Well that's sweet and all but since they do not share the financial details, no one actually knows the truth. I am not even sure how they know his books have generated more than $200,000 for the church but that misses the point. Even if his "writing ministry" did somehow generate 200K in revenue for Mars Hill that does not give Driscoll the right to then pilfer that 200K back and give it to a secular company to make sure he became a best selling author. This is not about the generosity of Mark Driscoll. That is a smokescreen. I am sure he is generous with the money he makes from being their pastor. It is about his integrity. It is about his honesty. It is about how he represents Jesus Christ.
What saddens me is that this is a point that actually has to be made. That a pastor would think nothing of cheating and lying to further himself and then defend it when caught. Does the world behave like this? Sure but have we set the bar that low? Not to mention there are plenty of secular authors who would never compromise their own integrity while a man professing to be a man of God thinks nothing of doing so while compromising the integrity of Christ. What is worse however is the sycophants rushing to defend Driscoll. The comments following the article were more interested in attacking the author of the article than being properly dismayed at the revelations of Driscoll's dishonesty. Acting as if because something is legal according to this fallen world that it must be OK for a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A man who claims to be a representative of God essentially steals over $200,000 from his own church to cheat the system so he can falsely claim to be a NY Times bestselling author? Are you serious? Which part of this story would Jesus approve of exactly?
Which brings us to the key verses for today, outlining the code of conduct for people overseeing a church, which includes pastors. Here are the essentials:
* Care for the flock entrusted to you
* Do not do it for personal gain
* Do not abuse your position
* Lead people by your good example
That's it. Mark Driscoll would be wise to review these Scriptures. By his own words about leaving a trail of bodies behind him he brags audaciously about not caring for the flock that has been entrusted to him but only those that would agree with him. This is part of his Warren training as the Purpose Driven Church teaches young pastors how to get rid of people who do not agree. Not with the Gospel mind you - with the purpose driven church model. Driscoll obviously engaged in this entire scheme for the sole purpose of personal gain. Remember the purpose of the contract was to land him on the bestseller list - not to spread the book as far as possible. The gain, which is clearly illicit, is entirely personal. Driscoll now uses this notoriety in his biograph.
As for abusing his position, the tales of Driscoll's heavy handed tactics are legendary. One member who was removed from the church discovered that Driscoll had sent a letter out to the church members instructing them on how to now shun the removed member and no longer associate with him. There's the real Christian spirit in action. Lastly from this list we come to the crux of the argument. Exactly what example is being set here by the man of God? What are we to learn from him? That cheating the system is OK? That the bar on Christian conduct is set so low as to only be problematic if it is prosecutable? That the ends justify the means?
What example is this showing the world? What do the unsaved see now when they see Mars Hill Church? I am sure they see that there are actual online communities of exiles from Mars Hill Church. Support groups to deal with the abuses at the hands of Mark Driscoll. You know, those "bodies" that wouldn't get out of the way of the bus. Then the plagiarism and now this. Do not let them blow this one off as being no big deal. When Jesus came to minister on earth He raised the bar on everything. Hating someone became murder. Lust became adultery. We must collectively as the body of Christ stop accepting leaders who routinely lower the bar for acceptable Christian behavior. I am not suggesting perfection but dear Lord, shouldn't we at least be trying? If Driscoll had responded that he now sees how this could look bad and asked for forgiveness, I would have done a devotional on teachable moments and the forgiveness we need to extend to each other. But he didn't. He doubled down on the notion that taking church funds to lie and cheat your way onto a list you don't belong on, so you can then brag about being on the list is all just a means to "reach as many for Jesus as possible!" I can tell you as a writer I am offended. As a Christian, I am disgusted. As a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I am saddened beyond belief.
