I was just reading the interesting dialogue we have going on here in Seattle between Mark Driscoll and a pastor in the area(among others), Rose Madrid-Swetman.
It was great to read her comments about what went on in the face to face meeting. What most struck me was her comment:
"Words on a blog or on a paper are one thing—people in a room who those words touch are quite another."
With so much rhetoric on both sides of this dialogue, it is good to remember how easy it is to call out the 'other' when you are not sitting face to face, looking into the eyes of another human being.
How are we living out the gospel in the midst of our passion and ensuing differences about this same gospel? It was great to see both sides here appearing to act in the same love they so passionately preach.
fin.
8 years ago
6 comments:
By all appearances, the instigator of the protest, a guy named Paul Chapman who with six others comprise the group "People Against Fundamentalism" (PAF), continues to gloat over his perception that he managed to have Pastor Driscoll censored as a Faith & Values columnist at The Seattle Times, which was one of the "goals" of his protest. So they managed to have the only writer that consistently has presented the gospel of Jesus Christ censored? Should they be lauded or rebuked?
They got Driscoll censored, but never uttered a peep about another Faith & Values columnist at the Seattle Times, a Muslim. For Chapman and PAF, they chose a target that would not bite them back, and trashed the cause of Christ, instead of speaking out against true mysoginy: Islam. Cowards.
What is the story on the theology of Driscoll? I heard that he would be on the oppostie end of some of the theology behind Mars Hill??.?..?
my first reply is to anonymous...you know a lot more about this than me, and in many ways could be right. What I would again say is to please make sure you are bringing this passion you have to a real face and that you do so in love. If you bring the tone you posted with on my blog your voice will not be heard, only your anger. You have some legitimate points, but be very careful not to speak so loud that we cannot hear what you have to say.
Col 3:14 "Beyond ALL these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." In the end, beyond all this, God, may we love one another.
nick, from what i have heard and read (which isn't a whole lot), the biggest issue (among others) has been Mark's views on women in the church, and even more than that has been his lack of tact in expressing these views. This apparent lack of discretion is made worse in the blogs or on paper, where it is then so easy to take his words and misconstrue what he was really trying to say.
Those half dozen or so individuals who complained about Pastor Driscoll's "lack of tact" apparently are not those who attend his church.
Here is a link to the KIRO News interview of the instigator of the protest against Pastor Driscoll. Judge for yourself:
http://kiro.radiotown.com/audio/dorihour1.mp3
thank you for asking the question, "How are we living out the gospel in the midst of our passion and ensuing differences about this same gospel?" it is such an important one!
and great words for the anonymous poster.
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