Mark Driscoll is Not My Hero

*This is not written to be mean-spirited or controversial in anyway...(Joe Friday's "Just the Facts Ma'am")

For those who may not know: Mark Driscoll is a Pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in America, Mars Hilll Seattle.

There has been a growing discussion among the leadership of the UPCI about the influence of the "Emerging or Emergent" church on the younger generations of ministerial leadership... my home church pastor, Paul Mooney was asked to give a presentation on the Emerging church and its impact to the general board.

*WITH ALL HONOR AND RESPECT- I believe the focus is misguided, while "Emergent" theology may have influence with fringe members of younger leadership, it is limited and fractious. The real influencing force that I have seen as a young leader is "the New Reformed Movement" whose brightest current voice is Mark Driscoll.

I like Mark Driscoll. Admittedly his blogs, twitter, podcast, and books have greatly influenced my ministry. It may seem strange that I would like his style, recommend his media, and admit his influence on me while decrying him in a blog.

Let me explain...

First, I believe that Christianity needs more Mark Driscoll characters and far fewer Rob Bell and Peter Rollins characters. I think what Driscoll is doing is cutting edge, innovative, and somewhat transformational. I admire his stand for the Bible and divine authority and his ability to grow a mega church in Seattle of all places. Above all, his greatest asset to the Christian community is his clear, resounding voice. He does not compromise or waffle in any of his beliefs... a true example in this post modern day.

That being said, I regret the majority of his influence on me, my ministry, and my brothers in the faith.

I have three key reasons to say this...

1) Doctrine DOES MATTER. I believe that Driscoll and Reformed Theology is appealing to pentecostal because of their conservative tone, and his implementation of that message through preaching in authoritative traditional pentecostal ways. (long way of saying he gets after people, hold strong to his message, and isn't afraid to scream) Moving past this shallow similarity we find an implication much darker:

Mark Driscoll believes that oneness Pentecostals are heretics and are all going to hell.
(please reread this as many times as it takes to sink in)

Reformed Theology follows Calvinistic predestination as opposed to our Arminian Pentecostal foundation. Driscoll himself uses the Holy Trinity as a fountain point out of which every last aspect of his doctrine and ministry flows. *The short end of the stick- If God has not chosen to reveal Himself to a person as the Holy Trinity they ARE NOT part of the elect for salvation. WE ARE GOING TO HELL. THERE IS NO COMPROMISE.

Some circle of Reformed Theology deny speaking in tongues, ALL deny that it is essential for salvation. To be fair Driscoll himself seems to allow for it, but not as essential.

On page 75, of his new book -Religion Saves (a mocking title), Driscoll diminishes modes of baptism as a nonessential doctrine and "holds it loosely in an open hand."

Finally, throughout his all his media, Driscoll makes it a point to "mock" and "make fun" of people with holiness standards, usually lumping them all into some sort of home-school mom jab.

2) While Driscoll and the Reformed are light years away from Emergent Theology, he seems to share the theology of the "destructive damning nature of religion." This is a trend that permeates throughout my generation in every aspect of their faith. One will hear, "I'm a Christian first and an Apostolic second" or "I am not religious I am spiritual." Finally, picking up the moniker from the new atheists (I doubt few people realize where they received it) "Religion kills" or "Religion poisons everything." This is a concerted effort to downplay foundations of our faith and replace them with individual spirituality.

I agree that we are saved by our faith alone. We are saved by Christ alone. We are saved by grace alone. But it is consistent religion that holds me accountable, renews me day by day, and leads me under authority to experience God. With out my pastor, my church, my friends I am left to my own devices... when left to my own devices i tend to ignore the voice of God. Faith in Christ's sacrifice and subsequent obedience to Scripture (Acts 2:38) saved me... Religion has kept me many times from falling.

I believe this is our generation's way of saying to the older generation, "We don't like your method, so we wont have a method." But not having a method is a method. As if we can really divorce religion from faith! Religion from Christianity! Religion from spirituality! It is saying no by saying yes.

3) I regret Mark Driscoll's influence because it SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PENTECOSTAL LEADER OF MY FAITH THAT FILLED THE VOID. This is what I like about Driscoll:
A) he is conservative and believes ALL of the Bible is the inspired word of God.
To which I say DUH! I was taught 2 Timothy 3:16 in Sunday School... it just somehow wasn't as cool.

B) His teaching and preaching is Bible based- instructional and entertaining. He teaches expository verse by verse. He lets the Bible speak for itself and every time I listen or read him I feel like I have learned something.
Here is the problem... Again WITH ALL RESPECT (THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE EVERY PREACHER)- I along with other young minister's feel like a host of our teaching and preaching in the UPCI has become overly topical. It is filled with inspiring stories of faith and entertaining personal illustrations. As a young evangelist I remember feeling the pressure to conform to this model. This was not our foundation by the way... we were built on the foundation of solid expository preaching, which somehow has now been interpreted by our audiences as less entertaining than the topical variety.
The problem with Driscoll is that while "he lets the Bible speak for itself," he is filtering it through his Calvinistic interpretation.

C) He is a proponent of new types of methods in evangelism. especially urban ministry. He is a living example of conservative Christianity growing and spreading.
He is growing on a lack of doctrinal truth. His church seems to include mainly young, hip, urban, white people. Everything about his ministry is not reflective upon UPCI churches. We are comparing apples to oranges, with the apple telling the orange it needs to be red.

In conclusion, I, like many of my young brothers in the faith, am drawn to Driscoll because I do not have a good mentor in the UPCI. (the most harsh thing I will say in this note) I want a Hero that marries the new missional ministries, with the old foundational truths and proven methods. I want to follow someone that is less political and more Biblical in authority. I believe my generation wants authority... but the voices on the left are louder and more attracting than the voices on the right which seem to harbor only suspicion. I AM NOT EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO "TALK" TO UPCI LEADERS IN A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION! I don't want to talk. I want to follow. I want a clear resounding message of authoritative leadership on doctrine and method.

Even so Lord, come qucikly...