Mark Driscoll is a know-it-all, type-A Calvinist who is constantly sticking his foot in his mouth and calls noise music. Why do I download and listen to his sermons?
Let me give you some reasons. I don’t know if they are in order of importance because some are of such equal weight.
1. He is a brother in Christ. He repeatedly makes public declaration that he has been saved by God’s grace because of his faith in Jesus. So, let’s see. We have faith, grace, repentance, justification, adoption. Yep, sound like a brother in Christ to me. I don’t know if he accepts me, since I am a Type-B Arminian, but I accept him.
2. He believes the Bible is God’s word. I may not like the translation he uses. His interpretations may leave a lot to be desired at times. At the heart of it he believes that God spoke to man and the words are found in this book.
3. He believes the Bible means what it says. He doesn’t spend his time trying to make the message politically correct. If the Bible says something is wrong, it is wrong.
4. Sometimes he really says some great stuff. I usually listen to his sermons on my I-pod as I walk. I am sure some people think I am weird when I pump my fist, laugh out loud in delight or say, “Yes!” Of course, he tends to preach too long, so I don’t always finish, but I get through at least half on my walk.
5. He is a modern day Apostle. Some people think this gift is dead. I don’t. I believe he is gifted to lead in the edification and extension of the church. Some think he is arrogant. What do you think the Jewish elders thought of Peter, Paul and the rest. For that matter what did people think of Luther, Calvin and Wesley?
6. He has a vision for the church. He is planting churches like crazy. He is sharing the wealth of resources on line. He is building the body of Christ with a willingness to let others share the wealth.
7. When he isn’t expounding some Calvinistic nonsense, he is teaching the great doctrines of the church. He is not afraid to declare truth as truth. He does not compromise.
8. He is a man of compassion. For all of his loud talk and assertive ideas, he cares about people.
9. I like his sense of humor. He mocks just about everything I am from Arminian to liking bell choirs. That’s okay. I have a sense of humor too. Sometimes he is really funny, sometimes he needs to take a class in good taste.
10. For a type A, he is humble. I know that is paradoxical but it works. He can be so full of himself that his wool clothing looks like spandex but he is also aware of it and is constantly pulling in his horns. He is a lot like the Apostle Paul. If you don’t like him, you probably would have left with Barnabas.
11. His wife is cute. I have never met her but I will take his word for it. After all, he knows where liars end up.
I don’t agree with everything Mark Driscoll says. I can say that about anyone. I don’t know that I would be friends if we lived close to each other. But I still listen to him because God speaks to me through his preaching.
That is why I have labeled this under Discernment Watch. We should never accept what people say unless we have run it through our Holy Spirit Filters. Take that which is from God and ignore the rest. Be mature and discerning.
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.