Archives For Mark Driscoll

Separated at Birth? Evangelical Look-Alikes

Erik Raymond —  June 11, 2012

It’s Monday AM and I need some comic relief…

I was recently watching David Platt’s T4G sermon (highly recommended) and was struck by how much he looked like Tom Brady. Occasionally I’d have to untangle my mind as I thought Brady was telling me that I needed to be willing to go and die for world missions. That got me thinking about some other evangelicals who look like other notable figures. Here is a short-list. Add more in the comments if you got ‘em.

David Platt and Tom Brady.

David Platt
tom brady
Mark Driscoll from and Joba Chamberlin from University of Nebraska (& that pro team in NY)
mark-driscoll joba

Then you have this remarkable pairing:

Peter Sellers (from The Pink Panther)

peter-sellers.gif

Ray Comfort (from Way of the Master)

ray-comfort.gif

Who else do you have? (And it is not valid to do the whole “Tim Keller & Yoda” comparison).

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Video Games are not Sinful, they’re Stupid

Erik Raymond —  March 9, 2011

This is a good 4 minutes. He hits the nail on the head in terms of the cultural preoccupation with what is fake.

Also, “All the slots for hypocrite are taken. Do not quit!”

Good word. Forget the thumbs. Drop a fist bump and get to work doing something that matters.

(rss readers may need to click thru)

(ht: Challies)

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Personality Cults and Why it’s Still a Problem Today

Erik Raymond —  March 9, 2010

I recently had a terrific conversation with a fellow pastor. We talked about how much we appreciate the accessibility of so many great bible teachers today. There seems to be a larger number of helpful books, blogs, podcasts, and videos available than ever before.

For this we remain thankful.

Well, sort of.

One of the things that has disturbed me in the last few years is the way in which the public debate so galvanizes us against one another. For example: Pastor so and so (let’s just call him John) who is highly successful with a substantial following takes a public shot at another pastor (let’s just call him Mark), who also is highly successful with a substantial following. (whether the first or second pastor were right is not the point at this point)

What is the result?

Well, a fairly awkward climate for discussion among the less visible pastors and lay people.

This is real life for me. I like John MacArthur. I have ever since I first laid eyes on The Gospel According to Jesus. In so many ways I want to emulate his pastoral & preaching ministry. At the same time I like Mark Driscoll. I have ever since I read Radical Reformission. I am thankful to God for Driscoll’s personal devotion to Christ, love for his flock and desire to reach those outside of Christ. You may recall that last year there were a series of blog posts that lit up the blogosphere, twittersphere and any other reformed sphere out there. This resulted in a lot of defending and accusing by a lot of different people (again, who is ‘right’ is beyond my scope here, it is the result that I’m after). The tension got so thick that I remember getting the stink eye from folks because I would speak favorably about either Driscoll or MacArthur. It got old. It is frustrating.

The weight of the issue/problem really came to light sometime last year for me. On a few occassions (either verbally or in writing) I would note that one of these guys made a great point or preached a particularly helpful sermon. The responses were often, “You know that guy is dangerous.” Or, “You know that guy is a…whatever.”

I would often attempt to defend the individual point and then have to give several qualifications letting people know that I am in fact aware of all the prevailing issues, while apologizing for all of their life shortcomings except their iPod playlists.

It gets exhausting.

The reason I am pointing to them is because they are exalting Christ. However, all of the little clones are running around trying to blow up the other guy all the time. And if you are taking ‘his’ side then maybe you are to be implicated in his shortcomings. (Believe me, I got the unpublished blog comments & emails to prove it)

Here is the issue: I was just wanting to point to Christ. That’s it. That was the point. However, all of the ground forces for the respective militia parties were grabbing their shoulder-launched missiles to take you out for suggesting something of value coming from such a source. And this is when it hit me: they can’t see the value of what is being said about the Savior because their Savior is in front of him. If you cannot find value in what one guy is saying when it truly exalts Jesus then you probably have an idolatry problem.  I think this is what Paul was getting at with those wing-nuts in Corinth:

For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Cor. 1.11-13)

Paul goes on to remind them that their idenity is bound up not in men but in the God-man:

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 1.30-31)

This would be really helpful for us to remember today. In an age where we can get instant updates from all of our respective ‘heros’ we should remember that they are men. And their value is in their giftedness in leading us to love and serve Christ. We as idol-craving people can quickly make the jump from leader-to hero-to savior.

The issue goes beyond and deeper than John MacArthur and Mark Driscoll, it really does. It is with us. It is with the followers. We have issues. This is why I am now committed more than ever to not being all about defending everybody. And with that, I am not all about qualifying everyone. After all, not everyone can be D.A. Carson, right? (just kidding).

But seriously, it does cause us to step back, take another swig of the 1 Corinthians reality and labor to be more dutiful in prayer for the leaders God has blessed and our own hearts as well. We don’t have to get a Johnny Mac tat or wear a tie with Driscoll’s grill on it. Let our lives be about the gospel; the promotion and defense of Jesus.

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Trouble Finding Your Counterfeit Gods? Google is here to help.

Erik Raymond —  December 15, 2009

The more that I try to live the Christian life the more I am confronted with my need for Christ. I am graciously shown the person and work of Christ and this thrills my soul. As a result I want to remove idols that undermine my satisfied delight in Christ.

In recent years we have been helped to this end by various teachers pointing out ‘functional saviors’. For example, Jerry Bridges defines functional saviors in the following way:

Sometimes we look to other things to satisfy and fulfill us—to ‘save’ us. These ‘functional saviors’ can be any object of dependence we embrace that isn’t God. They become the source of our identity, security, and significance because we hold an idolatrous affection for them in our hearts. They preoccupy our minds and consume our time and resources. They make us feel good and somehow even make us feel righteous. Whether we realize it or not, they control us, and we worship them. (Bridges & Bevington, The Bookends of the Christian Life), p. 72

Likewise Tim Keller has done a terrific job in his recent book Counterfeit Gods identifying and dismantling these idols. One thing that I like about Keller is that he shows that these idols oftentimes are not bad things but rather good things that we have sinfully made ultimate things.

They Cannot Deliver
To our shame and disappointment, these functional saviors may promise a lot, and we may hope for big returns, but at the end of the day, they are flat out unable to deliver the ultimate need. The reality of this is that this ultimate need is really is an intensely spiritual need anchored in approval before God and characterized by delight in him.

So we find ourselves walking around with broken pots that we have made. These leaking pots testify that we have forgotten God and sought to replace him with things of our own creation:

Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jer 2.11-13)

Hi, My Name is ‘Erik’ and I have a Problem
The first step, (as our AA & NA friends would tell us) is to admit we have a problem. If we are living and breathing then we are creating idols and ascribing them with glory, ability, and strength. We are regularly and shamefully finding ourselves slouching back into the default position of our fallenness, which is to lean upon, to trust in, pursue approval in and seek deliverance in things that cannot do the job.

Once Again, Google’s Got You Covered
I know this is the case for me and I’m on the hunt. This is why I enjoy the writings from guys like Keller & Bridges as well as the older guys like John Owen & Jonathan Edwards. However, I would like to bring in a further aid which you may have not considered. I’d like to appeal to Google for help in identifying your functional saviors. Or at least helping you to train your eye to see what they look like.

For most of us Google is in our in box, maybe even our documents, and most certainly on our web pages. They know us. They know what we like, what we talk about, what we search for, what we repeatedly go after, and how we answer questions in life.

In reality, Google may know you better than you know yourself.

In trying to see patterns in my life and the various saviors that are being promoted, I have started paying attention to the ads on the various pages. I noticed recently that fitness, finances, book publishing, good eating, church growth, speed reading, blog promotion, parenting, and life insurance were all promoted to me and for me. There was a need and they were to be my functional savior. All I have to do is pay attention and I could learn something about the idols in my own life and those in my culture. At a minimum I learn more about the advertisements and characteristics of these saviors.

So as you find yourself more convicted over sin and idolatry let Google instruct you a bit, even to train you to more readily spot these counterfeit gods so that you might cling more fervently and joyfully to the real one.

Can you ‘P.S.’ a blog post?
ps: As an additional help. In Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshear’s book Vintage Jesus they provide the following list to help identify these functional saviors:

1. What am I most afraid of?

2. What do I long for most passionately?

3. Where do I run for comfort?

4. What do I complain about the most?

5. What angers me most?

6. What makes me happiest?

7. How do I explain myself to other people?

8. What has caused me to be angry with God?

9. What do I brag about?

10. What do I want to have more than anything else?

11. What do I sacrifice the most for in my life?

12. If I could change one thing in my life what would that be?

13. Whose approval am I seeking?

14. What do I want to control/master?

15. What comfort do I treasure the most?

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Joba Driscoll?

Erik Raymond —  October 23, 2009

As a Red Sox fan I was reluctantly watching the ALCS last night because for some reason baseball calms down our crying infant like nothing else.  Perhaps it’s the rapid pace of the game.  Anyway, the Yankees brought in Joba Chamberlain to try to hold on to the lead and go to their first World Series in 6 years.  Then it hit me…this guy is Mark Driscoll’s twin.  Pretty amazing actually.  And what’s more, both guys get heat for too much passion.  As a Sox fan who loves Christ, I’m hoping Driscoll has a longer, more effective career.

mark-driscoll joba

…

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Book Review- Vintage Church

Erik Raymond —  February 18, 2009

It is very appropriate and timely for Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears to release a book on church ministry.  Driscoll has become a bit of a model for young church planters through his Acts 29 network and various conference appearances.  Therefore, a consolidated ‘volume’ if you will is welcomed.

As with previous books from the authors’ pens Vintage Church is intensely practical.  Mars Hill Church in Seattle is the reoccurring lab of reference for church ministry.  This is extremely helpful in a book like this seeing that it gives a lot of flesh and bones to the biblical priorities outlined.

If you were critical of some of Driscoll’s previous books due to language or questionable references (as I was with Vintage Jesus) you will have little to complain about here.  From my perspective this is the type of product that really quiets and encourages sincere critics who want to see Driscoll’s work used greatly in the church.  If you are a Driscoll hater, well, he couldn’t do or say much that would ever satisfy you.  The writing style remains engaging, biblical, funny, and real; which are all virtues from Driscoll’s pen.

One of the main strengths of the book is the way in which the authors tackle weighty ecclesiastical issues without flinching.  Chapters like, Who is Supposed to Lead a Church?, Why is Preaching Important?, What is Church Discipline?, and What is a Missional Church? are not necessarily soft chapters.  The authors deal with the issues biblically and tactfully.  And this is where I find real encouragement in this book.  This book will be read by thousands of young church planters over the next decade.  Let’s face it, as helpful as Dever’s 9Marks or MacArthur’s Master’s Plan for the Church are, the book that young guys will be turning to, by virtue of Driscoll’s popularity and influence, is Vintage Church.  Chapters on the necessity of male eldership, church discipline and biblical ministry are so needed today.  So, I for one am thankful that the book is well done, devoid of statements that promote immaturity, and centered on biblical ministry.

I should also say that I felt that some of the previous works were not as theologically tight as one might prefer.  However, in this book the authors, on many occasions, find themselves saying a whole lot in a short space.  For example in the chapter What is a Christian Church? the authors spend a good page talking about the distinction between the Nation of Israel and the Church.  I really appreciated the theological care that was taken not only to include this but to speak clearly to it.  They are demonstrating that theological precision is necessary in Jesus’ church.

Further strengths include the sheer volume of footnotes (not end notes).  Driscoll fills the book with Bible verses.  This is so helpful and so refreshing when reading.  In addition an appendix of the Mars Hill Membership Covenant is included.  This was a helpful read.  Other chapters on multi-campus ministry and the use of technology in ministry proved helpful as well.

The only real issue that I feel strong enough about to mention is Driscoll’s definition of expository preaching.  In the chapter entitled Why is Preaching Important? we read the following: “Expository preaching is simply going through a book of the Bible verse-by-verse” (pp. 91-92).  Granted, the chapter goes on to give good reasons why one should do expository preaching (none of which I disagree with).  However, it is the definition itself that is inadequate.  I really like John Stott’s statement in his classic Between Two Worlds:

It is my contention that all true Christian preaching is expository preaching.  Of course if by an ‘expository’ sermon is meant a verse-by-verse explanation of a lengthy passage of Scripture, then indeed it is only one possible way of preaching, but this would be a misuse of the word.

Properly speaking, ‘exposition’ has a much broader meaning.  It refers to the content of the sermon (biblical truth) rather than its style (a running commentary).  To expound Scripture is to bring out the of the text what is there and expose it to view.  The expositor prizes open what appears to be closed, makes plain what is obscure, unravels what is knotted and unfolds what is tightly packed.” (pp. 125-126)

I bring this up only because too many people outside of the camp unfairly sully expository preaching as being a running verse by verse commentary.  But in reality it is much more, as Stott indicates.

Overall I like the book and think it (along with Death by Love) are Driscoll’s best yet.

Copies are available at the following sponsors of this site:

Amazon

Westminster

..

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Legalists Love to act like God by Making Rules

Erik Raymond —  February 16, 2009

“Legalists love to act like God by making rules.   Legalists love rules about the rules.  Legalists love rules about who gets to make the rules about the rules.  Legalists love rules about who gets to enforce the rules made by the people whom the rules appointed to make the rules about the rules.  Legalists really love rules about who gets to interpret the rules that rule.  Legalists get perfectly euphoric when they get to enact the rules by punishing people who break the rules as interpreted by those appointed by the rules.  In the end, legalsts want to rule through rules and wield their rules like weapons to divide the church body into bloddied parts.” (Mark Driscoll, Vintage Church pp. 143-144)

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