Comments on: Anderson Cooper, Rachel Maddow, Mark Driscoll and a Frat Party

By: W. Thomas

W. Thomas — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:01:08 +0000

JFM and MD mentoree,

You are making the assumption that the individuals who have posted are not building relationships with non-christians and displaying Jesus to their community. You are assuming that just because a post is online, that precludes relationships.

Thus, based upon your own assumption, you must not be building relationships with non-Christians and displaying Jesus to your community, being that you have posted a comment and must have been on your keyboard to do so.
Unbelievable!!….

You made a comment you have not defended, therefore I am wondering if perhaps you would like to take the opportunity to post something constructive.

Now, so that I don’t fall into that same error. I want to say a couple of things that are hopefully constructive. I need to remind you of the transparency of the post and the wrestling taking place. Is it an arbitrary discussion to engage in a dialogue about how we honor Christ with our language, attitudes, and actions, and yet engage the culture of today? I think both must be true. We must engage the culture, but our language, attitudes, and actions should demonstrate some level of sobriety/respect and not a capitulation to the sub-culture idealogy that some prominent teachers have engaged in. Our primary motivation should be to honor Christ and proclaim Him in a God-honoring, and edifying manner. I think using crass language and course jesting is self-defeating to proclaiming Christ. Oh and by the way, I think that using God-honoring, God-glorifying language in proclaiming Christ and Him crucified is how be build relationships with non-Christians and display Christ to our community. Wast of time????? That would be…”unbelievable!…”.

By: I'm Old & Tired!

I'm Old & Tired! — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:45:23 +0000

JFM and MD mentoree-
Even though I think you could have said it in a more encouraging way, your comment is very true.
Thanks.

By: JFM and MD mentoree

JFM and MD mentoree — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:09:29 +0000

All you guys have way too much time on your hands – get off your key board and go build relationships with non-christians and display Jesus to your community
unbelievable!!!!!!!!!

By: Erik

Erik — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:59:57 +0000

OLD & TIRED, I appreciate you coming back in here and ‘spring cleaning’. I agree with a lot of what you say and find myself at the same conflicted and awkward position with Driscoll.

By: I'm Old & Tired!

I'm Old & Tired! — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:42:51 +0000

So, since I’ve posted a couple of times on this subject, I thought I’d do some “Spring Cleaning” of my own now that MacArthur has posted his final article.
I’m thankful for his final post. It has opened my eyes. I think the drastic variations in opinion in comments both here and at the Pulpit were due largely to a lack of information. Prior to today, I think you could probably look down the list of commenters and divide them into two groups: 1. Those who had seen/read the sermon by Driscoll from Scotland. 2. Those who had not seen/read the sermon by Driscoll from Scotland but might have seen some or all his series titled “The Peasant Princess” at Mars Hill. Say what you want about some of the comments from the PP Series, but it is definitely subdued comparatively. Now that I have been made aware of the comments made by Driscoll in Scotland (via the link provided at the Pulpit) I find my opinion has changed on the subject. I cannot offer a defense for the comments that I myself would find totally inappropriate in a corporate venue. (Granted, I’m not offended by the words themselves. I have read very similar items in Christian marriage books and I have discussed it with fellow men one on one. One and one and in a discipleship or consulting venue it may be appropriate.) However, one of the items I believe MacArthur was arguing is that the words are totally inappropriate for a pastor to speak from the pulpit in that type of venue. In that, I’d have to agree 100%. I wouldn’t be happy if I were sitting in the room with my little brother (who is single, 22, and struggles daily with sexual temptation). As a matter of fact, I might have walked out of the room dragging him with me.
So, where do we go from here? Driscoll has half-heartedly agreed with the rebuke (i.e. pulled the content from the net, posted an ambiguous blog at Resurgence.) From my perspective, a Christian who enjoys the preaching of Driscoll (along with Piper, MacArthur, Chandler, Johnson, and many others) I would like to hear a detailed response by Driscoll. Geniune repentance and a request for forgiveness would also be appropriate. If he were to do that, tackle this head-on, work on it, try to change, I know I would be right there with him supporting him and continuing to listen to him minister the Word. If that doesn’t happen, I’m one who will have no choice but to drop him from my list of podcast subscriptions.

By: Erik

Erik — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:16:43 +0000

I think I should say something about my motivation for these last two posts on the ‘controversy’. One of my main motives is due to the fact that the Peasant Princess is quite popular among many who attend Omaha Bible Church. I am a pastor there and this blog is aimed first to serve them and then whoever else may benefit from it. So if Challies or Johnson or whoever link to something I write that is fine but I am not out trying to make a name for myself by spitting razorblades at Driscoll, that is not my thing. As I have said and shown, I think I have been fair in this regard.

Whatever the reach or scope of this blog is it is not attended to eclipse my primary goal which is to help those around me to see Christ clearly in his word and as a result be more impressed with him.

By: Toby

Toby — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:18:51 +0000

(Link to 4th article goes to the wrong place.)

I was initially worried that this would be a pro-Driscoll and anti-MacArthur post by Erik, but then was also worried that MacArthur would step out on some cultural critique of Driscoll’s style.

I think Erik has been very fair to Driscoll and has helped me to examine my own heart in my preconcieved notions of evangelical correctness over the last year. However, Driscoll has gone to far here (does that mean he was headed this way to egin with?). This treatment of Scripture isn’t shock for shock’s sake. It is mishandling of the text. This isn’t cultural and it isn’t a personal attack against a man, but a call to show respect to the King and his Word.

Thanks to Erik, Phil and MacArthur

By: Erik

Erik — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:08:15 +0000

Seth, it is a good list. I agree it is convicting. I would have liked to see him include something about the need to elevate a unity in truth, holiness and the glory of Christ. This mandates biblical admonishment and confrontation from our seat at the foot of the cross (cf. Col. 1.28-29; 3.15-17). I don’t want it to ever get so important to ‘just get along’ that we shelve important stuff. Of course you and I have spoken personally about how devastating this danger is not just to us but to the church. Thanks for the link.