By Vincent Lachina
Though my own personal beliefs about how to live not only as a Christian, but also as an ordained minister have often been at odds with Pastor Mark Driscoll, I find that I now vacillate between a deep sense of sadness and sincere embarrassment. As a minister of more than 50 years, I have strived to find ways to celebrate the successes of other ministers and their churches. Even though I might question the ways in which Driscoll has grown his congregations and certainly have questioned some of his approaches to the Gospel message, I have wanted to appreciate that Mars Hill churches have reached hundreds of people that my own faith tradition has not been able to do.
Now controversy has become a watch word with the mere mention of the name Mark Driscoll or Mars Hill. There is certainly a great deal to cause concern and to raise questions about what has been happening in that particular ministry. It would be easy to point a finger at Driscoll and think the damage that has been done can be solely isolated to him or to Mars Hill. In truth, what harms one congregation as a result of unseemly behavior by its minister harms all believers who are categorized in the same faith tradition. When one minister harms his Christian congregation, it is surely reflected on all Christian congregations.
That became evident for me while I sat in a local restaurant having breakfast and overheard a conversation at the table behind me. “That guy at Mars Hill is just like all preachers. They’re total frauds. All they want is money.” Those were harsh words, but I could understand the young man’s position. Yet at the same time, I wanted to jump to my feet and tell him that not every church and not every minister behaves that way. I realized I was being painted with the same broad brush as Driscoll even though I see myself as the antithesis of him. Whether unfairly accused or not, all ministers are too often linked to the one who has been identified as the guilty party committing some sin.
Mark Driscoll and I have never met, and certainly we do not run in the same circle of faith community leaders. I do recall however, that one of the most hateful and unkind comments made about my work in reproductive justice came from him in a Google posting, without his having any idea who I am or what I believe. With that history, it would be perhaps easy for me to say that karma was on display with his travails. But truthfully, I have never wished Driscoll harm nor felt the need to belittle his ministry. What I am feeling, however, is the deepest sense of sadness that he might not even be aware that his actions have damaged so many more people than those of his accusers and those in his congregation who have lost trust in one of God’s ministers. My sincere hope is that one day, and hopefully soon, Mark Driscoll comes to see the truth that what affects one Christian body, affects us all.
