Being Hated For Speaking The Truth

In my small group Bible Study, we have been going through John Piper’s book, Don’t Waste Your Life. He does a great job of bringing in scripture, so you feel like you’re studying the bible, not his book. Anyway, our last study was basically on risking persecution and suffering as Christians.

Our discussion ranged from feelings of inadequacy at failing to really share Christ at all, feeling like we really don’t experience any persecution in America, and in between. My basic feeling was that I don’t ever step out and really share the gospel. Sure, people know I’m a Christian, but I leave it at that, hoping my example will have an impact on them. When conversations come up, I’m so worried about being lumped in with “crazy Christians” who’s views I don’t agree with, I tend to tone down what I’m saying to appear more normal.

By doing this, I’m showing that I value the approval of man more than the approval of God. I’m so worried people will think I’m crazy, I withhold the truth from them, and at the same time fail to be obedient to and honor my Lord.

Already having these feelings, I was very convicted by this post by Randy Alcorn, especially this part:

The danger comes when we live in such fear of being mislabeled that we don’t step forward as unapologetic and unashamed all-out followers of Jesus. They can call us Jesus freaks or ignorant or uncool or intolerant or anything they want, that’s fine. We should do what we believe pleases our Lord, regardless of how it pans out in opinion polls. That includes loving others and giving radically and ministering to the down and out and addressing addictions and saying we think it’s wrong to kill children of all ages and helping people find alternatives. We do such things not seeking the approval of our culture, but of our King.

If we seek our culture’s approval, we’ll either never get it or get it only at the expense of failing to represent Christ. We are promised, that if we “live godly lives in Christ Jesus” we “will suffer persecution.” If we’re not suffering persecution, at some level, then what does that suggest?

We should certainly be nice, and it’s sad when Christians aren’t. But it’s also sad when we imagine “niceness” has greater impact than it really does. Niceness is not the gospel. Some modern concepts of evangelism are little more than being nice to your neighbor and loaning him your hedge clipper and hoping that somehow he will come to Christ without you actually having to say the WORDS of the gospel which would run the risk of him thinking you’re weird. Our good example is important, but it’s not sufficient. There are actual truths that must be grappled with in surrendering to Jesus (1 Cor 15:1-6). And these truths are expressed in words.

I’ve been so worried about controlling people’s opinion of me (Don’t say this because they’ll think you mean this…don’t talk about hell or they’ll think you’re just like the screaming hypocrite who doesn’t really know Christ…etc), I haven’t really shared the truth often at all.

This has to change.

Also, a quick note on suffering. During our study, I felt as though we never suffer real persecution (that’s left to missionaries doing real gospel work). On that note, I found Mark Driscoll’s sermon on 1 Peter very encouraging.

Here’s a sample:

Being Hated For Speaking The Truth

In my small group Bible Study, we have been going through John Piper’s book, Don’t Waste Your Life. He does a great job of bringing in scripture, so you feel like you’re studying the bible, not his book. Anyway, our last study was basically on risking persecution and suffering as Christians.

Our discussion ranged from feelings of inadequacy at failing to really share Christ at all, feeling like we really don’t experience any persecution in America, and in between. My basic feeling was that I don’t ever step out and really share the gospel. Sure, people know I’m a Christian, but I leave it at that, hoping my example will have an impact on them. When conversations come up, I’m so worried about being lumped in with “crazy Christians” who’s views I don’t agree with, I tend to tone down what I’m saying to appear more normal.

By doing this, I’m showing that I value the approval of man more than the approval of God. I’m so worried people will think I’m crazy, I withhold the truth from them, and at the same time fail to be obedient to and honor my Lord.

Already having these feelings, I was very convicted by this post by Randy Alcorn, especially this part:

The danger comes when we live in such fear of being mislabeled that we don’t step forward as unapologetic and unashamed all-out followers of Jesus. They can call us Jesus freaks or ignorant or uncool or intolerant or anything they want, that’s fine. We should do what we believe pleases our Lord, regardless of how it pans out in opinion polls. That includes loving others and giving radically and ministering to the down and out and addressing addictions and saying we think it’s wrong to kill children of all ages and helping people find alternatives. We do such things not seeking the approval of our culture, but of our King.

If we seek our culture’s approval, we’ll either never get it or get it only at the expense of failing to represent Christ. We are promised, that if we “live godly lives in Christ Jesus” we “will suffer persecution.” If we’re not suffering persecution, at some level, then what does that suggest?

We should certainly be nice, and it’s sad when Christians aren’t. But it’s also sad when we imagine “niceness” has greater impact than it really does. Niceness is not the gospel. Some modern concepts of evangelism are little more than being nice to your neighbor and loaning him your hedge clipper and hoping that somehow he will come to Christ without you actually having to say the WORDS of the gospel which would run the risk of him thinking you’re weird. Our good example is important, but it’s not sufficient. There are actual truths that must be grappled with in surrendering to Jesus (1 Cor 15:1-6). And these truths are expressed in words.

I’ve been so worried about controlling people’s opinion of me (Don’t say this because they’ll think you mean this…don’t talk about hell or they’ll think you’re just like the screaming hypocrite who doesn’t really know Christ…etc), I haven’t really shared the truth often at all.

This has to change.

Also, a quick note on suffering. During our study, I felt as though we never suffer real persecution (that’s left to missionaries doing real gospel work). On that note, I found Mark Driscoll’s sermon on 1 Peter very encouraging.

Here’s a sample:

Mark Driscoll on Nightline

ABC’s Nightline did a feature on Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church last night. Not an entirely accurate portrayal (they make him look like all he ever preaches on is sex and hell), but not too bad. Lots of truth about Jesus managed to come through in these 7 minutes. I thank God that Driscoll is willing to stand up for Christ and take the inevitable sniper shots that are sure to come when you’re in the spotlight at all and talking about Jesus.

A sample:

“I preach for a living,” he said. “If you don’t have a critic, then you probably aren’t saying anything.”

And then there are the things he has to say about Jesus — Jesus according to Pastor Mark.

Driscoll calls the mainstream church’s portrayal of Jesus “a hippie-Christ. A neutered and limp-wristed popular sky fairy of popular culture that would never talk about sin or send anyone to hell.”

According to Driscoll, Jesus was an outcast who didn’t play by the rules.

“Jesus is typically portrayed as very effeminate guy, kind of long, flowing hair wearing a dress, always smiling, [making] pithy Zen statements that read like fortune cookies at a Chinese restaurant,” he said. “And the truth is that he was a construction worker. He was very controversial and got murdered.”

The image of Jesus as a rebel seems to strike a chord because the Mars Hill Church isn’t just growing by leaps and bounds — which it is — but it’s drawing in people who otherwise didn’t have much interest in organized religion…

…The facilities may be cutting edge and the topics might appear liberal but Driscoll points out that his beliefs are strict. He is a Calvinist, and believes that people’s fates are predetermined.

“I believe that Jesus is God, I believe the Bible is true, I believe people are really going to hell,” he said. “Those things in our culture are seen as crazy.

“If you are not a Christian then you do not have eternal life,” he implored in a sermon, although it’s not all fire and brimstone.

Read the whole article.

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UPDATE: Driscoll has posted a statement about the feature.

I wanted to personally thank the crew at Nightline for the recent feature on Mars Hill, myself, and my family. This interview was one of the first where I felt that the reporter did not write the story and simply show up to get a few photos and quotes to finish it. The crew spent an entire Sunday with me and was very respectful and observant. My wife Grace and I were concerned about giving them access to our home and allowing them to film our children, but things went well and we are thankful. I also want to thank the people of Mars Hill who they noted gave some great interviews and were very thoughtful and focused on Jesus Christ.

Mark Driscoll on Nightline

ABC’s Nightline did a feature on Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church last night. Not an entirely accurate portrayal (they make him look like all he ever preaches on is sex and hell), but not too bad. Lots of truth about Jesus managed to come through in these 7 minutes. I thank God that Driscoll is willing to stand up for Christ and take the inevitable sniper shots that are sure to come when you’re in the spotlight at all and talking about Jesus.

A sample:

“I preach for a living,” he said. “If you don’t have a critic, then you probably aren’t saying anything.”

And then there are the things he has to say about Jesus — Jesus according to Pastor Mark.

Driscoll calls the mainstream church’s portrayal of Jesus “a hippie-Christ. A neutered and limp-wristed popular sky fairy of popular culture that would never talk about sin or send anyone to hell.”

According to Driscoll, Jesus was an outcast who didn’t play by the rules.

“Jesus is typically portrayed as very effeminate guy, kind of long, flowing hair wearing a dress, always smiling, [making] pithy Zen statements that read like fortune cookies at a Chinese restaurant,” he said. “And the truth is that he was a construction worker. He was very controversial and got murdered.”

The image of Jesus as a rebel seems to strike a chord because the Mars Hill Church isn’t just growing by leaps and bounds — which it is — but it’s drawing in people who otherwise didn’t have much interest in organized religion…

…The facilities may be cutting edge and the topics might appear liberal but Driscoll points out that his beliefs are strict. He is a Calvinist, and believes that people’s fates are predetermined.

“I believe that Jesus is God, I believe the Bible is true, I believe people are really going to hell,” he said. “Those things in our culture are seen as crazy.

“If you are not a Christian then you do not have eternal life,” he implored in a sermon, although it’s not all fire and brimstone.

Read the whole article.

————————————————

UPDATE: Driscoll has posted a statement about the feature.

I wanted to personally thank the crew at Nightline for the recent feature on Mars Hill, myself, and my family. This interview was one of the first where I felt that the reporter did not write the story and simply show up to get a few photos and quotes to finish it. The crew spent an entire Sunday with me and was very respectful and observant. My wife Grace and I were concerned about giving them access to our home and allowing them to film our children, but things went well and we are thankful. I also want to thank the people of Mars Hill who they noted gave some great interviews and were very thoughtful and focused on Jesus Christ.

Driscoll in the NY Times

The NY Times had an interesting article profiling Mark Driscoll over the weekend. While it paints a slightly slanted picture of him as always cussing and always controversial (if you watch a decent sampling of his sermons, you’ll find this is not the case), it was still a fascinating read. The author connects the profile of Driscoll to the resurgence of Calvinism and Reformed Theology among younger people influenced by Driscoll. A decently balanced view of these ideas. She also focuses on his ideas on gender a lot.

I found it an interesting, albeit slightly caricaturized view of a man who’s influenced my own views quite a bit.

A sample of the article’s conclusion:

Mars Hill — with its conservative social teachings embedded in guitar solos and drum riffs, its megachurch presence in the heart of bohemian skepticism — thrives on paradox. Critics on the left and right alike predict that this delicate balance of opposites cannot last. Some are skeptical of a church so bent on staying perpetually “hip”: members have only recently begun to marry and have children, but surely those children will grow up, grow too cool for their cool church and rebel. Others say that Driscoll’s ego and taste for controversy will be Mars Hill’s Achilles’ heel.

Lately he has made a concerted effort to tone down his language, and he insists that he has delegated much authority, but the heart of his message has not changed. Driscoll is still the one who gazes down upon Mars Hill’s seven congregations most Sundays, his sermons broadcast from the main campus to jumbo-size projection screens around the city. At one suburban campus that I visited, a huge yellow cross dominated center stage — until the projection screen unfurled and Driscoll’s face blocked the cross from view. Driscoll’s New Calvinism underscores a curious fact: the doctrine of total human depravity has always had a funny way of emboldening, rather than humbling, its adherents.

Read the whole article.

Driscoll in the NY Times

The NY Times had an interesting article profiling Mark Driscoll over the weekend. While it paints a slightly slanted picture of him as always cussing and always controversial (if you watch a decent sampling of his sermons, you’ll find this is not the case), it was still a fascinating read. The author connects the profile of Driscoll to the resurgence of Calvinism and Reformed Theology among younger people influenced by Driscoll. A decently balanced view of these ideas. She also focuses on his ideas on gender a lot.

I found it an interesting, albeit slightly caricaturized view of a man who’s influenced my own views quite a bit.

A sample of the article’s conclusion:

Mars Hill — with its conservative social teachings embedded in guitar solos and drum riffs, its megachurch presence in the heart of bohemian skepticism — thrives on paradox. Critics on the left and right alike predict that this delicate balance of opposites cannot last. Some are skeptical of a church so bent on staying perpetually “hip”: members have only recently begun to marry and have children, but surely those children will grow up, grow too cool for their cool church and rebel. Others say that Driscoll’s ego and taste for controversy will be Mars Hill’s Achilles’ heel.

Lately he has made a concerted effort to tone down his language, and he insists that he has delegated much authority, but the heart of his message has not changed. Driscoll is still the one who gazes down upon Mars Hill’s seven congregations most Sundays, his sermons broadcast from the main campus to jumbo-size projection screens around the city. At one suburban campus that I visited, a huge yellow cross dominated center stage — until the projection screen unfurled and Driscoll’s face blocked the cross from view. Driscoll’s New Calvinism underscores a curious fact: the doctrine of total human depravity has always had a funny way of emboldening, rather than humbling, its adherents.

Read the whole article.

GO VOTE!

…and while you’re at it, go to Abraham Piper’s blog and cast your vote for who you want to lose the election. And then ponder your choice…

Also, Al Mohler shares his prayer for this election.

Finally, Mark Driscoll shares a great perspective on what this whole election process says about people and their need for a savior.

GO VOTE!

…and while you’re at it, go to Abraham Piper’s blog and cast your vote for who you want to lose the election. And then ponder your choice…

Also, Al Mohler shares his prayer for this election.

Finally, Mark Driscoll shares a great perspective on what this whole election process says about people and their need for a savior.

Lecrae – Rebel

Lecrae’s latest album, Rebel, dropped yesterday. Here’s part of an interview with the Resurgence (the whole interview is worth the listen):

The inspiration for the album was largely realizing my own need for a biblical worldview. As I would navigate through arts, economics, politics, media, and culture as a whole I’d wrestle with a dichotomy between sacred and secular all the time. I’d either embrace aspects of secularism or the other extreme be very separatist in my views. I began read and listen to stuff by D.A. Carson, Mark Driscoll, Tim Keller, and Francis Schaeffer, and taking another look at Genesis, Daniel, and Romans and I found a better grid to see the world through.

Over time I’ve worked to see Urban culture through a biblical lens and it’s really helped. So I wanted to share with the listener the need to take a stand for Christ in culture yet still be a blessing and cultivator for the culture.

This is one of the better albums I’ve heard in a long time (and probably the best hip-hop album I’ve ever heard). It is truly amazing how Lecrae can take deep, biblical truths and not only put them into rhyme form with amazing beats, but make that theology real (like when he tackles “Indwelling Sin” or dealing with the guilt and shame of sin on “Desperate”). Seriously, if you at all enjoy the genre of hip-hop (the sound, not what’s talked about in secular hip-hop), get this album.

Here’s the first track of the album, “Rebel Intro,” which has a clip from a Mark Driscoll sermon about how Jesus was a rebel and how we need to rebel against the norms in the culture today.

Lecrae – Rebel

Lecrae’s latest album, Rebel, dropped yesterday. Here’s part of an interview with the Resurgence (the whole interview is worth the listen):

The inspiration for the album was largely realizing my own need for a biblical worldview. As I would navigate through arts, economics, politics, media, and culture as a whole I’d wrestle with a dichotomy between sacred and secular all the time. I’d either embrace aspects of secularism or the other extreme be very separatist in my views. I began read and listen to stuff by D.A. Carson, Mark Driscoll, Tim Keller, and Francis Schaeffer, and taking another look at Genesis, Daniel, and Romans and I found a better grid to see the world through.

Over time I’ve worked to see Urban culture through a biblical lens and it’s really helped. So I wanted to share with the listener the need to take a stand for Christ in culture yet still be a blessing and cultivator for the culture.

This is one of the better albums I’ve heard in a long time (and probably the best hip-hop album I’ve ever heard). It is truly amazing how Lecrae can take deep, biblical truths and not only put them into rhyme form with amazing beats, but make that theology real (like when he tackles “Indwelling Sin” or dealing with the guilt and shame of sin on “Desperate”). Seriously, if you at all enjoy the genre of hip-hop (the sound, not what’s talked about in secular hip-hop), get this album.

Here’s the first track of the album, “Rebel Intro,” which has a clip from a Mark Driscoll sermon about how Jesus was a rebel and how we need to rebel against the norms in the culture today.

Driscoll and Piper at the DG Conference

Mark Driscoll posted on his blog last week why he loved John Piper. Here was reason number 4:

4. By not trying to be cool . . . he’s cool.

I cannot confirm it, but I think Dr. Piper may only have one jacket. I see him preach in it all the time and it’s a tweed coat with more than a few years of faithful service. I also think he may own one belt because I’ve only ever seen one. He drives a simple car, lives a simple life, does not have a tattoo (at least that I’ve seen), does not skateboard, and likes to read stuff by dead guys a lot. But by trying to just be himself rather than being cool, he has curiously become cool because he’s about Christ and that’s always cool.

I thought the part about the jacket was pretty funny, because I would believe it about Piper. Then, from the Desiring God Conference this past weekend during a Q&A (Driscoll spoke at the conference):

Driscoll and Piper at the DG Conference

Mark Driscoll posted on his blog last week why he loved John Piper. Here was reason number 4:

4. By not trying to be cool . . . he’s cool.

I cannot confirm it, but I think Dr. Piper may only have one jacket. I see him preach in it all the time and it’s a tweed coat with more than a few years of faithful service. I also think he may own one belt because I’ve only ever seen one. He drives a simple car, lives a simple life, does not have a tattoo (at least that I’ve seen), does not skateboard, and likes to read stuff by dead guys a lot. But by trying to just be himself rather than being cool, he has curiously become cool because he’s about Christ and that’s always cool.

I thought the part about the jacket was pretty funny, because I would believe it about Piper. Then, from the Desiring God Conference this past weekend during a Q&A (Driscoll spoke at the conference):

Mark Driscoll – Death By Love

Mark Driscoll – Death By Love

Pulpit Magazine on Piper, Driscoll, and Language

(No, Driscoll isn’t punching Piper. He’s giving Matt Chandler –not pictured — a fist-pound because of something awesome Piper said.)

It’s really no secret that I am a fan of Mark Driscoll’s ministry. I watch most of his sermons on his vodcast, and I’ve read all of his books and am really looking forward to his new one, Death by Love. Even more than Driscoll, I would say John Piper is the author/pastor who has had the most impact on my life. I’ve read many of his books and his passion for the Lord and his articulation of the gospel is a main reason why I’m a christian today.

At Piper’s upcoming Desiring God Conference, “The Power of Words and the Wonder of God,” Mark Driscoll will be speaking on the topic, “How Sharp the Edge? Christ, Controversy, and Cutting Words.”

Nathan Busenitz over at Pulpit Magazine has written a thoughtful piece on the interesting choice of Piper to have Driscoll speak on this topic. Driscoll is known for his edgy, sometimes offensive humor to make his points, and Piper has given him the task of defending this. Busenitz points out some comments Piper made to Doug Wilson back in 2000 about cutting, sarcastic humor and notes that it’s interesting that Piper would invite Driscoll to speak on this topic. Busenitz of course points out Ephesians 4:29, Ephesians 5:4, and Titus 2:6-8.

While I love Driscoll and think he is doing a lot of great work, I tend to agree with Busenitz’s article that Mark goes too far with some of his comments. Some seem to be simply for effect, and while they are funny and get the point across, the sentiment could be expressed with a much gentler and more compassionate spirit. Sometimes, they are just downright vulgar.

It is noted, however, that their appears to be a Paul/Timothy type of relationship formed between Piper and Driscoll (it seems to be the same with Driscoll and C.J. Mahaney). I’ve noticed that over the past 6 months or so, Driscoll has toned down some of his comments and seems more gracious when pointing out flaws in others. His Q&A session at his conference was very telling. He admitted that he needed to work on his pride and noted that he has been convicted of some of his uses of humor and shock-jock comments in the past. I think Piper and Mahaney have influenced him greatly here, and I think this is a main reason why Piper asked him to speak at the conference. Is there a place for this type of language? Piper is forcing Driscoll to think through this again, and with the growth that appears to be happening with Mark, I think it will be a great message.

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Here is the video from Desiring God’s website with Piper explaining why he asked Driscoll to speak.

And here’s Driscoll on the Truth/Love balance in a teaser video for the conference: