However, we also see that David and Samuel were permitted to speak out publicly against Saul in truth. If a pastor makes a statement denying allegations, its a lie. These Pentecostals keep insisting that almost everything written on the internet about Mark Driscoll isnt even close to the truth. The hyper romanticized cinematic version of the uber cool Che trumps the reality of his bloody terrorist tactics and the horrors and oppression that his brand of communism inflicted on others. So now is the time ta share with kind folks the destination of their eternal soul? There is no glorifying God in any of that. All the celebrity has to do is play the victim/repented card and teach cheap grace. No, there is no reason to believe CJ committed actual crimes. Photos show large crowds at Missouri's James River Church | The Kansas The issue, however, is character, evidenced by a pattern of behavior reported with regard to bullying behavior, narcissitic traits, etc. He fails all or almost all the qualifications laid out for that role as outlined in the New Testament. I think they have handled it with great PR and it is working. His career has been a total focus on getting his narcissistic supply. Ok, I looked up Hillsong because I know in the past theres been a bit of controversy about them. I am not surprised he is mobilizing his church, which packs a powerful political punch through the sheer number of members and, I believe, their commitment to vote. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1989926/posts The term was invented by Tom Wolfe back in the 70s to describe the superficial gliteratti associating with revolutionary thugs as a way to prove their bonafides. At that time, although I led Agathos, I was not taking a salary from Agathos. #driscollreturns paul most influential christian wrote most books this explains marks love of also writing books. Saul did get out of Dodge for some years. Because 12 years ago Walter Salles made an awesome movie about him called The Motorcycle Diaries starring the gentle heartthrob Gael Garcia Bernal as Che. The program includes signing over any welfare benefits to the Ministry, with the program alleged to contain little actual psychological assistance, and mostly prayer and expelling demons. It was titled "A Biblical Look at Human Sexuality." I hope more will speak up in the future. If so associating with Driscoll they can get the thug part down. But one morning as I sat at my desk in y basement office, I looked up at my little bulletin board. Pokin Around: Mega-church pastor tells members to repeal gay rights law Very simple. It is possible for someone who is engaged in homosexual behavior to stop.". i hope the same is happening to others who have been victims of spiritual abuse and church cult tactics. If he is serious about ministry then he needs to stay away from those circumstances which enable him to get into trouble-money, power and the pulpit. The resistance is to Jesus. Houston was saying in his statement he was only just now finding out about some of Mark Driscolls more controversial statements, and that is due to the media. Hasnt it been around long enough that either people (especially younger guys) are sick of it, or they have finally realized its harmful or obnoxious? What I dont get is that those pastors dont care if they look completely dishonest in their statements. I tend to doubt it but who knows. I wonder how much of this concern over gay rights is to deflect people from considering their own deficiencies. They stay in and around the very thing that ruined them in the first place. He can be forgiven. It is definitely not where all leadership and vision is deferred to one man, and it is definitely not authoritarian. He explained that wide is the path refers mainly to churches posing as Christian churches (mostly for millions in profit like GW) not the fringe Christian-like churches or belief systems (like LDS). Pastors who give Mark Driscoll a platform are adding to the abuse of those of us who were abusively treated by Mars Hill Church. He apparently had many nicknames during the course of his life, but became known by Che. It is not short for chancho.. There was no light show. I began to see him as a marketing expert, who was producing what the young Reformed, technology driven market would respond to, and then marketing it in excellent ways. Driscoll has used this vague parallels to himself many times, framing the sermon in the context of his own life with the lives of other noble characters, most notably Jesus. My Comment was Deleted He is young and using Jesus is all he knows. It is certainly understandable we would see it differently. I know historical accounts can be skewed. He had founded the church in 1996. Is to be- James River Church - Leadership not always what they portray Q. In your mega travels Lydia, is this homogenization of bad practices the norm? The Reformed Neo Cal world is going, Mark who?. Elders thatthat sin are to be rebuke before all, that others also may fear. Some scholars put his time in Tarsus as much as 7 years and might be when he took up tentmaking since he was cut off from the rabbincial living. There is great comfort to be found in that. In his case, [Pauls] trust had to be earned, for obvious reasons. Che badgered/shamed the workers that receiving a pat on the back from their boss/comrade for increasing the quota should be enough for them to continue to increase production without any chance of being compensated for it monetarily. The worship leaders are all carefully coached and choreographed on how to appear more worshipful and fake their collective ecstatic elation over being one with their maker. The Jews in Damascus want to kill him and he is snuck out of town by believers. How they hold their hands, pat their hearts, stomp their feet, fall to their knees, wipe away fake tears, etc is all taught in classes. I wish he would try to get a corporate communications job or something though. there is a minor child involved that both of them love deeply. No ownership and everyone else is to blame. Are you not voting for the candidates and issues Gateway told you to? That was not my intention. According to the Pastor John Lindell, Driscoll has spoken there on three other occasions. Before people know it, feeling loved and valued (and not realizing it was due to preplanned manipulation) they are plugged in several days a week, basically dropping out of their non-church activities. An event of this magnitude, indoors and in such close proximity, combined with case numbers where they are and our hospitals full, could be devastating, he said. Rob Smiths orphanage was totally defunded and left broke by Marks Hill, the Lord has taken up for those children, thankfully. What do you think, Albuquerque? Mark flatly denied it, but I believe we may be seeing a pattern here. Ive seen desensitizing have the desired effect and its not pretty. I hope I am wrong. No. Im all for forgiveness but this complete whitewash of history when someone offers up an opportunistic Im sorry is not something I see in day to day life. I have heard Driscoll in person.. They are relinquishing 10-20% of their gross income. In the future, people will tell churches and christians to distance themselves from the dishonesty of the dishonest churches. I think that explains a lot of it. (glorifies paul. Even after becoming a believer he wanted more. He diverts attention from the real purpose, the Gospel, to himself. yelling at the referees for too many seasons. @wartwatch Not even the milk toast "We regret if anyone was offended"? Mark Driscoll has a lot of repenting to do and until he does that he should not be permitted to preach/speak at any church. Wouldnt you encourage him to find another vocation? According to the Pastor John Lindell, Driscoll has spoken there on three other occasions. My old church Gateway has atmosphere teams in services to emotionally manipulate members and visitors. What I saw was the 2 verses that I had typed on a 35 card and tacked to my bulletin board. It is anguish because i love them, and see the pain of all three of them. How Much Does James River Church Pay in 2023? (26 Salaries) They will also show several very slickly produced commercials that feature smiling, giddy, laughing people all celebrating together. one had an alcohol problem 3 years ago and one has a drug problem that recently occured due to overprescribing of pain medication turned to street drug use. CCHD has been in contact with the City of Ozark, where the venue is located and where there is a current masking ordinance in place. In February 2008, less than two months after his promise not to abandon our orphans, we received a letter from Scott Thomas. I know that tens of thousands left GW before I did and they walked away without the decency to help others. Personally I am not really all that interested in what the celebrites do as in endorsing, spinning events or behavior, etc. @ Gus: Maybe the apostles did not want to be found by a major persecutor of the movement and Saul/Paul had no alternative but to put some distance between himself and his previous life until things calmed down a bit. I have also heard the thoroughly abusive interpretation of Psalm 105:15 touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm. Just some thoughts to consider. Missouri church service Saturday evening. . Its much harder to leave that way. Its appalling that through your words and actions you are able to re-injure the real victims with such ease all while smiling and chuckling on your stage. What Im curious though is how the church (corporate) can self regulate against that in the face of the money and power, both spiritual and temporal, that types like MD help create. http://www.standfirminfaith.com/?/sf/page/31866. And so on. Whats worse, total lack of good character. GW used to require people to take a class and understand the commitment but they couldnt keep their salvation numbers up without the spontaneous element that include giving away free clothes and smart little swag bags for those willing to dunk for the cameras. There are now more single adults in the U.S.A. than married couples, but churches (even the mega ones) keep going after the married folks. Obviously, I disagree with Lindell on the upcoming vote. On the other hand though a lot of people obviously like the guy enormously and his business model for his church is pretty successful. I just do not understand this focus on hoping Christians leaders will actually and finally act like Christians when everything they have been involved with and built looks nothing like Jesus Christ. Again. These churches are both responsible for vetting their speakers, and they utterly failed on this one. The City of Ozark has an established process in place to investigate, enforce, and educate violators of the ordinance, the department said before stating that it does not condone the flouting of health mandates. The Washington Post published the following headline last Sunday: Controversial preacher Mark Driscoll stripped from megachurch Hillsong conference lineup link. I strongly recommend the brief article by Jon Zens at Searching Together entitled Going to the Root Mark Driscoll and the Celebrity System. Another aspect of the way I approach this is to consider where the burden of proof lies. The church has spawned countless church plants, charities and conferences. (Note I did not diagnose) I do believe seen in that light, it makes it simpler to see how he gets by with it and why some who also make their living in similar ways are promoting him. Thats right, the head pastor no less! He told me he will vote against repeal. Im sure someone wittier than I can do something with his Training ourselves to sense right from wrong. That is certainly not an idea they got from the Bible. this discussion you make today determines your destiny, God wants you to forgive. The church, according to the web site, was founded by three individuals, Mark Driscoll, Leif Moi and Mike Gunn. Vulgarity and filth get fed to us little by little until we hardly notice weve ignored those first red flags and become part and parcel of the heresy. @ Bridget: And Jesus said He would send the Spirit of Truth, how we deal with situations in truth or deceitfulness is very telling. Years ago, he spoke from the pulpit against the expansion of casino gambling in Missouri. . Do you know his history and what he represents? . A grunge rock Lord Byron mad, bad and dangerous to know. Sincerely want to know what the alternative is. i have met people that have told me that they went to gateway (and other churches that are similar) but no longer do without ever saying why. I hope others will join in at places like this blog and help shed light on local megas in their area. He genuinely seemed to care. Your mistake is in assuming that Driscoll was there to deliver a sermon. where is God in all this? So I can see why some churches would want him on board. You want to go all Colonel Jessup and rant about the truth? Meanwhile, Mark Driscoll was preparing to deliver his sermon at James River Church, an Assemblies of God megachurch located in the "Show Me State" (Missouri). Yep. I see him as a conference speaker on a different circuit. The bible sayz dat soon the darkness is coming when no one will be listening. now i am going to see if i can stand to listen to the whole mark speaks video. some have suffered unjustly. I cannot respect or support these men knowing that they revere such a man as a pastor. Wonder what else is in the Acts29 playbook that we havent seen yet! You cant speak in tongues? It shows also in our perception of ourselves and others when we still have areas of sin. Great insight. Driscoll should not be granted any level of power till he has demonstrated that he has obtained the humility necessary to handle it. Yes, Lord, he answered. But we rarely hear about that. LOL! plausible they shoved that in jesus mouth, with that taste on his lips. (the death of Jesus on the cross as written in the bible is not enough, mark adds something more exciting and sickening like they shoved an a##-wipe sponge in Jesus mouth.) I agree that if the object is to fill seats and keep the money flowing in, then Driscoll and the others are doing a great job. Others appear to draw some type of inspiration from Driscoll. After surrendering more than 10% of your gross income for years you are tens of thousands of dollars into them at that point and that can really bolster all the cognitive dissonance you feel and strangely work to prevent your leaving. I find it telling that it contains 41 mentions of "sin," "sinners" and "sinfulness.". And how many know you cant not everything you read on the internet is true, and so as a church I just I just know this, as a church we want to be careful that we dont ever put ourself in a situation where were shooting the wounded, and you know God has laid Mark and Grace upon Debbie and my heart repeatedly over the last several months. We saw the Dallas Morning News drop TVC story like it had Ebola germs on it despite knowing that parents were not being warned of a pedophile in their midst. . also, Mark' Driscoll's message has been uploaded on the church website, and we have included it here should you choose to watch it. You cant speak in tongues?