Mark Driscoll, the controversial author and longtime senior pastor of the Mars Hill Church in Seattle, resigned yesterday in response to significant allegations of bullying, plagiarism, and financial mismanagement. This post is not about Driscoll per se; its about qualifications for leadership, as he has described them in his resignation letter. Driscoll claims that, of the charges raised against him, there have been no charges of criminal activity, immorality or heresy, any of which could clearly be grounds for disqualification from pastoral ministry. He then argues that it is his personality and leadership style that people object to, which is a reference to repeated charges of bullying and demeaning behavior, crude or condescending language, dismissal of the contributions of others, and abuse of power. I do not know if he is guilty of all these things; many who worked closely with him say he is, and their words have obviously carried weight. What I am concerned about is that he does not think that those things matter in terms of ones fitness for leadership. As I read Jesus, he would disagree rather vociferously. In fact, he seems to place a higher priority on ones personality and leadership style than on those other factors Driscoll cites. Jesus admonishes us to follow his example...to wash each others feet as servants. He contrasts the behavior of the Gentiles, who lord it over you with that of his followers, who are not to be that way. He said very clearly that his disciples will be known by how they love one another. The description of those who are blessed (in the beatitudes) and those who show the fruit of the Spirit (in Pauls epistle to the Galatians) leave no room for bullying, domineering, degrading, or demeaning behavior. None of us do this perfectly, of course. But I would argue, rather passionately, that those who consistently display behavior and character opposite of what Jesus values are neither qualified nor safe for leadership of His people. And I would encourage Mark Driscoll...and anyone else known more for their abuse of power than for their love for the saints...to seek therapy to discover and heal the pain that generates such ungodly behavior. This matters. Very much.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 01:02:27 +0000