But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. - Luke 22: 26-27 (ESV)
Mars Hill Church is in real trouble. It is widely reported now that there may be as many as 7,000 people who have left already. They have announced this week the closing of multiple sites and the lays offs of multiple staff. Of the nine elders who wrote a letter recently asking Pastor Mark Driscoll to step down, only one remains. The rest were either terminated or have resigned. The press coverage has intensified as a reporter who went to the home of Driscoll was lied to through the intercom by Pastor Mark himself.
Make no mistake about it. We are at this point because of Mark Driscoll. It is being reported that the collapse of Mars Hill is due to the media exposure but that is like saying Watergate was all the fault of Woodward and Bernstein. No beloved we are seeing this gaping wound in the body of Christ because one man has put his own interest ahead of the Church. He created a system of zero accountability and harassment that has been verified over and over again. He has made himself clearly out to be unfit for the pastoral office. The charges against him are many, despicable, and virtually unchallenged. There is no question that he bragged about the people he had hurt and destroyed in ministry and his congregation; gleefully referring to them as the "pile of dead bodies behind the Mars Hill bus." There is no question that he plagiarized throughout his many published books. There is no question that he stole $200,000 in tithes monies to cheat the NY Time Bestseller list. How much money he made from this strategy is still unknown but it very well could exceed one million dollars in personal profit.
For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. - Titus 1: 7-8 (ESV)
Whether it was for greedy gain or desirous fame, Mark Driscoll has made this story about him instead of Jesus. He has raised up a virtually impotent leadership core that still does not seem to "get it." This morning they put out a statement regarding the financial problems and immediately received so much criticism for it that they tried to "clarify" and take more responsibility. Here however was the initial statement:
"Two weeks ago we shared in The Weekly some of the financial challenges we are facing at Mars Hill Church. While our church has been financially healthy for many years, we are now facing the most serious budget challenge in our history. Church budgeting is really a simple process in one respect: we are able to provide the level of staff and ministry programs that those who attend our church provide the resources for. In other words, it is ultimately our people, not our leaders, who determine how much "church" we are able to provide."
There is so much wrong with this statement and so much revealing. What is wrong is the clear insinuation that the layoffs and church closings are the fault of those who still attend Mars Hill. Yet it is quite revealing to see the attitude of the Mega-Church on display. That there is such a clear distinction made between those who attend the church and those who lead it. This is a facet of the Purpose Driven Church model, which Mars Hill was created using. It is one of the primary things wrong with the mega church, seeker friendly mentality. That somehow those that would lead people consider themselves above them. In a church that is so wickedly enamored with chasing secular leadership principles, let us instead see what Jesus said in our key verses today.
But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. - Luke 22: 26-27 (ESV)
The leader must become the one that serves. The cold harsh reality today is it is quite clear that Mark Driscoll serves only himself. He continues to recline at the table despite the walls crumbling around him. He needs to realize what is best for the body of Christ and the church he claims to love and step down immediately. Seek out the help he needs. Seek out Matt Chandler and the Acts 29 Network for guidance and help. We should not be in the business of burying our wounded but we cannot support this. We simply cannot.
Before the Driscoll sycophants get in an uproar remember that your arguments are all carnal. There is no scriptural basis for supporting someone staying in ministry with this list of errors. Before you get twisted into a tizzy try and think for a moment about the sheep. Think about the 7,000 sheep that have left Mars Hill. Think about those that just lost their jobs because of this. Some will find good homes again but many will not. Disillusioned and injured sheep wandering the landscape of Christianity - all of which Pastor Mark will answer for. Read the accounts of abuse on welovemarshill.com. Think about the 8,000 or so sheep who still remain at Mars Hill. There is no joy in this story. There is no winner except the enemy. Realize however that this story should have ended a long time ago and the only reason it still goes on, is Mark Driscoll.
Rev. Anthony.
