Comments on: Why I’m still listening to Mark Driscoll even if other British Evangelicals are not http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not A blog by Neil Powell Sat, 18 May 2013 15:48:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: 15 Minutes of Infamy, Public Golgothas, and Blessed is He who does not sit among the mockers | Dreaming Beneath the Spires http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/#comment-22309 15 Minutes of Infamy, Public Golgothas, and Blessed is He who does not sit among the mockers | Dreaming Beneath the Spires Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:53:47 +0000 http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/?p=2641#comment-22309 [...] Driscoll who baptized 1392 people in 2011 alone declares that the UK church are “a bunch of cowards,” “guys in dresses, preaching to [...] [...] Driscoll who baptized 1392 people in 2011 alone declares that the UK church are “a bunch of cowards,” “guys in dresses, preaching to [...]

]]> By: bob http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/#comment-363 bob Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:14:09 +0000 http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/?p=2641#comment-363 I have to say I learn't more from Justin Brierley's interview about the modern church in the UK than I have from going to a contemporary evangelical church for years. Finally informed Christian honesty! Don't get me wrong Love and unity is important in the church but sometime the church needs a bit of a spring clean. Men are and boys are leaving church in the UK at an alarming rate. I help run a Sunday school for 5-11 years olds and one of the painful things for me is watching the boys as they get older stopping going to church, of course some stay but I really think the emphasis on relationship is more suited to girls. I don't agree with everything Mark said but I still pray their were more Christian leaders with that kind of boldness in the UK. I have to say I learn’t more from Justin Brierley’s interview about the modern church in the UK than I have from going to a contemporary evangelical church for years.

Finally informed Christian honesty!

Don’t get me wrong Love and unity is important in the church but sometime the church needs a bit of a spring clean.

Men are and boys are leaving church in the UK at an alarming rate.

I help run a Sunday school for 5-11 years olds and one of the painful things for me is watching the boys as they get older stopping going to church, of course some stay but I really think the emphasis on relationship is more suited to girls.

I don’t agree with everything Mark said but I still pray their were more Christian leaders with that kind of boldness in the UK.

]]> By: David Baker http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/#comment-362 David Baker Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:59:05 +0000 http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/?p=2641#comment-362 This is quite a helpful counter-balance to Driscoll, from Don Carson - http://networkedblogs.com/tk9J1 This is quite a helpful counter-balance to Driscoll, from Don Carson – http://networkedblogs.com/tk9J1

]]> By: Helen http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/#comment-361 Helen Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:21:41 +0000 http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/?p=2641#comment-361 Hi Neil, I loved your description of where you live as "in a council estate in Birmingham"! I'm sure "Paul would agree with you"!! Very much loving the fact that you went to see Mark Driscoll before forming your opinion. Good for you for doing what you've always done, and making your mind up for yourself. Did you make it to see Rob B? See now I would describe him as "an exceptionally gifted Pastor and Author, with an international reputation" And as he set up the Church you're referring to here with Mark D, I'm guessing you'd agree, even if you disagree with some of his theology, like Mark? Hi Neil,

I loved your description of where you live as “in a council estate in Birmingham”! I’m sure “Paul would agree with you”!!

Very much loving the fact that you went to see Mark Driscoll before forming your opinion. Good for you for doing what you’ve always done, and making your mind up for yourself. Did you make it to see Rob B? See now I would describe him as “an exceptionally gifted Pastor and Author, with an international reputation” And as he set up the Church you’re referring to here with Mark D, I’m guessing you’d agree, even if you disagree with some of his theology, like Mark?

]]> By: Amanda http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/#comment-360 Amanda Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:32:34 +0000 http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/?p=2641#comment-360 As an American I have to disagree with a point of yours. You said "A number of people including some good friends of mine argue Driscoll goes too far. I don’t doubt it for a moment but he’s right to say that he does it in a church culture where hardly anybody goes far enough." Quite honestly that is not true. There are plenty of people who go just as far but are not inflammatory or famous. He does it in a way that draws attention, but that certainly does not make him the only one. There is an abundance of Christian sex books all going just as far as him. My issue with him is that he is speaking some truths in a blunt, aggressive, and unloving way when there is no call for it. As an American I have to disagree with a point of yours. You said “A number of people including some good friends of mine argue Driscoll goes too far. I don’t doubt it for a moment but he’s right to say that he does it in a church culture where hardly anybody goes far enough.”
Quite honestly that is not true. There are plenty of people who go just as far but are not inflammatory or famous. He does it in a way that draws attention, but that certainly does not make him the only one. There is an abundance of Christian sex books all going just as far as him.
My issue with him is that he is speaking some truths in a blunt, aggressive, and unloving way when there is no call for it.

]]> By: A Blog for The American Mega-Pastor! « niddriepastor http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/#comment-359 A Blog for The American Mega-Pastor! « niddriepastor Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:43:14 +0000 http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/?p=2641#comment-359 [...] that I trust (no offence to Kandiah), Neil Powell has responded with a more gracious posting here.  At the outset can I hold my hands up to being a supporter of Driscoll and how he has wrestled [...] [...] that I trust (no offence to Kandiah), Neil Powell has responded with a more gracious posting here.  At the outset can I hold my hands up to being a supporter of Driscoll and how he has wrestled [...]

]]> By: Littlewarrior http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/#comment-358 Littlewarrior Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:18:12 +0000 http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/?p=2641#comment-358 I was at the event in May. Some of it was good- some of what he said was disgraceful. Eg "the rainbow is a sign of judgement on perverts" (where perverts=gay people). Regardless of views on homosexuality this is a terrible reading if the passage. It was here he first described British Christians as cowards (almost word for word what he said in Justin's interview). I was shocked- some loved it. It seems Driscoll plays to a crowd- a crowd of bullies? Or at least a crowd who like to be bullied. His numbers are impressive, but if he's discipling people to be the bully that he is he may be doing more damage to the image of the kingdom of heaven than actually bringing it about on earth as it already is in heaven. I was at the event in May. Some of it was good- some of what he said was disgraceful. Eg “the rainbow is a sign of judgement on perverts” (where perverts=gay people). Regardless of views on homosexuality this is a terrible reading if the passage.
It was here he first described British Christians as cowards (almost word for word what he said in Justin’s interview). I was shocked- some loved it. It seems Driscoll plays to a crowd- a crowd of bullies? Or at least a crowd who like to be bullied.
His numbers are impressive, but if he’s discipling people to be the bully that he is he may be doing more damage to the image of the kingdom of heaven than actually bringing it about on earth as it already is in heaven.

]]> By: neil http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/#comment-357 neil Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:05:40 +0000 http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/?p=2641#comment-357 Karl, thanks for taking the time to make clear a couple of important points particularly the difference between Christianity Magazine and Christian Today. Appreciated. But it would appear from <a href="http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/markdriscoll" rel="nofollow">Justin Brierley's own comments</a> that Christian Today actually got the quotes from Christianity Magazine itself. Brierley writes 'We released some extracts from the interview ahead of publication in the February issue, which was widely reported online, including Christian Today.' It seems to me therefore that maybe <em>both </em>magazines face a charge of irresponsible journalism although Christian Today is, as you say, mostly to blame for negative reporting. I don't know if Driscoll's words are fair or not we'll soon be able to tell when the audio is released. Karl, thanks for taking the time to make clear a couple of important points particularly the difference between Christianity Magazine and Christian Today. Appreciated. But it would appear from Justin Brierley’s own comments that Christian Today actually got the quotes from Christianity Magazine itself. Brierley writes ‘We released some extracts from the interview ahead of publication in the February issue, which was widely reported online, including Christian Today.’ It seems to me therefore that maybe both magazines face a charge of irresponsible journalism although Christian Today is, as you say, mostly to blame for negative reporting.

I don’t know if Driscoll’s words are fair or not we’ll soon be able to tell when the audio is released.

]]> By: neil http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/#comment-356 neil Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:44:13 +0000 http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/?p=2641#comment-356 Thanks for your reply Rosemary. From his session in Birmingham in May I didn't get the impression that he was obsessed with fame. His point was that unlike earlier generations Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones, Packer, Stott, etc. there seems to be a lack of men of their calibre in the church today. I'm sure he's right. There really are no exceptionally gifted pastors & authors with an international reputation. But I'm not sure that the point - although it stands - is the best guide to the strength of the church in the UK which I believe is actually stronger than during the time of Lloyd-Jones & Stott etc. As a test of the health of the UK scene it's the wrong one to pick and a surprising one too. Thanks for your reply Rosemary. From his session in Birmingham in May I didn’t get the impression that he was obsessed with fame. His point was that unlike earlier generations Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones, Packer, Stott, etc. there seems to be a lack of men of their calibre in the church today. I’m sure he’s right. There really are no exceptionally gifted pastors & authors with an international reputation. But I’m not sure that the point – although it stands – is the best guide to the strength of the church in the UK which I believe is actually stronger than during the time of Lloyd-Jones & Stott etc. As a test of the health of the UK scene it’s the wrong one to pick and a surprising one too.

]]> By: étrangère http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/2012/01/13/why-im-still-listening-to-mark-driscoll-even-if-other-british-evangelicals-are-not/#comment-355 étrangère Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:18:46 +0000 http://www.afaithtoliveby.com/?p=2641#comment-355 Ooh, Eddie Arthur of Wycliffe just posted helpful reflections on the cross-cultural communication issue in this discussion, <a href="http://www.kouya.net/?p=4511" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Ooh, Eddie Arthur of Wycliffe just posted helpful reflections on the cross-cultural communication issue in this discussion, here.

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