Mark Driscoll on Contextualization of the Gospel

Pastor Keith · #1 09-23-2009, 03:02 PM

Driscoll gives three categories of faulty contextualization that may misguide Christians in their search for holiness and gospel effectiveness:

1. Pharisaic separation from culture–By this he means creating laws that keep people from getting too close to sin. What’s the problem with this? First, as Driscoll adeptly identifies, the judgemental moralism confuses morality with the life-giving gospel. Second, which I wish he would have said, it doesn’t account for internal sin. Even if Christians didn’t drink or do anything outwardly immoral, their hearts would still be as rebellious against God. Remember, “the heart is deceitfully wicked.”

2. Sadducaic Syncretism–By this he means compromising externals for the sake of speaking to the culture. Driscoll rightly states, “this well-worn rut eventually leads to a universalism in which every religion leads to salvation and in which there is little, if any distinction between true and false gospels.”

3. Zealous domination–by this he means confusing political clout with the gospel. Enforcing moralistic laws does not bring anyone closer to Jesus, it may inoculate them against the gospel.

The conclusion: He concludes that each of these paths lead to man-centered righteousness, which is no righteousness at all. The results of man-centered efforts he puts into two categories–sectarians and syncretists. Sectarians separate themselves from outward worldliness and end up hiding their lights under a bushel, while Syncretists makes the gospel message like every other message thus rendering it irrelevant.

Driscoll further concludes:

Sectarians love God but fail to love their neighbor. Syncretists love their neighbor but fail to love God. Jesus expects us to love him and our neighbor (including our enemies) and says that if we fail to do so, we are no better than the godless pagans who love their drinking and strip-poker buddies (Matt. 5:43-47). To love our neighbors, we must meet them in their culture. To love our neighbors, we must call them to repent of sin and be transformed by Jesus.

Gotta Love Driscoll!

What Say Ye?

KWSS1976 · #2 09-23-2009, 03:09 PM

Yea you will probley get drilled over this...LOL

Quote:

Sectarians love God but fail to love their neighbor

TheLegalist · #3 09-24-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Keith

Driscoll gives three categories of faulty contextualization that may misguide Christians in their search for holiness and gospel effectiveness:

1. Pharisaic separation from culture–By this he means creating laws that keep people from getting too close to sin. What’s the problem with this? First, as Driscoll adeptly identifies, the judgemental moralism confuses morality with the life-giving gospel. Second, which I wish he would have said, it doesn’t account for internal sin. Even if Christians didn’t drink or do anything outwardly immoral, their hearts would still be as rebellious against God. Remember, “the heart is deceitfully wicked.”

2. Sadducaic Syncretism–By this he means compromising externals for the sake of speaking to the culture. Driscoll rightly states, “this well-worn rut eventually leads to a universalism in which every religion leads to salvation and in which there is little, if any distinction between true and false gospels.”

3. Zealous domination–by this he means confusing political clout with the gospel. Enforcing moralistic laws does not bring anyone closer to Jesus, it may inoculate them against the gospel.

The conclusion: He concludes that each of these paths lead to man-centered righteousness, which is no righteousness at all. The results of man-centered efforts he puts into two categories–sectarians and syncretists. Sectarians separate themselves from outward worldliness and end up hiding their lights under a bushel, while Syncretists makes the gospel message like every other message thus rendering it irrelevant.

Driscoll further concludes:

Sectarians love God but fail to love their neighbor. Syncretists love their neighbor but fail to love God. Jesus expects us to love him and our neighbor (including our enemies) and says that if we fail to do so, we are no better than the godless pagans who love their drinking and strip-poker buddies (Matt. 5:43-47). To love our neighbors, we must meet them in their culture. To love our neighbors, we must call them to repent of sin and be transformed by Jesus.

Gotta Love Driscoll!

What Say Ye?

good stuff .... though the "the heart is deceitfully wicked.” Is very true it in many cases is taken out of context and applied in a total depravity meaning of which is not meant nor intended by the writer. Much of what he writes is about balance from what I see. It doesn't negate outward or inward but is an attempt to bring both in harmony not negating each other.

deltaguitar · #4 09-24-2009, 09:47 AM

Keith, don't tell me you have been listening to this guy. I got to warn you. This is the slippery slope big time. I mean I listen to this guy all the time. Do you want to end up like me?

*AQuietPlace* · #5 09-24-2009, 10:14 AM

I think he has nailed it.

mizpeh · #6 09-24-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Keith

Driscoll gives three categories of faulty contextualization that may misguide Christians in their search for holiness and gospel effectiveness:

1. Pharisaic separation from culture–By this he means creating laws that keep people from getting too close to sin. What’s the problem with this? First, as Driscoll adeptly identifies, the judgemental moralism confuses morality with the life-giving gospel. Second, which I wish he would have said, it doesn’t account for internal sin. Even if Christians didn’t drink or do anything outwardly immoral, their hearts would still be as rebellious against God. Remember, “the heart is deceitfully wicked.”

2. Sadducaic Syncretism–By this he means compromising externals for the sake of speaking to the culture. Driscoll rightly states, “this well-worn rut eventually leads to a universalism in which every religion leads to salvation and in which there is little, if any distinction between true and false gospels.”

3. Zealous domination–by this he means confusing political clout with the gospel. Enforcing moralistic laws does not bring anyone closer to Jesus, it may inoculate them against the gospel.

The conclusion: He concludes that each of these paths lead to man-centered righteousness, which is no righteousness at all. The results of man-centered efforts he puts into two categories–sectarians and syncretists. Sectarians separate themselves from outward worldliness and end up hiding their lights under a bushel, while Syncretists makes the gospel message like every other message thus rendering it irrelevant.

Driscoll further concludes:

Sectarians love God but fail to love their neighbor. Syncretists love their neighbor but fail to love God. Jesus expects us to love him and our neighbor (including our enemies) and says that if we fail to do so, we are no better than the godless pagans who love their drinking and strip-poker buddies (Matt. 5:43-47). To love our neighbors, we must meet them in their culture. To love our neighbors, we must call them to repent of sin and be transformed by Jesus.

Gotta Love Driscoll!

What Say Ye?

I'd like to read the entire article or listen to the entire message. Do you have a link?

deltaguitar · #7 09-24-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I'd like to read the entire article or listen to the entire message. Do you have a link?

A lot of his sermons are here. Watch out! He is a Calvinist.

http://www.marshillchurch.org

If you have read Blue Like Jazz he is the cussing preaching that Donald Miller refers to.

mizpeh · #8 09-24-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

A lot of his sermons are here. Watch out! He is a Calvinist.

http://www.marshillchurch.org

If you have read Blue Like Jazz he is the cussing preaching that Donald Miller refers to.

I'm not afraid of Calvisim, DG. (I went through the classes on RMM where it is taught. I've read some of Piper's stuff. I've read some of the things written by the ministers at the Village Church in Texas in their resource library months and months ago) It's contrary to the nature of God.

I don't want to listen or read or even sift through all of Driscoll's teachings, just this one that Keith is talking about.

deltaguitar · #9 09-24-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I'm not afraid of Calvisim, DG. (I went through the classes on RMM where it is taught. I've read some of Piper's stuff. I've listen to some of the things written by the ministers at the Village Church in Texas in their resource library months and months ago) It's contrary to the nature of God.

I don't want to listen or read or even sift through all of Driscoll's teachings, just this one that Keith is talking about.

You sound like my pastor.

Pastor Keith · #10 09-24-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

Keith, don't tell me you have been listening to this guy. I got to warn you. This is the slippery slope big time. I mean I listen to this guy all the time. Do you want to end up like me?

Mark and I are Alumnus of Western Seminary, if I didn't fall off going there, I don't think you should worry much.