This weekend, men at the Stronger Men’s Conference, hosted by Pastor John Lindell and James River Church in Springfield, Missouri, witnessed quite the spectacle of what evangelicalism has become.
The conference opened with an act by “bad boy” Alex Magala, a daredevil sword-swallower who moonlights as a pole-dancing striptease artist at gay nightclubs. The next day, disgraced, bully pastor Mark Driscoll slammed the “strip” act as exhibiting the “Jezebel spirit”—and then got “Matthew 18ed” and booted off the stage by Pastor Lindell.
The annual Stronger Men’s Conferences have always bordered on the ridiculous, mixing Christianity with professional bull riding, monster trucks, boxing, and other shows of masculinity. But Magala’s performance was the worst act yet, revealing Lindell’s inexcusable lack of discernment and the depths to which he’ll stoop to attract a crowd.
It was so bad, Driscoll unloaded when he took the stage.
“The Jezebel spirit opened our event,” Driscoll said, after explaining he was hoarse because he had been up since 1 a.m. praying. “. . . Before the word of God was opened, there was a platform. It was a high place. On it was a pole, an Asherah. The same thing that’s used in a strip club for women, who have the Jezebel spirit to seduce men.
Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of “Baptistland: A Memoir of Abuse, Betrayal, and Transformation” by Christa Brown. To donate, haga clic aquí.
“In front of that was a man, who ripped his shirt off like a woman does in front of a pole at a strip club. That man then ascended. See, our God is not arrogant. He doesn’t ascend. Our God is humble. He descends.”
Lindell then shouted, “You’re out of line, Mark!”
Driscoll continued for about a half-sentence. But when Lindell shouted, “Mark!” Driscoll responded, “Okay, Pastor John, I’ll receive that.”
“You’re done!” Lindell shouted, and Mark walked off stage.
Lindell then took the stage as the crowd loudly objected and even began chanting, “Bring him back! Bring him back!”
But Lindell cleverly brought the crowd under control.
“Mark is out of line,” Lindell said. “If Mark wanted to say that, he should have said it to me first. Matthew 18! Matthew 18! If your brother offends you, go to him privately.”
Lindell then said he had talked to Driscoll for a half-hour, but Driscoll hadn’t said a thing about his offense.
“You may not agree with me. You may not agree with him. But we are brothers in Christ. And there’s a right way to handle disagreement. And I’m just telling you, I’m not going to sit back and watch somebody do publicly what they should have done privately. And as a pastor and a man of God, I’ll call another man of God out.”
See video of the interaction below:
The irony
Public confrontation between two megachurch pastors is pretty uncommon. This is especially the case when one of the pastors, Driscoll, is largely discredited within evangelicalism for his bullying and deceit—and the other, Lindell, is one of the few megas still willing to associate with him.
But what happened at the conference is also unprecedented. As one person commented on social media, “If disqualified @PastorMark has to rebuke your church, it’s time to close the doors immediately. This is ‘church’ now, rock concerts and strip shows.”
If disqualified @PastorMark has to rebuke your church, it’s time to close the doors immediately. This is “church” now, rock concerts and strip shows. https://t.co/31eVN64Ihe
— GotKidsNoPeace (@peace_got) April 15, 2024
As someone who’s reported extensively on Driscoll and spoken to many who have been profoundly harmed by him, I agree with that sentiment. Driscoll is bad. But Lindell may be equally bad. And his conference is an embarrassment to the gospel.
But what really struck me about the fiasco this weekend was the irony of it all. Here was Driscoll—a master manipulator and spiritual abuser, who had used Matthew 18 numerous times to control and manipulate people—getting Matthew 18ed by another pastor!
For those not familiar with Matthew 18, the passage tells anyone with a personal offence to take his offence first to the person who offended him, one on one. If the person won’t listen, take one or two others to confront him. If the person still refuses to listen, tell it to the church. And if he won’t listen to the church, “let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
The passage concerns personal offenses, not the misconduct of pastors and Christian leaders. For that, turn to 1 Timothy 5:20, which instructs the church to rebuke sinning elders “in the presence of all, so that others may stand in fear.”
Yet, spiritual abusers routinely use Matthew 18 to keep misconduct and scandal from becoming public.
For example, Mike Bickle and other leaders at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOPKC) regularly used Matthew 18 to silence those who accused Bickle of clergy sexual abuse.
When former IHOPKC leader Dwayne Roberts came to then-IHOPKC Executive Director Stuart Greaves with allegations of Bickle’s sexual abuse, Greaves reportedly refused to meet with Roberts. Greaves instead instructed Roberts to conduct a “Matthew 18 process” and confront Bickle one on one.
Similarly, Bickle insisted that the husband of his main “Jane Doe” victim meet one on one with Bickle and not bring any witnesses.
This is absurd and incredibly manipulative, but it’s often effective in containing allegations and scandal. It’s likely why the abuse of Bickle, Driscoll, and so many other powerful pastors stay hidden for so long. Abusive pastors weaponize Matthew 18 and employ it regularly.
So, in August 2014, as allegations of Driscoll’s bullying and abuse at his former Mars Hill Church were finally reaching a boiling point, Driscoll employed Matthew 18 to try and shame whistleblowers into silence.
“I want to thank those who have come directly to an elder, lead pastor, or me to tell us of an offense they are carrying,” Driscoll told his congregation when announcing his pending leave of absence. “This allows us to deal with it head on between the two affected parties, rather than in a court of public opinion and public media. I believe God is honored by this approach—the approach He prescribed for us in Matthew 18 and other Scriptures.
“Others have chosen to air their grievances with me or this church in a more public forum. . . . Lately, the number of accusations, combined with their public nature, makes it much more difficult to know how to respond appropriately.”
What Driscoll said sounds spiritual—just as what Pastor Lindell said to conference-goers last weekend sounded spiritual, as well. But it’s not. The only thing spiritual about it is that it’s spiritual abuse. It’s twisting Scripture to shame and control people.
Yet, it was hard to feel sympathy for Driscoll when Lindell gave him a taste of his own medicine last weekend. As Galatians 6:7 says, “. . . A man reaps what he sows.”
But that wasn’t the only irony playing out last weekend. Over the years, Driscoll has become known as one of the most vulgar and sexually graphic pastors in evangelicalism. So, for him to self-righteously call out a bawdy act at a Christian event was super ironic.
This is the man who called women “penis homes” and whose sermons in Scotland were so vulgar, he was asked not to return to the country. (While there, Driscoll reportedly commanded women to give men oral sex.)
In his book, “Real Marriage,” Driscoll condones sodomy, while admitting it’s more common today “due to the increase in pornography.”
Driscoll also was known as the “cussing pastor” due to his foul mouth, and even began a sermon once with, “F*** you!” Though he’s publicly apologized for some of this language, former staff at Driscoll’s new Trinity Church told me he uses the f-word frequently and berates his staff, saying they lack “balls” and are “p-ssies.”
Driscoll is not a righteous man, calling a generation to holiness. He is a cruel, crass, and misogynist bully, who last weekend, went after his favorite targets—gays and men he thinks mimic women.
Though many of us share Driscoll’s disgust over a stripper at a Christian conference, it doesn’t change the fact that Driscoll is a disqualified pastor, who’s harmed scores of people with whom he’s never tried to reconcile.
I get a bit nervous when I see people commenting on X that they admire Driscoll’s “integrity" y "courage,” and that he’s a needed, “strong prophetic and corrective” voice. If these people really think this, then they likely haven’t done their homework, or their heads are buried in the sand.
Don’t criticize those with ‘anointing’
But apparently, Driscoll and Lindell, despite their public brouhaha, have made amends. Later in the conference, the two appeared on stage together and gushed over one another.
Lindell likened Driscoll to John the Baptist and called him the “Spurgeon of our day”—a reference to famous Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon.
Driscoll got emotional talking about how Lindell had been a great friend to him during “one of the hardest seasons of my life.” And he called the Stronger Men’s Conference “one of the greatest men’s events . . . in the country right now.”
Stunningly, neither pastor addressed the issue that had divided them. Lindell didn’t apologize for inviting Magala, but instead downplayed the importance of the issue, saying the two men agreed about what was important.
Similarly, Driscoll said, “The things that matter, we agree on.” Driscoll also apologized for not talking to Lindell, “the father of the house,” about airing his convictions, so Lindell “could give me a thumbs up or down.”
So apparently, having a stripper at a Christian men’s event doesn’t matter to Driscoll, after all. What matters is following the chain of command. Why? Because abusive pastors don’t ultimately care about the gospel, or saving the culture, or upholding holiness; they care about control.
Lindell showed his true colors too.
“Here’s the thing,” he said, addressing the audience. “You have to be careful that you do not criticize people who have the anointing of God on them. Better to say nothing. Because what happens is, once you begin to criticize somebody who has the anointing on them, you’re in the flesh. And once you’re in the flesh, then you’re moving toward unbelief. And once you move toward unbelief, then you live a barren life spiritually.”
And this highlights the final irony of the past weekend—that for all the bravado and hype, the Stronger Men’s Conference isn’t about empowering men to act. It’s about grooming them to be weaker and more subservient—not to God, but to their abusive, male pastors.
Julie Roys es una reportera de investigación veterana y fundadora de The Roys Report. Anteriormente, también presentó un programa de entrevistas nacional en Moody Radio Network, llamado Up for Debate, y ha trabajado como reportera de televisión para una filial de CBS. Sus artículos han aparecido en numerosas publicaciones periódicas.
Spanish 
English
79 Respuestas
Why is Jezebel being blamed when a man is acting inappropriately? It’s as if there’s no concept of a man’s being responsible for his own behavior.
I apologize if this posts twice:
He is referring to the “Jezebel spirit” which is not in scripture, a woman named Jezebel is in the OT (1 and 2 Kings), and Jesus addresses her in Revelation. When the label “Jezebel spirit”is applied, the term is used to show people acting in a way that is immoral, vulgar, lacking control over sexual impulses. It is not blaming Jezebel, but describing the people’s actions. Just as Jesus blames the human heart for all sin (not Satan) we cannot use these entities for an excuse for our behavior, but must take responsibility for our own actions.
Rev 2:20
20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
‘He is referring to the “Jezebel spirit” which is not in scripture …’
So much for “teaching the Bible,” then.
In Revelation, when you look at the Greek, it adds a special character, so it is saying, “Jezebel Experience,” and it actually doesn’t say woman, but Wife Jezebel Experience, weak men letting their wives use the husband’s authority to take other peoples vineyards, as one example. In English, if you add one letter, it can change the meaning of the word. Well, that would make the New Testament an extremely thick book if they translated it verbatim, every time one Greek letter was added. So, instead, translations focus on the “Feeling” of the sentence, which means a person MISSES ALOT. For example the word we translate when the disciples asked about prayer = advantage of loyalty desire lack of provision reversed. Imagine translating every word that way, needing 8 words to explain one Greek word. Instead, prayer is never defined and translators allow people to guess what prayer means to them. There is only one meaning, but many assumptions. Remember, these people didn’t have printing presses, so it was important to keep pages condensed, use less space.
In inner healing and deliverance ministry, a Jezebel spirit is one of several frequently encountered unclean spirits. See, for example, the mentor teachings of Charles Craft. We also encounter other named spirits such as Abaddon, Pythos, and Koulianos. Most of the unclean spirits are named by their toxic emotional manifestations such as anger, rage, heart adultery, and so on. I suspect it was in this context “Jezebel” came up.
Regarding the “Jezebel Spirit”, the inner healing and deliverance ministry are familiar with it (deception & divisiveness), along with other named unclean spirits, such as Abaddon (destruction/destroyer), Pythos (suffocating), and Kundalini . Most unclean spirits are named for their toxic emotional effects, such as anger, murder, rage, abandonment, etc. How Mr. Driscoll meant it one can only guess — but it’s likely he’s acquainted with it obviously.
I think she’s referring to an evil spirit, not a human woman
Okay. Then he’s blaming a feminine evil spirit for a man’s inappropriate behavior. Convenient.
Exactly, just as most churches that use Paul as their foundation, and not Jesus, will find excuses to not own their behavior.
Agreed!! I am so tired of that conjured up title for excusing a choice in behavior. The Devil DID NOT make him do it. He CHOSE TO DO IT!
I used to think that Hollywood and the media tried so hard to make us evangelicals look ridiculous. Now I think they were just a few years ahead of the trend.
I can’t decide whether to laugh or cry.
I can’t decide whether to laugh or cry. But I do appreciate the amazing reporting and good analysis of how this passage has been abused.
Let me get this straight one pastor publicly called out another poster for publicly calling him out before talking privately
Perfect example of the hypocrisy preached by these people using 2 different standards of conduct, Jesus’ (the Son of God) Mt 18 or Paul’s (a fallen man) 1 Timothy 5:20.
As Christians, myself included, should be able to quote the teachings of Jesus in MMLJ, Acts, and Revelation applying them in our daily walks, but the church focuses on the teachings of Paul, elevating him above Jesus’ authority. They use Jesus when it helps them avoid responsibility/control others, but will call on Paul when someone uses Jesus’ words to correct them, which leads to confusion on how we are to resolve issues. Jesus is the final word on how we are to conduct ourselves, not Paul who Peter warned, would be misused and lead us away from the true path.
2 Peter 3:16 Context
16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.
Shaul (Paul) the apostle was one of the greatly misunderstood character in the scripture. His writings are difficult to comprehend and not for the shallow and the faint. Context is key in interpreting Paul’s difficult dissertations. Even Kefa (Peter) warned us so about Paul’s writings being difficult and easily perverted. Or in your case, cast aside for being a “fallen man”. Wow.
It’s threading on a terribly dangerous line when you take lightly Paul’s words because he was ‘human’ and not Yeshua’s. Did Paul not speak under inspiration of the same Holy Spirit? How about the rest of prophets? Were they not human?
If you can reason like this about Paul’s teachings, then you can apply same logic to the prophets of old beginning with Father Avraham, or worse even Moshe who gave us the Law.
Be very careful. That’s how some people will start cancelling parts of scripture they disagree with because Yeshua did not say it. That’s how Christianity ended up with various sects, cultish fringe groups, even 100s upon 100s denominations. Brethren, this should not be. For there is only ONE Messiah. ONE Spirit. ONE LORD. ONE faith. ONE body.
Word to the wise. Who will hear, let him hear.
Jesus warns:
Matthew 24:27
23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25Behold, I have told you before.
26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Paul claims:
Acts Chapter 9:3-6
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Matthew 24:26
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Paul’s sees Jesus in the temple
Acts 22:17-21
17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
“If you can reason like this about Paul’s teachings, then you can apply same logic to the prophets of old beginning with Father Avraham, or worse even Moshe who gave us the Law.”
Not at all, no one is above Jesus’ authority, and God’s commandments. We are to watch for the false teachers that will come after Jesus ascends, and the Holy Spirit takes over to guide. We are to apply the warnings of Jesus to anyone that comes after Him, and Paul is so elevated over Jesus’ ministry that you cannot question the claims Paul is making.
His conversion is exactly what Jesus warns of, 2 witnesses are never named, nor do we have their testimony, he self appoints himself an apostle, Paul admits he tricks people into the church, he assumes different personalities to appeal to the crowd he is talking to (just as a con man will), is run out of Ephesus (Rev 2:2 Jesus praises Ephesus for not tolerating false apostles:)
Rev 2:2
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars”
brags Satan sent a demon to torment him to better serve God (which does not make sense), etc …
Look at the fruits of the modern churches under Paulinian doctrine, and it speaks for itself.
It’s an example from Nathan, when he rebuked King David privately. Now, David repented, but suffered publicly and his family for generations. The purpose of a private rebuke is different than when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal, publicly. When a person is rebuked privately and they repent, they still suffer. Yet God is in charge of the punishment. However, if they don’t repent, and they have to also be rebuked Publicly, then like with Elijah, God engages his people to be part of the punishment. The punishment is going to be so great, one person cannot do it alone. Privately versus publicly all has to do with the level of punishment God wants to inflict. When people repent privately, God rebukes them harshly over MANY YEARS, no action of others necessary. When they are rebuked publicly for not repenting, it’s a swift act, and many are involved. God’s call, in the end. We are making our plans, but he is guiding the steps, then report what we see. Obviously, God allowed both to happen. There was a public confrontation, then later, a private confrontation. There is a new event that needed rebuking, the sword-guy, but at the same time, there is a history of mis-steps (sin). That’s what I am learning, and I see that pattern in my own life; I have been rebuked publicly and privately. I see God’s punishment in it all.
That’s scary stuff. This macho man emphasis in the Church is nothing at all like scriptural manhood. Scriptural men have character and are full of kindness in their leadership.
Wow, don’t these guys have any fear of God? Do they read the Bible? Do they even believe in God?
I ask these questions a LOT these days.
I feel like this whole exchange was staged from the beginning. Interesting they host a gay stripper at a men’s retreat, seems like they are trying to unleash a homosexual spirit
I understand and can appreciate all calling out Mark D., although let’s remove him from the equation and focus on why Lindell would allow such a disgusting sickening act to open the conference? Why would anyone attend those conferences considering Lindell is known for having ungodly performances. I was sickened to read/see what was allowed.
I’m sure there were men in the audience suffering from past sins and still struggle to move forward. To then attend a conference with opening act bringing them right back. I am not saying all the men who attended, although I would think a few.
Christians fight to move forward in the Lord from their sins. Then pblatantly shoved in you face at a Christian event makes me sad.
The accusation that the matter should’ve been handled in private, doesn’t line up with the offense which was a public performance preapproved by leadership. I applaud Mark Driscoll!! We definitely need more stand up men like him in the body of Christ.
Everything in that conference is a sign of midlife crisis. Motorcycle, tank, stripper pole, might as well have that trireme and a convertible out there like in the Babylon Bee “article”. Did Driscoll fail to read the sequence of events before he took the stage?
Regarding Matthew 18, maybe I’m misremembering the Gospels here, but there are times where Christ responds to the sins of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and such in public when their sins were very public–remember His clearing of the Temple. Theologians of more repute than Driscoll and Lindell have understood Matthew 18 in such a way that allows public rebuke of public sin for this reason.
I wondered the same thing. Didn’t he know what the “entertainment” consisted of? Then I thought he didn’t realize hoe “ungodly” it was until he actually saw it.
Great article! Why the AoG leadership has not spoken out against Lindell’s frequent ungodliness is a mystery. A couple of years ago, one of my AoG friends confronted the denominations leader, Doug Clay, concerning Lindell. Clay admonished him for speaking against a fellow AoG pastor. Today the Movement is crumbling like a breached dam.
Christianity, the religion, is rife with apostasy. If professing Christians are not praying, they had better begin doing so. The period is getting darker. There are severe consequences for supporting or allowing such spiritual wreckage masquerading as God’s work.
The AoG won’t speak out because Lindell brings in big $. As always, follow the money trail.
Would like to hear from anyone who attended this conference…….did they get any stronger spiritually or did it build their character in any way by attending ?
The kind of men who go to these rallies are unlikely to be reading a forum that calls out abuse in the church. they’re bought in- and paid money for this. they think one or both of those pastors are GREAT. I’d be astonished to find them here.
I think the line that deserves to be higher in the piece… is the last line:
“And this highlights the final irony of the past weekend—that for all the bravado and hype, the Stronger Men’s Conference isn’t about empowering men to act. It’s about grooming them to be weaker and more subservient—not to God, but to their abusive, male pastors.”
This one is the real problem long term, pastors having spats with each other doesn’t bother me, but the thinly veiled power grooming which brings them together, the thing that unites them… that is evil.
Considering the setting, I have to wonder whether this event was genuine, or staged. Driscoll is known for making up sensationalist stories and exaggerating details. Considering how the show started, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this was an act orchestrated between Driscoll and Lindell.
Exactly, a great way to generate some positive feelings for the disgraced Driscoll in the public arena. A friend helping a friend.
Excellent, insightful observations and great commentary, Julie. I so appreciate your keeping track of all of this craziness.
AG tolerates JRC because it pulls in so much cash for AG. JRC is one of the ten largest AG churches. AG has a notorious reputation for failing to police and curtail the excesses of its ShowMan pastors. Julie says, “Lindell’s inexcusable lack of discernment…” I would qualify with “spiritual discernment” or “Biblical discernment”. Lindell astutely discerns the times and culture and knows how to capitalize on it. The attendees show themselves to be undiscerning fools eager to patronize a program pandering to their basest desires- all in the name of God.
It all seems VERY orchestrated: differently-pioused, testosterone-filled, knee-bending, headlining dude-bros trying to out-pious the other testosterone-filled, knee-bending, headlining dude-bros, while, at the same time, firing up a stadium full of testosterone-filled, NON-headlining, somewhat-pioused, NON-knee-bending dude-bros who are only at the conference to excitedly see military tanks crushing cars that glorify Jesus dying on the cross (for some whatever blah-blah-blah reason).
Well observed and well said!
Continuing to hold Marks past against him, when he has the courage to speak the truth shows the lack of gospel in the author of this article…
Mark is a bulldog, and holding him to a standard of perfection is wrong. He isn’t Jesus. But by golly at least he’s preaching the truth.
This bashing of mark for the 1005th time surely can’t be something Jesus would do.
Driscoll isn’t being held to a standard of perfection. he’s being held to scriptural standards of being a leader, and failing badly.
Well said, Jennifer. Kevin is correct in stating that Driscoll spoke truthfully about the sword swallower. But criticizing Julie Roys for her “lack of gospel” ignores the broader context. The gospel is based on historical facts about Jesus, who declared Himself to be The Truth. Driscoll refuses to acknowledge the truth of his past and continues to present himself as qualified for public ministry.
Jesus does not “bash” His followers; instead, the Holy Spirit convicts us until we agree with the truth about our sinful deeds and confess them. A truly Christian response to Driscoll, Bickle, and others whose names appear on this website is to hold them to the Bible’s standards for leadership so that they might walk in the light, as He is in the light. Only there can we have fellowship with God and with other believers.
I’ve read the comments too and it seems the majority of them are bashing the whole gathering/conference, more than Mark. It sounds like a think no godly man should want to be a part of – so I’d say if Mark (or any pastor there) wants to be respected and not questioned, they should avoid silly immature events like this… this circus evangelicalism to make $ is All disgusting.
Mark has NOT truly repented it seems and even started another church with perhaps worse behavior than Mars Hill so Julie has every right as a Christian to continually call him out.
Mark has a long list of people he has hurt, without making amends. And per consistent first-hand reporting from his new place of control/church in Arizona, he’s gotten more controlling, just like this article reported about his foul language with his currrent staff… Mark should worry about what God says about the way Mark treats others, demans others, including women, because some day soon he will meet his Maker, and at that time he will answer to God for all the public things and all the secret things (Heb. 4:12-13) in his life…and again, he ran over so many people, abusing Matt. 18, that people started sharing on a blog, leading to his downfall… then he moved to Arizona and doubled down on his controllling, abusing ways. With prayers that we are not deceived by assumptions and instead, that we live by God’s truth and facts with staff member after staff members in Seattle and now Arizona, with the same stories…along with the fact that his publc use of foul language, being okay with anal sex etc. is public knowledge in his speaking and his books, which is hardly private or secret.
Wonderful Journalism is all I can say, taking the News, then adding Scripture to show how God wants it rebuked (author’s opinion).
That’s the great thing about this platform, safe place to learn from mistakes.
Learning Greek, fixing definitions of words in the Greek Dictionaries, I ask the Lord, “What do I do about mistakes in the past (including mine)?” The Lord replied, “If the people are still with you, correct yourself. Those who are not, that’s on them. If they continued to seek me, I have shown them your mistake by now. Remember, before there was scripture, there is my voice, which I have been speaking to you since your were born, long before you were baptized. When I judge people, it’s not based upon English (opinion) scripture. It’s based upon records I have of the Holy Spirit speaking and convicting your spirit. People look to bibles to affirm their desires, but IF/WHEN the bible is contrary to what I have put in you, obey me first.”
For the mistakes here, compare to the millions silent.
All donations here are money well spent. David said he wouldn’t give to God that which cost him nothing. If we want to benefit, we always have to pay something, always.
Christ didn’t rebuke Pilate when People complained what he did with sacrifices, a sinner harming sinners, small-issue. His focus, people pursuing perfection, being perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect. A Woman caught in adultery & people catching her, both wrong, executing law and scripture wrong, so both walk away, leaving sin in a society, causing suffering to all, a chance to try once again. Perfection = Goal, be like Christ, loving others in rebuke as Christ loves disciples. It’s a process.
Why did the audience of straight Christian men not get up and walk out when that guy started his act? And why was a woman (Jezebel) blamed for it?
I don’t see using a metaphor as blaming a woman. The “spirit of Jezebel” is an obvious metaphor rather than an attempt to blame a woman who has been dead for 3,000 years. Your comment, and those of Cynthia Wright above, strike me as going and looking for reasons to be offended. And there’s enough in this story to be offended about without having to go looking for more.
I don’t find Mr. Driscoll to be “offensive.” I find him to be ridiculous, except for the harm he causes to others. His whole act, including his “spirit of Jezebel” nonsense, is ridiculous.
One word says it all: “Patriarchy”
MJ, I agree and have done so.
I don’t have a problem with a fraudulent person calling out a fraudulent person. We need to ask ourselves if Jesus was physically standing in our presence would we be conducting our worship services and events in such a way. HE sees all.
This is the pot calling the kettle black. Both are biblically unqualified to be pastors and both should have ended up pushing a broom to sweep the church parking lots as the way to serve and demonstrate repentance and humility.
BTW, there’s a network of “connected” rock star pastors who share the same greedy ambitions. One of the speakers at the conference was Tim Timberlake. He and his wife are “pastors” of two different congregations, miles and states apart. “Pastors Tim and, along with his wife Jen serve as the Senior Pastors of Christian Faith Center, Creedmoor N.C and Celebration Church, Jacksonville FL.” Celebration went through a messy breakup with their greedy former pastor Stovall Weems. If TRR wants a great story of church corruption, they should check this one. https://religionunplugged.com/news/2022/3/30/pastor-claims-he-was-ousted-from-floridas-celebration-church-for-uncovering-fraud y https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2023/10/13/jacksonville-ministers-lawsuit-against-celebration-church-dismissed/71152883007/ and here’s the “parsonage” they were fighting over. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16073-Shellcracker-Rd-Jacksonville-FL-32226/44580668_zpid/?
But of course it isn’t really a Matthew 18 situation. Matthew 18 is between two followers of Jesus and dealing with things done privately against each other. If there is a public offense, as in this case, it needs to be called out publicly. That is what Paul did to Peter when he “withstood him to his face … in the presence of all” (Galatians 2:11-14). So Driscoll got this one right.
Initially I was thinking of Paul’s public rebuke of Peter. But on more reflection, I think a better reference would be Balaam being rebuked by his own donkey (see 2 Peter 2:16 KJV).
Hi, Julie. Do we have any current information on Magala? The only article I see pertaining to his stripping is 8 years old. He now claims to be a Christian. Just curious…
I encourage you to go to his Instagram page. It’s pretty sexualized throughout. I can’t speak to whether he’s made a profession of faith, but I certainly can see why his act still raises concerns.