THERE is outrage among evangelicals in the US over Pastor Mark Driscoll’s scheduled appearance at The Gospel Coalition’s Conference this coming April 21- 23 in Chicago.
Hunky pastor Mark Driscoll, sporting a Micky Mouse t-shirt
Driscoll, pastor at Seattle’s Mars Hill Church, is an unapologetic maverick who stands accused of being crude and playing fast and loose with Scripture.
According to this report, Cathy Mickels, co-author of Spiritual Junk Food: The Dumbing Down of Christian Youth, this week complained in an 11-page memo:
I am astonished that evangelical pastors would highlight a pastor not only known for his crudeness and careless handling of Scripture, but a pastor who also credits foul-mouthed comedian Chris Rock with teaching him how to preach.
In response to those who will claim Driscoll is doctrinally sound, Mickels states:
Since when is it doctrinally sound to refer to Jesus as some ‘dude’ who tells ‘knock-knock jokes’? Since when does Biblical doctrine tolerate the description of the Old Testament as ‘a red-neck hillbilly comedy’ containing mocking comments about Noah and Jeremiah?
Quoting from Driscoll’s book, Confessions of a Reformission Rev, Mickels states:
It also appears Mark Driscoll discovered early on that talking about sex could help him build his church. In fact, Driscoll wrote, ‘I assumed the students and singles were all pretty horny, so I went out on a limb … Each week I extolled the virtues of marriage, … oral sex, sacred stripping and sex outdoors … This helped us a lot because apparently a pastor using words like penis and oral sex is unusual, and before you could say aluminum pole in the bedroom, attendance began to climb steadily to more than two hundred people a week.’
The memo details that that in one of Mark Driscoll’s most recent projects, he undermines and corrupts gospel truth. Mickels said that, without shame this pastor recklessly undermines the words of Jesus for the title of his new book called, Porn- Again Christian. She asked:
Who would tamper with the words of Christ and then use them as an introduction to a discussion on the perverted world of pornography?
She adds:
It is just as puzzling why a pastor, who warns young men about the dangers of pornography, admits to frequenting a barbershop Driscoll describes as ‘providing the finest selection of waiting area pornography in our city.’
Mickels concludes:
Instead of a pastor spiritually lifting up the Body of Christ to a higher standard, Mark Driscoll is dragging the Church through the gutter. Is it any wonder we are losing spiritual ground in this country?
Hmmm. A visit to Driscoll’s website shows that she may have grounds for getting her prissy little evangelical panties in a twist. Here’s what he has to say about the the “Good Book”:
The Bible is filled with examples of condemnable speech, including cursing God, blasphemy, making false accusations, perversity, rashness, harshness, wickedness, boasting, lying, flattering, bitterness, nitpicking, adulterous flirtation, busy-bodying, gossip, nagging, whining, complaining, needless quarreling, and plain old foolish stupidity in its innumerable forms ….
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
January 17th, 2009 at 11:24 am
http://creativeyear.wordpress......omment-543
Brilliant!
January 17th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
He might be ‘enlightened’ but that doesn’t stop him taking money from the none-too-bright among his flock.
January 17th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Barry, good idea about the 5 minutes edit time.
Another suggestion I have, concerned a site I was connected to last week (Mail?) where viewers were invited to add or subtract ‘votes’ to comments. Not only would this get people who normally only read comments into active participation but also show some people what twats they really are or, conversely, how much they are appreciated. It also might give your regulars some indication of how much the(ir) site is read.
January 17th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Sounds great! Anyone know of a good URL where I can buy one of these Christian brides?
January 19th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
God seems to be one hell of a poor communicator. The result is the inability of these Christians, and others, to know what he wants. Not too much “suffer little children” approach in Palestine, was there? Should these crazy men in the big hats and beards have had something to say about this? Or is it OK to slaughter and maim non Jews and non non Whites. There is going to be a massive shortage of Inn Space after the onslaught – and I don’t think there will be enough stables to make up for it.
Bit of “good news”. Some relatives decided they did not want the body interned by a Christian Vicar as the person was an atheist. Vicar already lined up. Bit of a fracas but written evidence led to a fracas leading to “no way” and vicar redundant. Wendy Cope replacing bible bullshit and some terrific music.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
It’s a shame that this so-called “pastor” frequents places filled with so much sin and wrong (such as the barbershop where he gets his hair taken care of).
Jesus would have never done that.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Elijah, what is a shame is that American Christians can not do just as Jesus did, and frequent places filled with so much sin and wrong. The doctor does not come for the healthy. Driscoll is leading a throng of young Christians who are willing to quit sitting on their butts, and act as Christ did.