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~Putting Preachers In Their Place by Mark Driscoll
Another beautiful message done by Mark Driscoll on the definition and function of the Church. This is a must see for Pastors, that they may know how to lead their flock and for the layman, that he or she may know what to look for when looking for a congregation to join.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
~How Sharp the Edge? - Christ, Controversy, and Cutting Words by Mark Driscoll
A message by Mark Driscoll at the 2008 National Conference from Desiring God. To download the rest of the Conference click here.
Additional commentary:
I do affirm GREATLY what Driscoll presented in his message, but I do believe that a distinction or maybe a clarification needs to be presented, that is, on the topic of the evangelization of the lost. The following is merely my opinion that I think should be noted in reference to his message. *side note, this commentary is not meant to diminish or lessen Driscoll's message in any way, it is time for Christians and Pastors to grow up.
My emphasis here is merely to maintain a balance in witnessing lest someone where to walk away from watching this message and become overly contentious with just anyone he or she were to encounter who does not believe. However, one may also go away and think that Driscoll already made what I'm about to say clear. Whether that be so or not, I am going to reiterate and try to expound upon what I think needs to clarified. I believe that Driscoll's message applies to the church corporately and not necessarily and/or always to the believer individually. In my mind there is a difference between a denunciation of an error publicly, as for the preservation and love of the body of Christ, and the Christian privately in his daily Christian witness. Even Jesus and his disciples sat, ate, and drank with the unregenerate gentiles. So I think the distinction is clear Biblically that not all lost should be dealt with crassly at all times. There are several thoughts that I have concerning this possible distinction:
1. Driscoll mentioned the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses, which spiritually speaking, are ravenous wolves. But to say that they are all knowingly out to destroy Christians, no way! The average cultist firmly believe that they have the truth and they are out to tell you about it. So in this sense I would agree with James Spencer when he said, "Well-meaning evangelists charge into the battle, indiscriminately lopping off heads, forgetting that the cultist is to be won, not killed." (emphasis mine)
2. This is where, I would say, discernment plays a large role in our evangelization of the lost... discerning when the heart of the individual is/grows cold and when/if the Holy Spirit is convicting him or her of sin, salvation, and righteousness. Maybe a slight distinction, amongst the lost, could be argued between the deceived and the deceiver, in the sense of the absolute belligerent and the person who is willing to engage in an honest discussion.
3. I have heard from many in the cults ministry a good basic rule for the prepared Christian is: if the individual stops coming back, let it be. If they do come back keep pressing the gospel and answering their honest questions.
4. I would say there is (normatively) a difference between the heretic that disseminates his garbage, who is creating division in the church and the average Jehovah's Witness that knocks on your door. The first needs to be dealt with harshly and the second needs to be dealt with lovingly (this doesn not mean pandering) but firmly, that God may grant him/her repentance. Here's another situation where I would see a distinction in interaction. Awhile back my Jehovah's Witness friend brought his dad, who is a JW elder. When a Jehovah's Witness is either, struggling in their faith or they can't answer your questions, they'll bring a 'higher up'. This elder comes with an agenda, not for truthful dialogue, but to make you look like a fool and "prove" to the unwitting Witness that you don't have the true faith and are nothing but an Opposer (a JW term for someone who is "against" their faith)... this is when things change, and is another area where Driscoll's message applies in "shooting the wolves".
Simply put, I would apply Driscoll's message this way, in reference to the evangelization of the lost, and I think this is another way in which as Way of the Master put it: grace to the humble and the law to the proud.
A message by Mark Driscoll at the 2008 National Conference from Desiring God. To download the rest of the Conference click here.
Additional commentary:
I do affirm GREATLY what Driscoll presented in his message, but I do believe that a distinction or maybe a clarification needs to be presented, that is, on the topic of the evangelization of the lost. The following is merely my opinion that I think should be noted in reference to his message. *side note, this commentary is not meant to diminish or lessen Driscoll's message in any way, it is time for Christians and Pastors to grow up.
My emphasis here is merely to maintain a balance in witnessing lest someone where to walk away from watching this message and become overly contentious with just anyone he or she were to encounter who does not believe. However, one may also go away and think that Driscoll already made what I'm about to say clear. Whether that be so or not, I am going to reiterate and try to expound upon what I think needs to clarified. I believe that Driscoll's message applies to the church corporately and not necessarily and/or always to the believer individually. In my mind there is a difference between a denunciation of an error publicly, as for the preservation and love of the body of Christ, and the Christian privately in his daily Christian witness. Even Jesus and his disciples sat, ate, and drank with the unregenerate gentiles. So I think the distinction is clear Biblically that not all lost should be dealt with crassly at all times. There are several thoughts that I have concerning this possible distinction:
1. Driscoll mentioned the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses, which spiritually speaking, are ravenous wolves. But to say that they are all knowingly out to destroy Christians, no way! The average cultist firmly believe that they have the truth and they are out to tell you about it. So in this sense I would agree with James Spencer when he said, "Well-meaning evangelists charge into the battle, indiscriminately lopping off heads, forgetting that the cultist is to be won, not killed." (emphasis mine)
2. This is where, I would say, discernment plays a large role in our evangelization of the lost... discerning when the heart of the individual is/grows cold and when/if the Holy Spirit is convicting him or her of sin, salvation, and righteousness. Maybe a slight distinction, amongst the lost, could be argued between the deceived and the deceiver, in the sense of the absolute belligerent and the person who is willing to engage in an honest discussion.
3. I have heard from many in the cults ministry a good basic rule for the prepared Christian is: if the individual stops coming back, let it be. If they do come back keep pressing the gospel and answering their honest questions.
4. I would say there is (normatively) a difference between the heretic that disseminates his garbage, who is creating division in the church and the average Jehovah's Witness that knocks on your door. The first needs to be dealt with harshly and the second needs to be dealt with lovingly (this doesn not mean pandering) but firmly, that God may grant him/her repentance. Here's another situation where I would see a distinction in interaction. Awhile back my Jehovah's Witness friend brought his dad, who is a JW elder. When a Jehovah's Witness is either, struggling in their faith or they can't answer your questions, they'll bring a 'higher up'. This elder comes with an agenda, not for truthful dialogue, but to make you look like a fool and "prove" to the unwitting Witness that you don't have the true faith and are nothing but an Opposer (a JW term for someone who is "against" their faith)... this is when things change, and is another area where Driscoll's message applies in "shooting the wolves".
Simply put, I would apply Driscoll's message this way, in reference to the evangelization of the lost, and I think this is another way in which as Way of the Master put it: grace to the humble and the law to the proud.
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