Mark Driscoll, no apology instead announces book and website

Mark Driscoll has responded to the fury over his appalling facebook status in Resurgence: The Issue under a lot of issues in this post he does not apologise, in fact he justifies his original comment with more rubbish Biblical interpretation:

I had a recent conversation with a stereotypical, blue-collar guy who drives his truck with his tools, lunchbox, and hard hat to his job site every day. He said he wasn’t a Christian, but he was open and wanted to learn what the Bible said. In that conversation, he told me he’d visited a church but that the guy doing the music made him feel uncomfortable because he was effeminate (he used another more colorful word, but that one will suffice in its place). He asked some questions about the Bible, and whether the Bible said anything about the kind of guy who should do the music. I explained the main guy doing the music in the Bible was David, who was a warrior king who started killing people as a boy and who was also a songwriter and musician.

Given that David was also an aldulterer why didn't Mark Driscoll add that to the list of qualifications?

So now it seems the qualifications for being a leader of worship include killing people and committing adultery & murder. 

What the qualifications do not include is any reference to the Prince of Peace, to Jesus who taught & practiced non-violence, who taught about lovcing your enemies and doing good to those who hurt you.

What the qualifications do not include is any reference to the Holy Spirit whose work brings the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

So Mark Driscoll does not apologise but instead announces a book and a new website for him to tell us all why we are wrong and why Christianity is supposed to be about violence and hatred. The cynic in me wonders how much of this was all to gain extra publicity for the up-coming book and website.

Hat tip: Rachel Held Evans | Mark Driscoll responds.

For background and links to the original issue see 42: This is why I stand against male headship and 42: Terry Virgo of Newfrontiers thanks Mark Driscoll.

 

Comments

[Chris H]

I had a look at that 'Resurgence' website you linked to and I was initially in two minds if it was satire. Some of what's on there is absolutely awful with respect to gender and sexuality.

[MadPriest]

We should be venerating Goliath then. I bet he didn't have a gentleman friend called Jonathan.

[Dave]

Chris, I haven't bothered to look much yet. Thanks for the warning.

MadPriest, everyone needs a friend called Jonathan :-)

[john Blatzheim]

As a gay Christian I found Driscoll's comments incredibly insulting. It was the example of many effeminate, likely gay, worship pastors that helped remind me what loving God was really about even after I had tried to reject him. I'm not surprised by Driscoll's comments honestly, but it is amazing to see how many people, even those who likely wouldn't agree with much I have to say on the issue of sexuality, have stood up to him on this issue.

I imagine I'm not the only less-than-macho man who has been inspired or encouraged by an "effeminate anatomically male worship leader." So here's an idea, why don't we all talk about those positive experiences as an antidote to the kind of attitude Driscoll has espoused?

[Dave]

John,

Too many positive experiences for the space available :-)

Seriously, I have never found the "macho" helpful in worship.

But I would be a little concerned that it would be unhelpful to say "you were really effeminate on Sunday and the worship was great"!

[Sam]

Wow, hang on, can I just dissect your post a bit? You've quoted Driscoll saying that David was a 'manly man', 'killing people as a boy [i.e. Goliath]' and have made this comment: 'Given that David was also an aldulterer why didn't Mark Driscoll add that to the list of qualifications?'

Erm...because adultery is a sin?

You've then said 'the qualifications for being a leader of worship include killing people and committing adultery & murder.'

Apart from the fact that killing people is murder you have snuck in 'committing adultery' as if Driscoll actually said that - he didn't. And wouldn't. Because it's a sin.

Mark Driscoll is well-known for being overly macho in the way he presents himself, but when the only way you can find to criticise him is to (a) claim that he has said things he hasn't, and (b) suggest that the Bible should have said that David killing Goliath was wrong, I'm a bit surprised you don't trust your own convictions enough to rely on simple truth.

[Dave]

Sam,

Driscoll said "I explained the main guy doing the music in the Bible was David, who was a warrior king who started killing people as a boy "

It was not only Goliath that David killed. Just the start. Some of those killings were murder (remember the story of Bathsheba?)

I am saying that Driscoll praises someone for killing people (which as we agree is wrong and some of those killings were definitely sin) so why not praise David for other sins rather than pick and choose.

[Rosalinda]

I was really confused, and this aswnreed all my questions.

[web design]

Mark Driscoll should apologize for what he said. He is just doing this to promote his new book and website.

[Judy Sundstrom]

Sin is sin and when we start choosing what part of God's word we want to obey then we have decided we are smarter than Jesus. We need to humble ourselves and obey our Lord and Savior Jesus. God promises to perfect us if we obey His word, if we choose to disobey we are sinning. God is love and He showed us how much by sending His Son Jesus to die for us. We are to listen to Jesus and obey His word. Homosexuality is a sin so is adultery so is murder so is talking about our brothers so is stealing so is unforgiveness,back biting etc. We are called to humble ourselves repent and follow Jesus.

[Web Design Orlando]

he should just apologize and get it over with. i think he is just looking for media attention?

[Perth Web Design]

In my opinion, Mark Driscoll has the right to do this as an individual. The thing that I don't like here is, he wants a publicity for his book and website.