Driscoll Interview

Mark Driscoll interview in CT: Men Are From Mars Hill.

Comments

[billmelone]

Wow, this was funny. Boxers not briefs with reformed theology. Thats giving me pictures of reformed leaders I don't want.
His comments about megachurches are funny and true, although most of the men at the megachurch I know well don't sing along to the prom songs, they just don't sing. Al Mohler said a healthy church is one where the young men sing. Very true.

[Jesse Perry]

I don't know about Driscoll sometimes. He's definately not a deep thinker. Just a loud one. That can spell trouble for the Cause of Christ.
Funny? Hmmm... I guess I just don't get the joke.

[Jesse Perry]

Did I misspell definitely? Crap. There goes my credubiluty. :)

[James Paul]

Mark is under fire. Rightly so. He's publically repented of his tendency to cross into the crass, unintentionally alienating himself from bros with the same jersey.

However, God is also using him as an influencer on the issues addressed in the CT article. I'm so glad we live in a world peppered with young Mark Driscolls, willing to competently argue for an incarnational Christianity. Mark is the poster boy of relevant, conservative evangelicalism. He's sharp. A better speaker than writer, perhaps. (i.e. How many churches with an age demographic like Mars Hill (25-35) listen to expository preaching for over an hour any given Sunday?)

Part of what draws me to the angst of Driscoll is the grace he imbibes, taking God seriously while laughing at himself and all of us at the same time.

[ryan]

I have a tough time accepting the idea that Driscoll is not a "deep Thinker." I do not know exactly what this means, and if only guys lke J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig qualify, but I would say that after reading "Confessions" I came away realizing that he had thought deep and hard about many of the issues facing the church and and about his theology, and Christology. Not to mention the biblo he has on postmodern thought in "Confessions." Just some thoughts to think about, as we all try to point people toward a what Driscoll would say "A Big Jesus."

[Scott Eaton]

Years ago I heard of a pastor who was talking to a truck driver about Jesus and His church. The truck driver wanted nothing to do with any of it because he said that Jesus and the church was for "old ladies and little kids." Unfortunately this is what the truck driver thought of Christianity - an emasculated religion that has no appeal for tough guys.

I am grateful that Driscoll is breaking that stereotype. It is easy for us to speak disparagingly of him, but how many of us stand idly by and let our people sing those "prom songs" in our churches (can anyone say "Darlene Zschech"). Part of what shocks people is to hear a Christian guy just be a guy without the pietism mumbo-jumbo. Frankly, Driscoll is tame if you've ever read Luther (I don't think I've ever heard Driscoll call anyone a jackass, one of Luther's favorite descriptions of the pope).

Is Driscoll a deep thinker? In some ways yes and in some ways no. But I love watching him roll around in grace like a pig in mud. It is refreshing to see a prominent leader who loves Jesus and embraces conservative, Reformed theology just be truly real - sin and all. Honestly, it gives me hope that God can use me too.

[Jeremy Weart]

The greatest of all qualities that Driscoll effuses is AUTHENTICITY. The guy is just as real as it gets and although there are times when pulls a "Peter," he rebounds rather nicely. We need more MEN like him in evangelical leadership.

Truth spoken boldly and yet with moments of grace and love.

[Jeff]

At times I wonder if accusations of being feminized are about to become the new thing to decry theological and ecclesiological opponents, i.e., any time that one proposes a theology that focuses more on Jesus' compassion or issues of sensitivity and grace in speaking or acting, one will be met with, 'Oh, that's an effeminite gospel.' I hope that won't be the case, but at times this seems to be such a strong reaction on the part of Driscoll and others that it's not entirely implausible.

[Paul Steele]

James Paul you asked this:

(i.e. How many churches with an age demographic like Mars Hill (25-35) listen to expository preaching for over an hour any given Sunday?)

I go to one! It's a Soveriegn Grace church, and it is built around campus ministry, (most are in college or have left college in the last 10 years,) and is all about expository preaching.

Sorry, I've gotta plug my church when something like that comes around.

[J.Gray]

Jeff,

Are you saying that most churches are NOT feminized?

[Jeff]

'Jeff,

Are you saying that most churches are NOT feminized?'

I said nothing one way or the other. What I did say was that I wonder, with so much recent discussion about how 'manly' Driscoll, his church, and his theology all are, along with comments in his book about a slew of things either being effeminite or gay (and at times there isn't even a distinction made), whether accusations of feminization will become the new way to discredit or dismiss opponents.

An example: someone tries to argue that we don't always get Ultimate Fighter Jesus in the New Testament (I'd make such an argument), and goes on to list some characteristics shown by Jesus where he isn't tattoo-down-his-leg headpunching guy. By virtue of one making such an argument, s/he might be accused of arguing for an effeminate Jesus or an effeminite way to be the church, when really the intent might just be to try to balance out the snarling Octogon pickup driver imagery.

This isn't to criticize Driscoll's church or defend so-called 'effeminite' churches. Actually, I agree with a decent amount of the critiques out there along those lines. I'm just raising the concern that anything that can be taken to be a feminized quality is no longer needed, desired, or favored, and instead fired at those with whom one disagrees. And who makes that list of qualities, anyway?

[J. Mel]

This is what I wrote to Christianity Today in response to Driscoll's interview.

"M. Driscoll's Reformed theology, offering certainty with a masculine God, serves a growing male-pride movement that pushes the pendulum on the gender issue to a renewed extreem. This movement overshadows the theological fact that God created man in His own image, "male and female He created them" and places manhood and men on center stage.

Anyone fearfull of extreems, no matter what they are, will want to read "Recovering Biblical Ministry by Women, An Exegetical Response to Traditionalism and Feminism" by George and Dora Winston. This book provides a comprehensive biblical theology (560p) on the question of gender. In light of M. Driscoll's comments, it is high time to bring some perspective and a sense of balance to this male-pride trend."

J. Mel

[billmelone]

Growing male pride trend? in evangelicalism??? You've got to be kidding me. In stuff I read and hear, I get nothing but that there aren't enough manly men in evangelicalism, and a lot of that comes from women.

[Steve McCoy]

Bill, exactly.