Mark Driscoll is a popular Christian leader, pastor of Mars Hill megachurch in Seattle, and other of over a dozen books including The Relevant Church.
Here's his analysis of Paul's view of women leading the church:
"Without blushing, Paul is simply stating that when it comes to leading in the church, women are unfit because they are more gullible and easier to deceive than men. While many irate women have disagreed with his assessment through the years, it does appear from this that such women who fail to trust his instruction and follow his teaching are much like their mother Eve and are well-intended but ill-informed. . . Before you get all emotional like a woman in hearing this, please consider the content of the women’s magazines at your local grocery store that encourages liberated women in our day to watch porno with their boyfriends, master oral sex for men who have no intention of marrying them, pay for their own dates in the name of equality, spend an average of three-fourths of their childbearing years having sex but trying not to get pregnant, and abort 1/3 of all babies – and ask yourself if it doesn’t look like the Serpent is still trolling the garden and that the daughters of Eve aren’t gullible in pronouncing progress, liberation, and equality."
I would like to hear your comments.
8 comments:
I feel like this quote is not even worth the time wasted to comment upon it. Amazing.
I totally understand. The reason I posted it is I'm sort of amazed that he's just accepted as a leader, pastor, teacher, author, etc. in Christian circles. It's relevant because it's critical to remember that, even as more evangelical denominations every year vote to ordain women, there is a persistent and increasingly sinister backlash. I would like to see egalitarian evangelicals take it more seriously. I would also like to see all evangelicals stop tolerating books like this.
Might I ask how you interpret Paul's teaching on the matter?
This article from Dr. John Jefferson Davis, a professor at Gordon-Cromwell Seminary, summarizes my view pretty well http://www.cbeinternational.org/files/u1/free-art/first-timothy-2-12.pdf
My issue with this quote however, isn't that Driscoll doesn't believe women should hold authority in the church. It's the overall tone of disdain for women ("Before you get all emotional like a woman," etc.) and the double standard (Really? We're talking about magazines? Let's talk about men's magazines as well, buddy....). There is a sexism that is deeper than theology here.
my other half is curious as to the content of the whole chapter, like was it said tongue-in-cheek? Is he playing the devils advocate?
I'm often surprised by the "leaders" of our churches that people except so readily without looking a little deeper.
example: I know a lot of people respect and admire Rick Warren and I think he has valuable things to say. But I just don't respect people that use the version of the Bible they like best simple to get their own point across. Warren did this a lot in "The Purpose Driven Life." What an amazing book and idea for the people of this day and age! But when he misquoted the Bible, I could not even read anymore of the book. I think Rob and I got to chapter 4/5.
That said, Paul said a lot of controversial things. Hey, so did Jesus! But I know that Paul did not degrade women! There are even women profits in the Bible.
I think this quote is long enough to provide a lot of context. Not really a soundbite. I really can't imagine a context that would make this quote sound better, now that I think of it....
Can I go puke in a bush? This is plain wrong and written so...arrogantly. It doesn't help his photo on his church site looks like a mug pic. I haven't read any of his books, but I have heard of him and I have heard of his church. What he wrote is sad. I'm sad for him that he has that kind of reasoning for his view. Thanks for posting this Alyssa. Not the happiest thing to post, but an important thing to post.
i've attended mars hill on numerous occasions. rarely do i speak out on "christian issues" because i feel inept in doing so.
mark driscoll is a certified lunatic. his church is attractive to young people and new christians due to its outreach program, size [it's HUGE, and nobody really tries to talk to you], they play very hip music prior to services, etc...
but if you stay for the service, you might end up really confused - at least i was, and i have a pretty well-developed knowledge and opinion of the bible and its principles.
he gets off on inflammatory ideals, saying that the truth is never popular, and if you're pissing someone off, you've got to be saying the right things. i'm completely embarrassed to call myself a christian when there are crazies like him running around.
i wish i could find the email exchange between myself and a mars hill elder regarding me trying to find out if mars hill was an emergent church. straight comedy!
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