Walk the Walk or get off the path.
Recently I made a post on Face Book in regards to The Acts 29 ministry releasing Mark Driscoll, pastor of the Mars Hill mega church organization, the Resurgence, and most currently.. the ousted board member of the Acts 29 Ministry…. But even more mind-blowing and scary is that in 2009 New York Times’ reporter, Molly Worthen called him “One of the most admired – and reviled – figures among evangelicals nationwide.”[1]
That last statement in and of itself is what catches my heart most when a Christian leader, so arrogant and prideful as Driscoll makes the New York Times “Most Influential Christian…anything” list… I lived a life around people who took the Lord’s name in vain and because of it I lived in vain for most of my life- it is a very HOT topic with me.
But immediately following the re-post hitting my Face Book page, a statement was made that it wasn’t funny. And I could not agree more!
No, funny is not the word I would use- as a matter of fact, I never would so much as insinuate that such a matter as large and defeating to the Christian church is remotely… “Funny.”
As a matter of fact Driscoll is but one in many of the dominoes in this little game of “who’s most religious…” that are falling down, as I watch God “shake the tree” of righteousness, so that all may see what (who) is really left standing.
There will be many more of these prideful men and women that have these so called “Godly Ministries,” fall in days to come. So many men in “ministry” or standing behind a pulpit, or behind the veil of their robes in their ivory tower of home-made doctrine… so full of themselves, using the name of Christ for their own prideful agenda and leading innocent victims to hell along their way.
As I hear the crackling sound of their Pharisee- like behavior I will indeed shout out a warning to get out of the way of these false prophets who are “tickling the ears” of those who search for truth. And as they come crashing down to the ground, I will not laugh- but rather, I shall continue to mourn – but not for them – not for these who know and have studied the word of God – for they know better – they have made their choice as to whom they will serve – and their punishment has been laid out for them before the foundation of the world…. or God will meet them on their proverbial road to “Damascus.”
But I mourn for those who have been sent to hell because they turned away from truth to follow mere men rather than the one and only man who matters, that is Christ.
Having been a part of Driscoll’s church plant here in Arizona, my husband and I witnessed firsthand the arrogance and the agenda of the Driscoll Corporation… – somewhere between the fan-fare arrival, the food truck celebration feast, and the photo-booths set up for photos with Mark…..
Well, we could only handle the pretentiousness for so long… we could only hope for repentance when we called them out.
But it did not come. No, it only got worse – as a matter of fact, it was quite the spectacle of pompous self-importance.
“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then again twice, have nothing more to do with him knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” (Titus 3:10-11).
Driscoll is this generation’s Jimmy Swaggart – but then again, maybe not. Jimmy cried.. Big truckloads of tears- literally mourning his sin before all the peoples who tuned into the television sets to watch as he poured out his heart…. But, then again, back then Christian leaders were held to a higher standard, so Jimmy Swaggart’s tears were seen on every news cast all day long, for weeks to come…
Real or not? Only God knows, at least he made an effort and then changed his life. Driscoll… Not so much.
“A backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways,” (Prov. 14:14).
And then there was another evangelist, then a pedophile priest, then a bishop, then an adulteress preacher and another, and on and on it went until, men like Driscoll are not held to any standard… we just water down the Gospel instead. So it’s no wonder we are where we are!
But that does not make it acceptable!
“In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children will have a refuge” (Prov. 14:26).
Unless more Christ-centered, like Matt Chandler (Acts 29) and Voddie Bachaum (and my husband) take a stand and call them out- men like Driscoll will never change! But rather, we (as a church) will give permission to allow more to forge ahead and that is exactly what we are seeing all across America and it must not be tolerated.
As the standards and morals of our church deplete, so does our culture for there are not morals, no standards, and no examples to follow.
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” (Proverbs14:27).
After all – it is our responsibility as Christians to literally drop what we are doing and to “turn a brother back” (James 5:19-20). Peter, Paul, Tim, Jim and Steve, spent the entire New Testament not just showing us how to live and die for Christ by example, but writing letters about this very thing – calling the (churches, pastors) and brother’s out…. We must disciple – and our discipleship must not be a destination it must be a way of life, an example for all to follow and we must hold each other accountable.
We forget that. We get so caught up over the “Log in our own eyes” that our “church friends” trip over as they reach out to pat us on the back… that we forget, we have a responsibility to protect and preserve the integrity of the church.
But you say… “God-forbid, lest we offend…”
“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly ; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:2-3).
Just remember: Some people are offended by everything, some by no thing, but all by something. (Holly T. Ashley)
Driscoll won’t shed a tear, nor will he ever for his sin or for those who, because of his actions have turned away from the church… he simply hides in the dark shadows of the mansion he has built for himself in his glory… and waits for this “storm” to blow over.
“Funny..?” No. I never said that, nor would I. But I will say this – they will fall, each and every one- those who hoard up their treasures here on this earth and look down upon those whom God has chosen. They will build up for themselves mighty castles and surround themselves with “yes” men that hang on their every word, hoping to glean just a portion of the “storehouse” treasures.
Sad. Sad is the word I would use – as these have turned away so many in the name of their greed, arrogance and prideful lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. So sad is it that our Lord says, “That it would be better that a millstone be hung around their necks as they are dropped into the sea,” than what He has in store for them…
It saddens my heart that so many who witness it run away or turn their heads rather than risk anything to further the truth of the Gospel of Christ.
My hope is that true men of God take a stand against this behavior that is done “in the name of…” our LORD and say, “NO MORE!” No more will take the name of our Lord Jesus in vain! NO more will you allow your arrogance to reign over the Gospel of Truth.” No more!
“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve,” (Romans 16:17-18).
You can read the Acts 29 Blog by the board here.
[1] Worthen, Molly. Who Would Jesus Smack Down? New York Times Magazine. (Jan. 6, 2009).
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