{"id":4289,"date":"2014-09-25T14:40:48","date_gmt":"2014-09-25T11:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/?p=4289"},"modified":"2014-09-26T00:14:56","modified_gmt":"2014-09-25T21:14:56","slug":"a-surpising-lesson-from-the-mark-driscoll-debacle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/a-surpising-lesson-from-the-mark-driscoll-debacle\/","title":{"rendered":"A Surprising Lesson From the Mark Driscoll Debacle"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve never been to a service at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. However, I do have family who attend Mars Hill and a few other friends who are involved in the church. So I\u2019ve been watching the unfolding drama of Mark Driscoll from a far with some interest.<\/p>\n

\"driscol\"<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s strange how we react when a big named preacher gets himself into trouble. It\u2019s like that fender-bender on the highway in rush hour traffic. Everyone slows down way more than they need to, just so they can catch a glimpse of the poor guy whose insurance rates are about to double! Sometimes we may even secretly think to ourselves, \u201cI bet he wasn\u2019t watching the road!\u201d as we rubber neck past the scene.<\/p>\n

Use Some Caution!<\/h4>\n

Which is why I think we need to use the uttermost caution before we jump to our keyboards and start giving our opinion of what went wrong in someone else’s church and how their leadership should respond.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s not your church, then maybe you should stay out of it. Maybe you don\u2019t know the whole story, maybe you should focus on the problems in your own church before trying to tell other churches how to fix their problems!<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m saying here is not a judgement on Mars Hill or on Mark Driscoll. Whether or not the accusations about Pastor Mark are true , I don’t know and it’s not mine to make the call!<\/p>\n

Certainly Mars Hill does have problems that they are working on and I\u2019ll let them do their thing. What I\u2019m writing about here is a lesson that we can all learn from these recent events.<\/p>\n

Quality in the Pulpit<\/h4>\n

I\u2019ve listened to Mark Driscoll’s preaching and I\u2019ve read a couple of his books like \u201cDoctrine\u201d<\/a> and \u201cReligion Saves.\u201d<\/a> While I certainly don’t agree with everything he teaches, I\u2019ve found both Pastor Mark\u2019s books and preaching helpful in the last couple of years. He’s a gifted speaker and writer and many have benefited from that.<\/p>\n

However…<\/p>\n

Character out of the Pulpit<\/h4>\n

Reading some of the letters<\/a> written with concerns about Pastor Mark, I have noticed one common theme. Those former church members and leaders who have voiced their concerns tend to point out that they believe Pastor Mark to be abusive, controlling and angry.<\/p>\n

Theses are serious character problems if they typify a persons day-to-day behavior behind the scenes. These are also issues that can be kept hidden from 99% of the people who listen to Pastor Mark\u2019s sermons and read his books. If you\u2019re like me then you don\u2019t have a personal relationship with Pastor Mark and so there is really no way to even know whether his character matches up with what he preaches.<\/p>\n

What You Don’t See Matters<\/h4>\n

It would be almost tempting to think that his character doesn\u2019t really matter that much, but it does!<\/p>\n

God\u2019s Word clearly lays out for us the requirements of elders in the church and character plays a primary role! A brief reading through 1 Timothy 3:1-7 reveals such important qualifications as:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Sober-minded<\/li>\n
  • Self-controlled<\/li>\n
  • Respectable<\/li>\n
  • Hospitable<\/li>\n
  • Not violent but gentle<\/li>\n
  • Not quarrelsome<\/li>\n
  • Not a lover of money<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Oh yes and there’s one more!<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Able to teach<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Distorted Priorities<\/h4>\n

      For too long the Western Church has elevated knowledge and the ability to teach above all other qualifications. We send guys to seminary and figure if the school spits them out on the other side and slaps a degree in their hand then they\u2019re pastoral material!<\/p>\n

      Don\u2019t get me wrong, I\u2019m not against seminaries or theological education! I\u2019ve been to seminary and I teach theology! They are vital but they can\u2019t stand alone! What I\u2019m saying is this:<\/p>\n

      The character of the pastor or preacher is the framework upon which good theology and great preaching is built!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Give me a knowledgeable pastor who studies his Bible 8 hours a day and can recite large portions of the New Testament in Greek, yet lacks moral fortitude and discretion, and I will show you a man who will eventually destroy every church that so foolishly allows him to lead it!<\/p>\n

      Give me an unlearned man with a willing heart who simply understands core Biblical values and lives by them unrelentingly, and I will show you a man who despite the lack of a seminary degree will be used of God to accomplish what others could only dream of!<\/p>\n

      Character outside of the pulpit must precede and accompany quality in the pulpit!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      It Hurts to Learn<\/h4>\n

      This is a painful lesson that churches need to learn and that pastors and preachers need to understand. If we are not carefully aware of character, we can easily fall into the temptation that as long as the sermon is great, then that’s all that matters.<\/p>\n

      I think God said it best when he told Samuel,<\/p>\n

      “For the Lord<\/span> sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord<\/span> looks on the heart.” 1 Sam 6:7<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Churches can’t look at the heart like God can but they can take careful observation of the attitudes and tendencies that typify a man’s life. Through prayer and patience these things often become clear.<\/p>\n

      On the other hand if pastors are honest, they know the problems of their own heart. As a pastor and a preacher I must daily fight with prayer and the Word to make sure that my life represents my teaching, to ensure that my character at home and in private matches my words in public!<\/p>\n

      This is constant battle for all pastors, one that we must never pull back on! Thankfully God can and does give us the strength we need.<\/p>\n

      “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” 1 Peter 1:3<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Question: What lessons have you learned from the Mark Driscoll Debacle?<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      I\u2019ve never been to a service at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. However, I do have family who attend Mars Hill and a few other friends who are involved in the church.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[344,343,228],"class_list":["post-4289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-updates","tag-character","tag-church-leadership","tag-preaching"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/driscol.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3izZc-17b","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4442,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/39-seven-ways-worry-destroys-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":4289,"position":0},"title":"#39 Seven Ways Worry Destroys You","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"September 26, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Worry isn't as harmless as we often think! It can sneak into your mind and quietly begin to destroy your life if you're not careful! In this episode of \"Now Is the Time\" I identify seven ways worry can destroy you. I also show you the one mistake we often\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Gospel Today"","block_context":{"text":"The Gospel Today","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/podcast\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/DSC09946.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/DSC09946.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/DSC09946.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4101,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/why-you-should-stop-worshiping-celebrity-christian-leaders\/","url_meta":{"origin":4289,"position":1},"title":"Why You Should Stop Worshiping Celebrity Christian Leaders!","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"July 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"What do John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll and Bill Gothard all have in common? \u00a0I know you\u2019re probably thinking nothing right? Wrong! What they have in common are followers who are dedicated to these men \u00a0and their teaching in a way that borders on idolatry! Honestly I could name many more\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/celebrity-pastor-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/celebrity-pastor-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/celebrity-pastor-001.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2594,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/why-are-our-youth-losing-the-faith\/","url_meta":{"origin":4289,"position":2},"title":"Why are Our Youth Losing the Faith?","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"May 25, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"It's no secret that the Church has a hard time holding onto her youth! David Kinnaman of the Barna Group says that of Christians in the 18-25 age\u00a0category 38% have significantly doubted their faith and 59% have dropped out! Recently I was part of a discussion where the questions was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/youthleaving.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/youthleaving.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/youthleaving.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16830,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/an-update-from-the-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":4289,"position":3},"title":"An Update from the US","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"May 17, 2023","format":"video","excerpt":"Friends, we actually are right now here in the United States. We got here last week and I know that's probably a surprise for some of you but we are in Tacoma Washington and we're going to be here for two months and visiting our supporting churches. May 14 Taylor\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Video Updates"","block_context":{"text":"Video Updates","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/video-updates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4320,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/not-even-war-will-stop-the-church-in-ukraine\/","url_meta":{"origin":4289,"position":4},"title":"Not Even War Will Stop the Church in Ukraine!","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"September 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I've never lived in a country that was at war with-in its own borders! Knowing that I could get in my car and be in a war zone in just a few hours somehow changes your perspective. Knowing that a foreign army is moving your direction causes certain priorities to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Women run from shelling in Donetsk, Ukraine. (AP Photo\/Mstislav Chernov)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/church-goes-on.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/church-goes-on.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/church-goes-on.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28605,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/discovery-baptist-church-lessons-in-faithfulness\/","url_meta":{"origin":4289,"position":5},"title":"Discovery Baptist Church -Lessons in Faithfulness","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"March 12, 2026","format":"video","excerpt":"In a world that often measures success by numbers, influence, and visibility, it\u2019s easy to assume that a thriving ministry must be large, famous, or rapidly growing. But Scripture presents a very different measure of success. According to the Bible, the true mark of a servant of God is faithfulness.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Gospel Today"","block_context":{"text":"The Gospel Today","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/podcast\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12618462064_912fdb9bf0_k.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12618462064_912fdb9bf0_k.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12618462064_912fdb9bf0_k.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12618462064_912fdb9bf0_k.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12618462064_912fdb9bf0_k.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12618462064_912fdb9bf0_k.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4289"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4441,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4289\/revisions\/4441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}