Driscoll on Cessationism

I'm currently reading Colin Hansen's book 'Young, Restless and Reformed' where he documents the story of the Calvinistic resurgence in the states. Chapter seven is on Driscoll and Mars Hill and as always he has something humorously offensive to say:

'...I had been basically a theological cessationist and a fan of fundamentalist straw man attacks on charismatics... It wasn't until some years later, however, that I came to see the cessationists' interpretation of 1 Corinthians 12-14 as the second worst exegesis I had ever read, next to that of a Canadian nudist arsonist I once did some research on.' (pg 145)

Is that a bit strong Driscoll? Well actually I can see his very clear point. I'm a convinced charismatic thanks to well... what I see as bad cessionist arguments as well as scriptural texts that tell us when the miraculous gifts will cease (1 Corinthians 13:8-12).

Cessionism can be misinterpreted though. I know cessainionists' who have seen more healing's and visions and are more filled with the Spirit than some of my charismatic friends. I'm glad the same God is at work in the whole of the authentic church.

The Power of Words and the Wonder of God

Video and audio are now available from the recent Desiring God National Conference: The Power of Words and the Wonder of God.





Speakers include John Piper, Sinclair Ferguson, Mark Driscoll, Bob Kauflin, Dan Taylor and Paul Trip.

Death By Love

Together On a Mission 08- Driscoll: Spirit Led Missions

Last week was the annual New Frontiers Conference Together On A Mission. I went along to enjoy the teaching, worship and fellowship. Had a great time. My highlight? It had to be hearing one of my favourite living preachers Mark Driscoll. NF really did well in getting him to come.

For the Mobilise section of the conference (students and twenties) Driscoll preached three times on an amalgamation of Church planting and cultural topics in order to enhance a passion for mission and vision for church planting.

He began on Tuesday afternoon by praising New Frontiers as a movement for their work. Driscoll considered his visit as a gift. He showed humility in wanting to learn from the example of NF. This reminded me of Paul's attitude in Romans 1v 11-12:

'For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established- that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me'

He went on by giving 5 errors that Charismatic's are prone to fall into. Driscoll reckons that NF are safe on the first four and lack on the last.

• A worship of the Holy Spirit rather than worshipping Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit
• A focus on Pentecost rather than the cross
• A falling into the health and wealth (prosperity) gospel
• A worship of the movement leader
• A lack of speed in planting churches.

Driscoll believes that NF need to train more young men to be leaders, give more money to church planting (he suggests 10% of the income of every church should go to church planting), and as a result more churches. Instead of planting just over ten churches a year Driscoll suggested that NF should be aiming between 70 and 100.

Driscoll went on to define the term 'being Spirit filled' by working through Luke's gospel and the second half of Luke's gospel- The book of Acts.

Being Spirit filled means:

• Wanting/doing Proclamation (Luke 1v49)
• Expecting the Supernatural (Luke 1v35)
• Doing Ministry (Luke 1v15, Acts 1v8)
• Having seasons of solitude, silent prayer and fasting (Luke 4v1-2)
• Obedience. Christ obeyed in His humanity by the power of the Spirit. 4 actions of the early church -Teaching, Fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer (Luke 3v21-22, Acts 2v42)
• Loving/Doing Teaching (Luke 4v14-16)
• Loving people (Luke 4v17)
• Rejoicing (Luke 10v21)
• The proclamation and action of repentance (Acts 2v38)
• Seeing Conversions (Acts 2v41)

He argued that 'too often Spirit filled [is seen today as] doing and being active then contemplative'.

Being in awe of Christ is the essence of what is to be Spirit filled. Not being shocked and amazed by His majesty quenches the Spirit and so diminishes the work of Spirit led missions.

My response to the message: Give me more of the Spirit! Forgive me Jesus that my heart isn't attracted to the work of missions as it should be. Give me vision because 'Where there is no vision, the people perish' (Proverbs 29v18).

I left the room renewed, touched and convicted by God through a man that has a such a heart to show people the relevancy of the gospel.

Functional Saviour, Functional Heaven

Driscoll's Reformission Equations

Gospel + Church - Culture = Fundamentalism

Gospel + Culture - Church = Parachurch

Culture + Church - Gospel = Liberalism

Church + Culture + Gospel = Reformission

Taken from 'The Radical Reformission' by Mark Driscoll pages 20-22


Here's a few of my own:

Culture - Gospel - Church = Secularism

Gospel - Church - Culture = Parachurch fundamentalism

Church - Culture - Gospel = The loveless Church (Rev 2v1-4)

Driscoll on God

'You have been told that God is a loving, gracious, merciful, kind, compassionate, wonderful, and good sky fairy who runs a day care in the sky and has a bucket of suckers for everyone because we're all good people. That is a lie... God looks down and says 'I hate you, you are my enemy, and I will crush you,' and we say that is deserved, right and just, and then God says 'Because of Jesus I will love you and forgive you.' This is a miracle.' -Mark Driscoll

I'm sure Mark Driscoll isn't all there...