The Driscoll family
by Samuel James
Christian bloggers, please don’t report on the movements of Mark Driscoll. I’ll give you four reasons:
1) It really serves no good purpose. Driscoll has been publicly rebuked and has lost his ministry. As bad as Driscoll may have been in leadership, as potentially disqualified as he was from the pastorate, and as much damage as his actions have done to Christian witness, there is no godly or compelling reason to keep tabs on where he goes. I say “no godly reason” because I suspect much of the post-Mars Hill blogging will be driven by personal animus and a desire to see Driscoll fail wherever he goes. I say “no compelling reason” because even if one objects that we must protect other people from Driscoll, writing copious amounts of innuendo on him is hardly going to prevent those who want to be near him from doing so. The right measures have been taken in response to Driscoll’s actions. Continuing to report on him isn’t a right measure.
2) It obscures Christian forgiveness. Hear me carefully: I am not saying that Christian forgiveness means Driscoll should get a shiny new pastorate any day now. Nor am I saying that opposition to continued influence and ministry is tantamount to a withholding of forgiveness from anyone. What I am saying is that fixating on Driscoll even beyond his pastoral exit stokes the flames of bitterness and resentment that many people, understandably in many cases, feel towards Driscoll and towards his ministry. What those people should be doing is praying for Driscoll’s restoration, not merely his continued exile. Again, I am not saying that Driscoll is entitled to new ministry or authority (he’s not). I am merely speaking of helping those who struggle to extend forgiveness. I doubt that the “Driscoll beat” helps them.
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SOURCE: Patheos / Samuel’s Notebook
Samuel James is a lifelong PK (pastor’s kid) who likes Jesus, books, films, sports and sports wonkery, and red Icees. On occasion he enjoys writing too. He graduated from Boyce College with a degree in theology and philosophy. He also plays guitar, hoping it lowers his nerd factor.
Currently Samuel writes for Commonwealth Policy Center. Samuel’s writing has also been featured on The Christian Post, The Gospel Coalition, Blogcritics, Jesus Freak Hideout and other spots. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.
