By sifilings on
Fundamentalism & Evangelicalism
Mark Driscoll
Strange Fire Conference

See you in Seattle, Pastor John Macarthur?

As Bible teachers, we both know that people often arrive at the wrong conclusion when they extract a line out of an ongoing discussion, ignoring the context, and then wrongly impugn someone’s character. I am guessing the security team and pastoral team were not entirely rowing in the same direction, and that security thought they were just doing their job.

Discussion

Fri, 10/25/13

Was this attempt to spin the truth more lame than his original lie? I can’t decide. This guy is bad comedy. He even blames God for his book that he is trying to push. He was at the conference for the purpose of increasing his profile. It worked. He caused a problem and can use it to now promote himself further. Clowns are scary, and this guy is a nightmare.

1 Kings 8:60 - so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.

Fri, 10/25/13

If he genuinely wanted to talk with John MacArthur and genuinely wanted to invite him to Seattle, then I am sure he could pick up his phone and get in touch with him privately. But a sarcastic letter posted online?

Fri, 10/25/13

Johnny Mac, sitting and discussing with Mark and Wayne.

Ain’t gonna happen.

But if they gave John the pulpit to preach. Now that’s a different story, for that is what God has called him to do.

Fri, 10/25/13

Do I even want to dignify Driscoll’s lies and PR stunt by clicking on this article?

No, I don’t. Grow up, “Pastor” Driscoll.

"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells

Fri, 10/25/13

Driscoll has so many problems that it would be demeaning for JM to take him up on this offer. Driscoll should have known better than to show up at JM’s conference unannounced and start handing out his book. He is unethical in doing so. If JM and Grudem ever wanted to discuss the issue in a neutral setting, that could be helpful, clarifying, and informative. I am no fan of Gudem’s pneumatology; nevertheless, he is a recognized theologian. Driscoll is not.

Pastor Mike Harding

Fri, 10/25/13

Maybe something will yet happen out of this. The GCC folks have demonstrated a willingness to engage those with whom they disagree with on the issues at hand (like Phil Johnson’s appearance on Michael Brown’s show). At the same time, I am skeptical- if only because it seems to me that Driscoll would like very much to make this about him and his new book, and not as much about settling the underlying issues. I don’t see GCC backing down on things that were said at Strange Fire- nor indeed should they, because they were right to say them. But whether or not you agree, confronting opponents is not accomplished by throwing around one’s star power in a venue where one wasn’t invited, and then portraying a forgiving attitude when the host called out the rude behavior, as should have been done.

Greg Linscott
Marshall, MN