Im not sure how long this post will stay up, given my public statements calling for Mark to repent, but I will do my best to stick with the spirit of this group. First, an encouragement to Mars Hill. I believe that God is the source of all grace in our lives. And I believe that those of us that spent time at Mars Hill experienced 3 kinds of grace. Grace because of Mars Hill, grace aside from Mars Hill and grace in spite of Mars Hill. Please do not take this as a criticism of Mars Hill - the same is true in every church in every time! Instead I hope that it is a reminder that God is always at work and has perfect alignment with His own will, even when Hes at work with any church, which by definition will always be partially misaligned with Gods perfect will. I experienced all three forms of grace in my 16 years at Mars Hill (1997-2013). God has loved me from the womb, and some of that love came from the time I was at Mars Hill, where I did receive a lot of solid teaching and was loved well on many occasions by the community I was a part of. Some of the love I received from God came completely aside from Mars Hill, often in friendships with others that werent a part of the church but were still used by God to speak love and truth to me. Some of the love I received from God came in the midst of some challenging circumstances where I now would say that Mark and Mars Hill were pushing in very different directions from how the Holy Spirit was ministering to me, and what I think was right and good. Ill not go into detail since thats not the point of this group, but I hope that its encouraging that God is always at work, even when Hes using imperfect leaders. My second encouragement is to Mark Driscoll. Mark, you and I first met in 1997 when I first moved to Seattle. Mars Hill pulled maybe 50 folks a week at the time, and you were just getting started in ministry. You were incredibly gracious to me, taking me out for meals, buying me books, and encouraging me to use my talents in the church. You met with me regularly to pray for me, coach me, and encourage me. You performed our wedding! Ive had the privilege and the honor of watching you go from ambitious young guy with talent and small flock of 50 to an internationally renowned preacher, evangelist, author and pastor. Back in the 90s when you talked about your big visions many of us were excited but skeptical. Mark, you did it! Beyond even your wildest dreams, you have accomplished incredibly impressive things. Thats all backstory, though. Heres my encouragement. You have dignity. No one can take that from you. No matter what happens to Mars Hill, to your office as pastor, to your influence, to your legacy - you have dignity. You are made in the image of God, and theres nothing that youve done that is beyond forgiveness. And though my own life has taken a less glamorous path by far, I too have faced what seemed like the loss of everything I held dear. And in the face of that loss I had some friends that stood with me and upheld my dignity. Not the dignity we drape on ourselves of our offices, our accomplishments, our special talents, but the dignity that is always there and cant be battered. The dignity that says that you and I are image bearers and that moreso we are Christians, which means our salvation is secure and that our sanctification is being worked out by someone that has a plan and is capable of carrying it through. And that its promised. Mark, you are loved and have value. Whether you are the primary pastor, or a pastor at all at Mars Hill in a year, or 5 or 10 has zero bearing on your worth and status with God. I hope that is encouraging to you. Once I needed to hear this.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 06:29:24 +0000
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