to this nearly two hour chapel
talk this morning, and I must say he spoke well, and I was indeed humbled.

I still see things to be concerned about, in much of him, not simply
because of vulgarity, but just a very cavalier approach to the Lord….
but I must say he was “real” and left me with this one phrase at the end…..

” Where are the converts?” that is still ringing…

So I left humbled, but not without concerns…..

Here you go: http://www.sebts.edu/Convergent/GeneralInfo/

If you don’t have time to listen to the whole thing listen
to the first 30 and the last 30 minutes, a major section in the
middle is where he does a good job and refuting a lot of the
emergent church and it’s declaration of redefining the gospel.

And then there’s Paul Washer who has personally influenced
me greatly in showing God to be Big, and Holy, and me to be
a sinner in need of a savior.

Washer seems to believe that if you’re saved you’ll have
a different style of life, that the things that are “Godless” in
culture you will not cling on to — Driscoll on the other hand
goes to the other side of the liberty of salvation which allows
him to do many things…..

With a culture that is increasingly confused I guess it comes down
to personal conviction and we can not be the Holy Spirit for one another
in the sense…. but in a comparison and contrast there is a striking
difference between embracing culture to save the lost and calling
those that belong to Christ out of a Godless culture…. I pray Driscoll
is doing just that calling them out.

Needless to say I have come to no major conclusions but perhaps
a slightly better understanding, the only other thing, which concerns
me, is he’s building quite the “mega church.” — around “him” with
video feeds of himself …….

And well that’s a topic for a different post.

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