Nelson

I’d like to reclarify, as well, that I might (nay, would) feel differently had the original affront not taken place on his facebook wall. One had to go looking in order to be offended; can we not please find more constructive things to do?

The problem I have with Mark, and with most of the people who have “stood up to him” is the same problem I have with many politicians: they’re not willing to tell me what they believe, they tell me what they’re against. If you want me to follow you, listen to you, believe you’re a person of passion, DON’T tell me what you’re against – tell me what you’re for.

We’re going to disagree, however, on the public nature of this conversation. In lieu of flogging a dead horse, let me just add this to explain why I feel an obligation to criticize people like Driscoll for their perpetuation of homophobic stereotypes. I am a Christian who has taken a vocal stand in favor of LGBT rights. I have friends in the LGBT community (both Christian and non-Christian). Silence implies assent. If a Christian perpetuates homophobic speech/behavior in public, I MUST speak to it or MY light fails to shine before the people around me. There is a middle ground between church discipline and gossip wherein I must reserve the right to sharply criticize the rhetoric of a public figure who, in my opinion, perpetuates a hurtful and destructive way of thinking.

I’m happy to agree to disagree on this. If the church is big enough for me and Pastor Mark, it’s big enough for me and you (you feminist).

But you know what? I know plenty of people who go to Mars Hill, even a pastor or two, and I know without a doubt that they love Jesus as much as I do. I might not be a fan of Mark’s, and I might hate the way he communicates, but it doesn’t help a thing for me to start arguing and blasting him the way he might be blasting others.

“The Jesus we follow absolutely said to do unto others as they have done to you. Wait…..” I’m totally gonna quote you on this!

To say it another way, far too many people outside the Church pay attention to Driscoll. I’m no fan of mega-pastors; I think a pastor is called to serve a congregation, not the world. (I could parse that out in much greater detail, but please assume I’m aware of all the logical extensions of the statement for now.) Given that those outside the church are not always aware of that distinction, and that many assume that all Christians think and act and believe alike, I think it would be a mistake for there to not be a visible resistance made to flippant, hurtful, small-minded thinking such as Driscoll exhibits time and time again lest we allow ourselves to be painted with the same brush by those outside looking in.

Does that make sense? I agree that wallowing in this place is wasteful and pointless. And I think the point has been made, and that you’re right, it’s time to move on. But I am also glad and thankful that such a visible and audible outcry was made against Driscoll’s comments.

Here’s where I see things differently:

1) Paul’s calling out of Peter, while public in the church, was not public to the rest of the Roman world. Everyone who had access to the criticism also had access to the context. The same can’t be said about this situation. Once it goes public on the internet it’s not a matter of church discipline, but a matter of gossip and infighting. In addition, Paul’s critique of Peter was to edify the church. There’s very little of that going on here.

2) Driscoll didn’t say these particular comments on his public blog, or in an interview, or in a podcast, or in any other internet forum, but on his facebook page: a page that you have to “like” in order to see. If you don’t like Mark Driscoll or what he says/does/stands for, don’t “like” him. That’s a choice. I do not understand this brand of masochism. People initially offended in this situation are actively participating in something that’s making them miserable. The rest of us, those with the good sense not to subject ourselves to his nonsense, have been drawn into this situation by those who chose NOT to dispute Driscoll on his page. It’s not as if he restricted comments. Hundreds of people posted more than 600 comments before he took it down.

I agree that Christian discourse is essential. Without it, we’d be all Jerusalem and no Antioch (and most likely none of us would be having this conversation). It’s the discourse that helps us to grow, change & formulate what we believe and why. When engage in discourse, though, we should be able to discern between someone challenging our faith and the playground pest in our face annoying us with taunts of “I’m not touching you! I’m not touching you.” We also need to be aware that being a “city on a hill” means the rest of the world sees both the light we shine & when we set each other on fire.