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In my limited experience with Mark Driscoll, I find him a paradox, indeed. I am both impressed and frightened by him (though mostly impressed), and I think Molly Worthen did a good job of presenting facts, while not seeming to slant the piece in favor or against him. As it happens, Driscoll doesn't need journalists to pit people against him; his own mouth does a good job of making him objectionable. In fact, it is apparent that one of his goals in his speaking is to offend and shock people (which is often precisely why he is effective). While I respect him and have recommended his book (Vintage Jesus) and teachings to several people, I have no doubt that he is thrives on making people wince, sometimes effectively, sometimes, it seems, to get his kicks. (To see what I mean, check out the panel discussion at last year's Desiring God National Conference and Driscolls' talk at that conference. I was there, and compared to some of his other talks, this one is pretty tame!) The article paints Driscoll as a hypermasculine, hard-nosed leader who cuts loose anyone who stands in his way, which is all substantiated by his own quotes. It also highlights the rise of New Calvinism among Christians in America, and comes down hard on the Joel Osteen camp (which I, for one, appreciate - I think the bad theology Joel Osteen and others like him preach is one of the most damnable issues in the church today).Interestingly, the next Bible Study Magazine will feature Mark Driscoll on its cover, with an interview as the main article. I am looking forward to receiving my March/April BSM and comparing the Mark Driscoll of BSM and the Mark Driscoll of NYTM. I feel almost certain that there will be no mention of oral sex or masturbation in the BSM article, but with Driscoll, you never know... |
Click here for an article about Mark Driscoll in the New York Times Magazine (
Comments
I thought the NY Times article was really interesting and surprisingly nuanced. It's hard for anyone to treat Driscoll with a semblance of nuance, but Molly does it well here.
I had occasion to visit Mars Hill church in November as part of a research trip for my book on Christian hipsters. I did not get to talk with Driscoll, but I did talk with one of the other pastors, who was helpful in helping me think through the paradoxes of Mars Hill.
I was there on a Sunday when Driscoll was talking about (surprise surprise!) sex, preaching out of Song of Solomon about women being "visually generous" to their husbands (and vice versa). He prefaced the sermon by saying it would be NC-17 and that all children should leave. The sermon proceeded to be very anatomically frank and image-heavy, addressing at one point the biblical merits of homemade sex tapes (Driscoll said that it isn't necessarily wrong).
In any case, he's all about the shock value. Not sure what the longterm value in that is, however...
Great input, Brett - thanks so much. I have to confess, I cannot think of a single holy merit of homemade sex tapes. WOW. Yikes. Thanks for reading...
"I was there on a Sunday when Driscoll was talking about (surprise surprise!)...He prefaced the sermon by saying it would be NC-17 and that all children should leave."
Suffer the little children...
I don't really read too much into the shock value thing, in regards to his sermons, but, as a young person, I definitely thank God for his service. By God allowing his sermons to be on the internet, I have been able to really practice discipling my heart and not my outward actions (see his sermon from Proverbs on the Mars Hill website about the heart). And he has, in turn, discipled me from a distance (that distance being Washington, DC). I definitely appreciate that. No offense to anyone, but I hope he is more remembered for his service to struggling christians (namely, myself) and the lost than for his advice to married couples to make a sex tape. I don't want to defend him, he is a man, but I think it is a great thing that when a pastor preaches outside of the general comfort zone of the christian topics of their time, they are going to have a positive effect on someone on the outside of that comfort zone though the topics may negatively affect those on the inside of the comfort zone. I just happen to be on that outside. I am grateful to God for him and pastors like him. They really do reach my generation.
Well said Joel, and I agree with you - I hope he'll be remembered for all the good he's done too (which has been quite a lot). Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to write!