Why the Mars Hill Faithful Have Started to Question Mark

The Stranger ^ | August 1, 2014 | Brendan Kiley

[Cecily]

To understand the current unrest at Mars Hill Church, you have to go back to 2007. In the autumn of that year, Mars Hill was an emerging evangelical powerhouse, attracting national attention for its combination of ultraconservative theology and rock ’n’ roll posturing. It had grown over the previous decade from a Bible group in pastor Mark Driscoll’s living room to a multi-campus institution drawing 4,000 attendees to services every week. Paul Petry, Mars Hill’s pastor of families and member care at the time, says that roughly 1,600 of those 4,000 people had joined the church as full-fledged members—they’d taken the necessary Mars Hill classes, studied Driscoll’s doctrine (which he eventually codified in his 2010 book Doctrine), and signed an agreement to submit to the “authority” of Mars Hill leadership.

[Hostage]

Smells like scientology.......(holding nose)

[hoagy62]

From the stories coming out now, it sounds like Driscoll is a wanna-be cult leader who enjoys exercising an iron grip on his congregation.

That is not what Christ had in mind for the Church.

[wastoute]

The “Iron Grip” is His, not his. I am thankful for it!

[GeronL]

bump

[Salvation]

Maur Hill = Catholic High School in Kansas

[SunkenCiv]

The Jonestown Death Tape (FBI No. Q 042) (November 18, 1978)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkookcrAnSE

[Jan_Sobieski]

Sounds like a Nicolaitan to me...

Nico-, combinatory form of nīko, "victory" in Greek, and laos means people, or more specifically, the laity; hence, the word may be taken to mean "lay conquerors" or "conquerors of the lay people". However, "Nicolaitan" (Greek: Νικολαϊτῶν; Νικολαΐτης) is the name ostensibly given to followers of the heretic Nicolas (Greek: Νικόλαος)—the name itself meaning "victorious over people," or "victory of the people," which he would have been given at birth.

[21twelve]

I don’t know what other stories their are, but would be interested to read them. I wouldn’t put do much in an article from The Stranger, the free, ultra-liberal paper that can be found at coffee shops in Fremont and Hooka Bars in Seattle.

But yes, there is the risk with a non-demoninational church being led astray by their pastor.

[Nevadan]

I have known many godly pastors who work very hard to serve God and minister to their congregations. unfortunately, there are some pastors like Driscoll who believe that God rubber stamps their every decision and whim. Disagreeing with this mentality results in such ministers claiming that you are opposing God's will.

[freeagle]

I am an evangelical Christian who has been in professional church ministry (I am no longer) and learned from many of the contemporary big successful and some failed leaders as well as just the everyday followers of Christ. Bottomline: they are, we are all human and fall short of the glory of God.

I’ve noticed numerous articles written by evangelical Christians bashing Mark Driscoll, his ministry, his people - God’s church. So far I haven’t read or heard from any leader I respect in the “business” bash him.

There’s plenty of scripture that should guide leaders and church members in behavior and problem resolution. And, most importantly, God’s Word is there for us to read, prayerfully discern what Christ wants us to do in our own lives. If there’s failure, let’s look to ourselves first.

It took awhile, but I learned that in every church, every church leadership situation, there’s room for big problems. Gee whiz, there’s a crapton of stuff I need to attend to with Christ first, before I beat up on my church leadership.

I wish we would stop beating up on the church - God’s church, BTW - and those leaders trying to keep the church going - particularly in these days.

[HereInTheHeartland]

I just read a bunch of the articles; and FB page about Driscoll and Mars Hill.
It sounds like they have gotten way of base and turned into a cult.
I a in a church where Driscolls material was read by many in leadership roles. That gives me a huge pause; and really is an eye opener.

[zeestephen]

I walk by the Bellevue church almost every day.

I thought it was kind of cool that a large Evangelical style church suddenly appeared in ultra liberal downtown Bellevue a couple years ago.

I had no clue there was a civil war going on inside until I read an article at a local TV news website a few weeks ago.

[cloudmountain]

Pastor Mark Driscoll seems to be another “Dr. EEEEeugen Scott, that is, a fraud and a blasphemer.

[HarleyD]

This is what happens when people submit to other people in this fashion. This was a train wreck waiting to happen. Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. That is the nature of man-Christian or otherwise.

Pro 30:8-9 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

[noah]

Is Paul Petrie the one from Lexington Kentucky and a member
of the Covenant Church (Mobile Alabama)?

[HarleyD]

I don't think so. I don't follow Mars Hill except for the few things I've read about it. It isn't my cup of tea. I don't believe in churches that make you sign statements of loyalty or pay for pastors that make far more than I. So this dissention is the first I've heard but I'm not surprised.

Here is an interesting site that talks more about this The Wartburg Watch 2014. In the article he does complain that John Piper and C.J. Mahaney refused to get involved in the matter. He was a bit harsh but in fairness to Piper and Mahaney, this is an internal church matter that needs to be dealt with by the congregation-not outsiders.

[Abigail Adams]

They’re just starting to question him now? Kinda slow if you ask me. Shoulda questioned him years ago.

[Abigail Adams]

2 Peter 2

The Rise of False Prophets

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

[freeagle]

I’m not saying there isn’t anything amiss with Driscoll because I don’t know. I don’t attend his church. I’ve never read or listened to his works... what I’m saying is

1) I don’t know - it’s not my church, and those who are chiming in don’t attend it either.
2) All churches have problems and the Bible specifically addresses them. It’s up to any church body and community to apply Scripture.
3) We should be making sure that individually we seek Christ first and make sure we’re trusting Him to take care of other peoples’ churches.
4) We have got to stop tearing one another down.
5) There are tons of people in Driscoll’s church and tons of people who read/view his stuff, plus tons of Evangelical leaders who can come along side Mark Driscoll. Maybe they have and they are constructively dealing with him.

I read that Bill Hybells (whom I respect), wouldn’t let just ONE of Driscoll’s works be distributed at a conference. I’m postive a lot of evangelicals will take issue with Bill’s objections to Driscoll’s view of not allowing women in leadership roles. But Hybell’s hasn’t said anything else.

If individuals in or outside of Driscoll’s church are concerned, they might be cautious about reading Driscoll’s stuff, and seek counsel from trusted advisors. If they have their own church community and read their Bible, they should do the same. We should focus on becoming Christlike; the Sanctification process.

We really shouldn’t have time to judge and tear down God’s leaders and His church. That’s God’s job if he sees fit.