Earlier this week I posted the christianaudio free download of the month. It was Mark Driscoll’s Religion Saves audiobook. After the post went up on my public website and the link went out through my various social media sites, I lost a few “Friends” or “Followers” or “Fans” on these various networks. (For those of you not familiar with these terms, they are the terms the social media sites use to describe those who view the sites. They are not the terms I would use.)
One Christian, after receiving the free audiobook offer, said, “I have lost respect for you” because of my choice to help distribute this book for christianaudio. He also said he had lost respect for John Piper because of his association with Mark Driscoll.
Big, Stunning and Divine Activity on the Behalf of Another
Quite frankly, I was surprised and saddened by this kind of response. What I know about Mark Driscoll is that he is my brother. He is one of the Father’s kids. God, in eternity past, decided Mark would be his kid. The Father chose to grant Mark faith to trust him and at some point in Mark’s life, God regenerated him.
The Father executed his Son in order to save Mark. Christ chose to give his life up so Mark could be rescued. It seems to me that if the Father and Son would go to that length in order to secure Mark’s soul for eternity, that it would not be wise for me to have such an attitude toward him.
What If Someone Treated Your Boy That Way?
If someone thought similarly about my son I, as my son’s father, would be grieved. God chose to adopt Mark Driscoll. I might not approve of Mark’s style. I might not approve of some of his secondary doctrines. But I do believe he is the Father’s kid. And for that I can rejoice. I can also rejoice in that he seems to not only understand the Gospel, but presents it clearly.
Isn’t this what Paul said about his brothers whom he did not perfectly align with?
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Paul, Philippians 1:15-18
For the record
I podcasted Mark for over a year because he was a very popular Christian pastor, speaker, and author. Because of my desire to serve my friends, I wanted to know what this guy believed. Though his style is not my style. Though he has an integrated view of sanctification, as it pertains to biblical counseling. Though he is often harsh and crude regarding his presentation style. Mark Driscoll believes in and teaches a pure Gospel: I can rejoice in this.
I was podcasting him when he went through the lectures that are in the christianaudio book offer. I thought the material was good and would serve my friends and network. Needless to say, I was taken aback when I received such a response toward me because of my desire to promote the Gospel through one of the Father’s kids, who does things a bit differently than I do.
I have been encouraged over the years to see people like John Piper, John MacArthur, and C. J. Mahaney seek to serve Mark Driscoll by being his friend. It further encourages me to see a staunch cessationist like MacArthur come alongside a dedicated continuationist like Mahaney. But I reserve my greatest gratitude for my Savior, who daily exercises patience toward me as I work out my own doctrinal weaknesses and stylistic quirks.
Christ will never “Un-friend” me or disrespect me because of who I hang with. The Savior has insight, patience, and discernment for those who do not perfectly line-up with him. He also understands: In his day, the religious had big-time problems with those he hung with.
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