Ted Haggard and the Evangelical Cult of Personality
See this news story. In the ancient church, certain men took on status as “holy men, ” and if someone was not up to attaining that status (through martyrdom or asceticism), then they could at least up their spiritual status by getting as close to the holy man as possible. Looks like not much has changed in 2000 years.
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November 12th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
I don’t agree with Driscoll’s “Donna Reed-esque” idea of womanhood in the least. I don’t agree with giving pastor’s “rockstar” status. Those pictures on the facebook group were from a google image search and were the only good ones I could find. I just made the group because I like some of the things that he says and appreciate what Mars Hill is doing in Seattle, not because I worship Driscoll or even agree with everything that he says.
My point of the post (”prove it on the field”) was that picketing is not the answer. They should approach Mark about his words and seek for his repentence. I think Mark does need to take it easy and think through many of the things that he says and that his elders should point this out to him. At the same time I can’t help but be thankful to God for the work that he is doing through Mars Hill Seattle. Driscoll is living proof that God is strong in our weaknesses…which gives me hope.
November 12th, 2006 at 10:20 pm
My post wasn’t necessarily about Driscoll, “but if the shoe fits…”
For context’s sake, Art is responding to my comment on this post on his own blog.
Art, my comment about your facebook group wasn’t meant to be a personal criticism of you. I do have some concerns about it, but I’d rather share those in private. But I will ask here whether you really want your defense of those pictures to be “they were all I could find” on a google search? If that’s what’s coming up on an image search, there’s a reason. They represent the image that is intended to be portrayed.
I know it sounds like I’m getting worked up about this issue, but I’ve been around too many of these guys in my lifetime. They get some attention by being “provocative” and “edgy,” a few other celebrity pastors (Keller, Piper in this case) let him get a photo op with them, and the next thing you know he can do no wrong. In all of these cases (and I’m talking about pastors I personally served under), all of the “fan base” excused and wrote off the outrageous remarks and bad behavior because “he (usually) proclaims the gospel so well” or “he stands for good causes” etc. But on the homefront, the people in the congregation suffer because they have to knuckle under to the whims of the holy man or suffer the humiliation of being ostracized for daring to disagree.
Christian celebrity is a very dangerous thing. Some handle it well, but they are rare. Driscoll, in my opinion, is not showing signs early on in the game of one who is going to come out OK.
November 13th, 2006 at 1:05 am
I wasn’t defending the pictures. I actually made fun of the one, dubbing it the “A.C. Slater pose.” I fully realize that those pictures came up because that is the image that was meant to be put forth. Like I said above, I don’t agree with treating pastors or theologians as rock starts, because their job, inherently, should not be about themselves.
I made that group for the same reason that I made the N.T. Wright group. Not to magnify the person, but to point out that the content of what they are saying is something that I enjoy. I don’t agree with everything Mark says (like I said above) in the same way that I don’t agree with everything N.T. Wright says. This does not mean that I think they both are immune from saying or doing wrong. Simply that I appreciate the work Wright is doing on Jesus and Paul and I appreciate the work that Driscoll is doing in Seattle. (This is probably first, and might be the last, time that Driscoll will play alter-ego to Wright!)
I apologize if my admiration for some of Driscoll’s work comes across as me catapulting him to a “christian celebrity.” That is not how it was intended. I fully realize his capacity for error and am not so blinded by my admiration that I do not see that.
Again, I do wish that Mars Hill’s elders and leaders will pull the reigns back on Driscoll because my apprehension regarding his current status is much like your own. But in the same way that I do not want my admiration to blind my ability to see his faults, I do not want my apprehension to blind my ability to see his qualities.
November 13th, 2006 at 7:45 am
Well said, Art. I can live with that! And I certainly regret any connotation coming from me that you were acting as a “fan boy” for either Driscoll or Wright. If so, guilty as charged–I willingly and gladly joined your N. T. Wright group! I was trying to make a more general point, with which you seem to be in agreement, so probably ‘nuf said, right?