Mark Driscoll, Rachel Held Evans, and “Effeminate” Worship Leaders: Why Love and Prayer Must be at the Center of Disagreement
An explosion of emotion which had been bubbling below the surface of the American Christian Church exploded yesterday. Mark Driscoll, a leader and pastor of not only his church Mars Hill, but millions of others across the country—was blasted yesterday by Rachel Held Evans and hundreds of her readers. Driscoll posted a rather questionable and offensive update to his Facebook page “So what story do you have about the most effeminate anatomically male worship leader you’ve ever personally witnessed?”
When I first saw this post in my stream, my reaction was disapproving but ultimately dismissive. I kept scrolling on. But one could easily be offended by such opinions and unbecoming questions of a pastor with such clout.
Rachel seems to certainly have been one of those who was quite upset, and for good reason. She fired back with her post “Mark Driscoll is a bully. Stand up to him” in which she calls the church to write letters to Mars Hill church encouraging them to rein in their teaching pastor. She rightly pointed out that this was not the first offense Driscoll has given in his very public views on manhood and regaining “manliness” in the Church.
And in a certain sense, Rachel is right. These comments are very public and as such should be dealt with and discussed publicly.
What followed, however, was a barrage of bickering between supporters of Driscoll and those who generally dislike this pastor or have just had enough. Many re-posted the letters and emails they sent to Mars Hill—written with love or bile.
But what has seemed to be missing from all this criticism and conversation about Driscoll is a more peaceful and loving, even sad, demeanor in which we join together in prayer and corrective support. But rage has been the palpable tone which Rachel (though well controlled) and others (less so controlled) have taken—even by those defending Driscoll.
Driscoll, in my view, is off base. His zeal for manliness goes too far. Not all of us are UFC-loving, chain necklace wearing, rock-and-roll loving people. And that is good. We are a diverse people and Driscoll targets and reaches a certain audience that Rachel, myself, or even his theological companion John Piper could never reach.
The difficulty is, however, that because of his platform, localized and targeted statements become offensive and exaggerated. Regardless, Driscoll is wrong—most especially by the tone and mocking verbiage through which he chose to express his view. And whether the removal of the post is indication of his remorse or simply a strategic move by his church, the damage is done.
But this pastor is a man—a sinful, fallen, prone-to-mistakes mortal. His personality and personal views bled through into his pastoral platform. And his preferences on worship and dress are his own. We ought not condemn the man. We ought to lovingly pray for him. We ought to pray that the devil is bound, Driscoll’s carnal nature would be held at bay by the spirit, and that he would be given a renewed spirit of discernment.
Moreover, we ought to all recall Jon Acuff’s satyrical discussion of just this same issue in the much beloved “Understanding how Metrosexual Your Worship Leader is.” Acuff uses such discussions to cut past church practices that ought to be laughed at to get to the deeper issues. We all laughed at ourselves and discussed the deeper message.
Is Acuff that much different from Driscoll? The tone they take is night and day, to be sure. But both want to discuss the same issue.
But perhaps worse yet is the outright condemnation of a pastor who has been pivotal to re-awakening us all to missions in the 21st century. Some of Driscoll’s earliest writings are packed with the call to re-engage our generation as active participants for Christ rather than isolationists or indolent church attendees.
Perhaps our grandmother’s old adage is most apt here: Eat the meat and spit out the bones. Like any person, Driscoll is both inspired and flawed. Let us love and pray for him in a manner becoming of a brother in Christ.
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What do you think Driscoll Meant by “Effeminant”? Do you condemn or approve?
Do you think the reactions to his post are warranted?
How much grace, love, and patience should be shown a leader with such clout?
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