Mark Driscoll Madness

Phil Johnson, the Executive Director of Grace To You posted an article on his blog, Pyromaniacs, related to an earlier post he wrote warning of the some of the dangers associated with the charismatic movement. His current post includes a video by Seattle, WA Pastor Mark Driscoll who also happens to be the poster boy for the Young, Restless, Reformed movement that has been the subject of a series of articles by Dr. John MacArthur on the Grace To You site. Phil Johnson uses Driscoll as an example of where charismatic tendencies inevitably lead a person who buys into that aberrant and unbiblical theological system. In the video, Driscoll is claiming to have the ability to see visions of a very graphic nature. He claims that the Holy Spirit gives him these visions that are obscene and outright pornographic.

I must confess that I find all of this to be quite disturbing. From the first moment I heard of Mark Driscoll about six years ago I have had a number of questions and concerns. The video that Phil posted on Pyromaniacs which is a video of Driscoll himself making these outrageous claims of being able to see these horrible visions, raises my concerns about Driscoll and those who embrace and support him to a whole new level. In all honesty, I now wonder if the man is a genuine believer. What he says on the video is not only bizarre, it sounds downright demonic. Are these the words of someone who has truly been converted by the Holy Spirit and who really belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ? I have a great deal of difficulty aligning all that I have ever heard of and from Driscoll with what I read in the Word of God about a genuine believer.

The pornographic nature of his supposed visions is quite alarming. I refuse to believe that such is of the Lord. God does not tell us to flee from all forms of immorality, whether in thought, sight, speech, or practice, and then fill our minds with the very filth He says we are to avoid. Driscoll clearly has an obsession or perverted fascination with lewdness and this video and his notorious series on the Song of Solomon shows. I fear that such behavior is much more than juvenile immaturity. I fear it reveals the state of a wicked heart.

Jesus said that the fruit of a person’s life reveal the root of their life. In other words, the fruit that is produced in the life of any person is going to reveal the true condition of the heart of that person.

[Matthew 7.15-20] “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16  “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17  “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18  “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19  “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20  “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Paul makes it very clear that the fruit that is produced in the life of the one who belongs to Christ is far different from what is produced in the life of the unbeliever.

[Galatians 5.16-24] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21  envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If Mark Driscoll is still dead in his trespasses and sins, I pray that he will turn from his sin and cry out to Christ to save his soul. If he saved, I pray the Lord will bring him to the place of real and lasting repentance.

Because of Driscoll’s place at the head of the table of the YRR movement, I also have great questions and concerns for those young men and women who look to him for leadership and inspiration and who blindly support all that he says and does. I fear that the YRR itself may be filled with many who have been converted to Calvinism, but not to Christ.

I encourage you to read Phil’s post at the Pyromaniac site.