I've listened to every single Mars Hill podcast that has ever been posted, read one of Mark's book, "Reformission Rev" and have been working my way through the reading list of Acts 29 Network, a church planting and education organization funded largely by Mars Hill. We're talking about a 26 yr. old that was called to start a church based on fundamental, expositional Bible teaching that is contextually-based and speaks to the culture we find ourselves in. My wife listens to Mark and doesn't feel the least bit offended by him. I think Christian Post gives him a bad rap by taking some things he says out of context. Mark has mellowed some from when he first started pod-casting but, with a little grace, anyone who reads the Bible can benefit from his teaching.
In this day when we have so many religion leaders getting caught in immoral acts, trying to take over the government of our country, and/or preaching this self-help feel-good "Jesus is a massag-a-roma-therapist just waiting for you to walk with him through a maze to the brand-new car he is giving to you" message that its refreshing to listen to a preacher that teaches a controversial Jesus, a fierce-loving God, and a people that keep screwing it up. God is sovereign, he is worthy of our whole-hearted worship, and life is better when we allow him to lead us through life. What is so damning about that?
Monday, February 19, 2007
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By the way, if you don't like it worship the way you want to and teach the way you want to and just leave the guy alone. He's in the most un-churched city in the country and bringing a very real Gospel to many that are sick of the watered-down version we've been hearing for 25 years.
What's their website? When you say Mars Hill I think Rob Bell (mhbcmi.org).
http://www.marshillchurch.org/
If you've read "Blue Like Jazz" by Don Miller then you'll recongnize Mark Driscoll (preaching elder of Mars Hill) as the "swearing preacher" from Seattle. He's very opinionated but really loves the city and is wholeheartedly devoted to being a city within a city. He started as a community group of twelve couples. Their model was to break off into small community groups if/when they grew. I don't know if they have the community within the church that they want because you'd have to be part of it to really know but I think Mark himself and his leadership team really are trying to honor Jesus as Lord and bring his Kingdom to bear on Seattle, with love. The bad part is that Mark was so young when he started that he has said some unloving things over the years that he regrets but certainly cannot take back. I've done the same thing out of ignorance and immaturity. I still do occasionally.
oh, and Steve, thanks for stopping by.
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