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Christianity Today, September, 2007 |

Pastor Provocateur

Love him or hate him, Mark Driscoll is helping people meet Jesus in one of America's least-churched cities.

Collin Hansen | posted 9/21/2007 09:53AM

Mark Driscoll looks no different than he does any other day. He's wearing the hip pastor uniform—blue jeans and an untucked shirt with the top two buttons undone. Yet he speaks in a subdued tone ...

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Reg Schofield

Posted: October 03, 2007 11:55 AM

I really have been an uneasy admirer of Driscoll. There has been much I appreciate like his reformed views,male headship in a workable and humble way but his weakness which I believe will show itself one day is his constant contextualizing to cultural and almost apparent hand in hand with worldly things. That being said I don't hold that a Christian cannot enjoy movies or secular artist or books but we must have a discerning ear and eye. As to Pastor Mac's critic , which I think is valid, I hope that the fact Driscoll is coming under the influence of Piper and at least having Mac see that he is not in the emerging camp no longer due to his strong doctrinal stands , the man will take the advice from these men and grow in grace because we may be looking at the next defender of orthodoxy as many men like Sproul,Mac,Piper,Packer are entering the last 20 years of ministry. Driscoll is indeed a very interesting and passionate man and his love for Jesus is a blessing .

Matt Wheeland

Posted: October 03, 2007 12:40 AM


I thank our God and pray often for the ministry of Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, and Acts 29.

Brian

Posted: October 02, 2007 9:24 PM

Interesting article...In my mind, what it really boils down to is a guy seeking status. I'm thrilled that there's a high conversion rate at Mars Hill and that people are growing and changing...But investigate the guy further, and all the comments and controversy really seem to point to a guy in love with the sound of his own voice. One comment in this article in particular caught my eye. Wendy Alsup says he asks for forgiveness more than any pastor she has seen. While this would seem to model humility, I think it really shows that Mark continually makes the comments he does because he shows little discernment, and an ever-burgeoning ego. Why not try challenging people to pursue God's truth in ways that don't necessitate public apologies every few weeks? At what point does the pastor start to grow in character himself?

Jamey Niswonger

Posted: October 01, 2007 4:23 PM


Think you Mark Driscoll. Keep the good work. May God keep blessing you and your family.

Robert

Posted: September 26, 2007 1:11 PM

Interesting article from a tabloid perspective (seriously), but the real question is who cares. Mark Driscoll can do what he wants or not. He is not answerable to me, nor John MacArthur (and who cares what he thinks), nor anyone else for that matter, other than to God. Its seems that Driscoll is a much an entertainer as a pastor or theologian (which may not be a bad thing), but for the same reason I don't listen U2's lyrics, or those of any other musical act for guidance on how to live my life, I don't see much sense in tuning into Driscoll for the same. Read N.T. Wright!! There is someone from whom you can learn something of significance. And I thought Driscoll was simply a character in Miller's book!

torrant

Posted: September 26, 2007 12:09 AM


This is what Emergent should be like- holding steadfastly to orthodox theology and experimenting with the forms relevant to reaching the local culture. Of course Driscoll offends all sides, because we have equated culturally based forms with Christian living. Thank you Mark Driscoll for daring to break the face of Christianity and offered us your heart instead.

gbraden

Posted: September 25, 2007 7:36 PM


I think he puts teeth back into what the church should teach and how it should stand up in our culture.

D.J. Knight

Posted: September 25, 2007 4:23 PM


Anyone who has heard this man preach would know just how much he loves the Lord and his congregation. He may not be a charmer, but he knows the Word, and is determined to take it wherever it needs to go. And it doesn't hurt that he can be incredibly funny!

Vincent Cheung

Posted: September 24, 2007 10:29 PM

I am a Chinese, Pastor, born in HK and ministering in Australia. I've been listening to Mark and a lot of other pastors' preaching through the internet. Some preachings are very good and biblical; and some are ... the opposite. Reading your comments of this articles, it stirs me in my heart to ask 2 questions. (1) Why do you glorify man instead of glorifying God? (2) When you criticize a servant of God, do you have Roman 14:4 & Matt 7:3 in your mind, or do you believe in the Bible? Just curious! -- From someone watching a bush fire across the river, where the bush is also burning!

Stan Baldwin

Posted: September 24, 2007 2:34 PM

Well, I'd never say we need more like him since he seems clearly one of a kind. Also, we need people like him in some respects but not in all respects. In other words, like all of us he is a flawed person trying to follow Jesus. A lot of this is a matter of degrees. I think he is probably right that we should not throw rocks at people's houses (the culture they live in). However, I don't think we need to model our houses after their's either when it comes to cruddy stuff--like smoking. Personally, the extreme divine sovereignty stuff I can do without. It is too easy to use it to get people off the hook for THEIR OWN CHOICES. (And to get God on the hook for everything bad that happens.) Hope you appreciate it now that you have the definitive word! Any other insoluble problems you want solved?

Javier Rios

Posted: September 24, 2007 2:17 PM


Good Article The most difficult part of living the way Jesus wants us to live is the consistancy of living in the secular world. I commend Mark Driscoll for being bold in being a witness to the devious cultures that have totally mislead mankind.

Alan Paul

Posted: September 24, 2007 12:13 PM


McArthur reminds of my cranky old grandpa who hated kids and seemed to this 8 year old, to hate everyone around him.

Scott Buchanan

Posted: September 24, 2007 12:04 PM

I recently attended Mars Hill in Seattle for the third time and heard his sermon based on Nehemiah 13. With my apologies to Jonathan Edwards, I'd title the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an angry Mark." He is clearly passionate for Jesus Christ, Biblical preaching/teaching and for his community. I have a couple of causes of concern--though minor. During this last visit, I was left with a rock star image. Security guards sitting at the front looking out at the church. Also, Mark is not approachable. He comes from behind the stage and retreats to behind the stage. His actions fall in line with my perception that he is not a shepherd, but a teacher. And...I among many, am concerned with his language choices. From the pulpit, he not only trashed other religions with Biblically sound doctrine, but he also started to turn his anger towards other Christians from the south because they were not "angry" enough. This goes against his own philosophy of being culturally relevant.

John	Posted: September 24, 2007 10:57 AM

RE: Dr. Raymond Blacketer Lack of Self-Control and Humility? I think what you are referring to is the passionate and convicting tone in which he speaks. The same tone Jesus used when he barged into his church and started turning over tables. We serve not only a merciful and gracious God, but a warrior King! Mark serves in a city overrun with liberals and homosexuals which demands an uwavering, strong armed style. Once you understand the context in which he preaches, maybe then you'll understand the methods. You are quick to call him rude, arrogant, and offensive, but you offer no context of that event. I see you as a man offended and amazed at someone who disagrees with you. Wait . . . who is arrogant? Also, did you miss the part where one of Mark's FEmale deacons applauds him and calls him a great example because he walks with humility and is constantly seeking forgiveness from his staff/congregation? Mars Hill's growth is a byproduct of obedience - period.

Brent Vermillion

Posted: September 24, 2007 6:58 AM


Great article. I thank God for Driscoll who has a structured theology to go with his unique emergent style. However, I often why we usually consider calvinistic theology to be serious theology. However, so we not think that armius, wesley and others had equally valid and serious theological perspectives.

Z. Arias

Posted: September 23, 2007 3:28 PM

For those who think Driscoll is driven by ego... I have been listening to him for 4 years now and he has been a massive positive influence on my life through his online sermons. This spring I flew to Seattle for business and planned the whole trip around being there on a Sunday so I could go to Mars Hill. Through a series of fortunate events I got to meet Mark. I thought that I would get to shake his hand, thank him, and be moved on. He gave me 30 minutes of his time between 2 sermons. I told him my story, told him the challenges I was up against in my life. He sat quietly, listened to me, and was as kind and gentle as a man of his strength could be. He prayed for me and my family and encouraged me. In my mind he was this untouchable man of God, I left Mars Hill that day knowing that he is a man of God but instead of being untouchable, I found him to be kind, humble, and gracious. I met many folks who work there that weekend and all of them were free of any "ego".

anon	Posted: September 22, 2007 10:26 PM


I live in Seattle; different church. You have to know this town to appreciate ANY Christian witness here. As long as its not heretic (and mars hill isn't) give us more.......really. I'm glad he's here (and arguably in the most atheist part of town)

Heather Fischer

Posted: September 22, 2007 9:56 PM

Mark Driscoll strikes a nerve because he is hard core on the essentials and leaves room for preference and personal conviction on issues that are to be considered cultural and extra-biblical. He calls on men to step it up 1,000 notches because the average church attending male gets more excited and passionate about their 14 year-old's j.v. hockey game than Jesus. I say it's about time. It's not by our own strength or works that we are sanctified. Sadly many evangelicals are do-it-yourselfer when it comes to sanctification, rather than relying on God's work and the Holy Spirit to do His work through us. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him". How have we received him? "By grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

Billy Reed

Posted: September 22, 2007 8:21 PM


I don't know if I agree with everything Rev. Driscol does, but the Bible is clear about women in leadership roles in the church. Rev. MacArthur and Piper would agree with him on that. If this is all you can say bad about the man, he must be doing something right.

Patrick Gann

Posted: September 22, 2007 6:44 PM

Some of our angry readers seem to be well off the deep-end on gender issues, and seem to want to do anything to make sure Driscoll is "put in his place" for it. As someone who *agrees* with you angry readers on gender issues (egalitarian, etc), I'm shocked at how your own supposed righteousness bleeds through your every statement. Driscoll is far from perfect, and that's probably what people like about him (as a speaker particularly). Call it idolatry if you will, but that's not how I understand it. Kudos to Hansen for a decent article.

Pete	Posted: September 22, 2007 3:19 PM

When I think of Mark Driscoll I think of one major thing. Jesus. For some time I have been influenced by this brother to grow up from being a boy to become a man, to not be just a good Christian boy and to love Jesus passionately. I want to share something that I don't think that many of the elder statesmen in the reformed circles see. I have begun to listen to and respect many men such as McArthur, Piper and Sproul because of the influence that they have had on Mark. The mo

Pavel USA

Posted: September 22, 2007 1:32 PM

Jennifer McKinney, director of the women's studies program at Seattle Pacific University, laments that some female students who attend Mars Hill abandoned career ambitions as social workers or youth pastors to become wives and mothers. What about the young women who graduate SPU with their bachelor's degrees and over $85,000 in school loan debt? Working as "youth pastors and social workers," they'll wear that ball and chain of debt for decades, while sacrificing marriage and children because they bought into the cultural message that those goals are not as valuable as a "career."

Anonymous

Posted: September 22, 2007 6:50 AM


Reading this article makes me want to go, see, and hear this man. It is clear that he is passionate and that he is shaking up the status quo. In that way, he is very much like Jesus.

Hank	Posted: September 21, 2007 11:24 PM


Good article Hansen. I'm sorry to see so much indignant anger and harsh criticism of a man (Driscoll) who preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Are you guys Christian? I'm glad you are not God!

Alex Chediak

Posted: September 21, 2007 9:46 PM


Thanks, Collin, for this helpful profile.

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