Mark Driscoll

Just the title of this post will, I’m sure, have people reading further.

Well the dust has settled, the furore has died down and the issue is sorted. Mark Driscoll will not be coming to the Hillsong Conference. Even after his very public removal from ministry and the demise of Mars Hill church, it seems that Driscoll can still pull a crowd.

I look at this whole thing with a mixture of puzzlement and sadness. What possessed Hillsong to issue the invitation in the first place? Blind Freddie could have seen that this was going to attract attention.

But I also think this is an opportunity for reflection.

For Driscoll I hope it’s an opportunity to reflect on the consequences of some of the things he said and did. To continue (or perhaps start) on a journey of repentance, forgiveness and change.

For Hillsong it is an opportunity to reflect on the wisdom of inviting such a controversial and divisive person to take part in their conference. Rightly or wrongly, the invitation was possibly seen as an endorsement of the man and his ministry, not a wise decision IMHO.

But finally I think this is also an opportunity for Christians (including yours truly) to reflect on their response as well. Some of the responses have been pretty measured and responsible. Some have been unkind and ungracious. Some have been on par with a lynch mob. I don’t think that reflects well on us, and I think we need to do better.

It seems to me that maybe we need to take James’ advice and be ‘slow to speak’ in situations like this. And maybe we’d all be better off if we just left the man alone.