{ I first wrote this article in 2009 – Shawn}

“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” II Peter 2:2

“Even the skeptical viewer must admit that whatever {Mark} Driscoll’s opinion of certain recreational activities, he has the coolest style and foulest mouth of any preacher you’ve ever seen.”– Molly Worthen

There is a new movement in “Christianity” and eventually it will make its way to your neck of the woods. It has been called different names, but for convenience sake, in this article I will call it The Emerging Church. The leaders in this movement have publically stated that they are out to recruit the children and grandchildren of fundamentalists.  One of the emerging leaders is Mark Driscoll the pastor of Mars Hill church in Seattle, Washington. Mars Hill has over 7000 in attendance.

The New York Times magazine recently published an article about Mark Driscoll entitled “Who Would Jesus Smack Down?” by Molly Worthen {I wasn’t sure what the term “smack down” meant so I did some research. It is a professional (?) wrestling term that means to beat somebody up – Bro. Shawn}.

I hope you will please take the time to read this entire article.

Here are a few excerpts from Miss Worthen’s report.

“In the lobby one Sunday not long ago, college kids in jeans — some sporting nose rings or kitchen-sink dye jobs — lounged on ottomans and thumbed text messages to their friends. The front desk, black and slick, looked as if it ought to offer lattes rather than Bibles and membership pamphlets. Buzz-cut and tattooed security guards mumbled into their headpieces and directed the crowd toward the auditorium, where the worship band was warming up for an hour of hymns with Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”

“Driscoll has been called the cussing Pastor because of his vulgarity and salty language. An “Under 17 Requires Adult Permission” warning flashes before the video cuts to evening services at Mars Hill…”

“He {Driscoll} came to admire Martin Luther, the vulgar, beer-swilling theological rebel who sparked the Reformation. “I found him to be something of a mentor,” Driscoll says. “I didn’t have all the baggage he did. But you can see him with a quill in one hand and a drink in the other. He married a brewer and renegade nun. His story is kind of indie rock.”

“Driscoll disdains the prohibitions of traditional evangelical Christianity. Taboos on alcohol, smoking, swearing and violent movies have done much to shape American Protestant culture — a culture that he has called the domain of “chicks and some chickified dudes with limp wrists.” Moreover, the Bible tells him that to seek salvation by self-righteous clean living is to behave like a Pharisee. Unlike fundamentalists who isolate themselves, creating “a separate culture where you live in a Christian cul-de-sac,” as one spiky-haired member named Andrew Pack puts it, Mars Hillians {those who attend Mars Hill Church – SD} pride themselves on friendships with non-Christians. They tend to be cultural activists who play in rock bands and care about the arts, living out a long Reformed tradition that asserts Christ’s mandate over every corner of creation.”

You can read Molly Worthen’s entire article @ www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/magazine/11punk-t.html

Joseph Laycock in his article Hyper-Muscular Christianity writes the following concerning Driscoll: “In Seattle, self-described “charismatic Calvinist” Mark Driscoll preaches that “Jesus is a prize fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand, and the willingness to make someone bleed.  That is a guy I can worship…I cannot worship a guy I can beat up.”

“Driscoll says, “Restrictive Christians go too far and name everything a universal sin, forbidding some culture activities that the Bible does not, such as listening to certain musical styles, getting tattoos, watching movies, smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol, and body piercing” (The Radical Reformission, p. 103).”

“Mars Hill {church} shows R-rated movies. In fact, Driscoll says that some of his sermons on sex are R-rated and that visiting youth groups have been embarrassed and walked out half-way through the message”

{From the Article “The Emerging Church is Coming” by David Cloud}

So… let me ask you; Is this the future of Christianity?  

In a few years, I believe a great majority of  “fundamental”  churches in my area will have moved in the direction of the Mars Hill Church. Some already have. They will have to in order to survive. Here is why in my opinion,

Many of our church members regularly watch PG and R-rated movies.

Many of our church members enjoy country and rock music.

Many of our church members believe it doesn’t matter how you dress.

Many of our church members don’t see anything wrong with being tattooed.

Many of our church members don’t see anything wrong with having a drink or two.

Many of our church members don’t see anything wrong with cussing and using off colored language and telling vulgar stories.

Maybe it’s different where you are, but that is what I see from a lot of Baptist church folk, {not to mention the other denominations} especially the younger crowd.

I believe the Emergent church movement will attract a lot of people, people who are sick of the hypocrisy. It will attract people who are tired of acting one way on Saturday night and another way on Sunday morning. I think it will be “a breath of fresh air” for a lot of people. No more pretending. Now they will be able to behave in church like they behave the rest of the week. And they will find a pastor lives just like they do.

Pastor Mark Driscoll likes to say his church is “theologically conservative and culturally liberal”.

In other words “our theology is conservative but we live like the rest of the world”.  No matter how you label your theology if it doesn’t change your life, it’s not Biblical.

It really boils down to the philosophy of moral relativism. {The belief that concepts such as right and wrong, goodness and badness, or truth and falsehood are not absolute but change from culture to culture and situation to situation. – Encarta Dictionary} There is no definite right or wrongs.

Unregenerate people will always bring forth corrupt fruit. These “church people” will call evil good and good evil. That is why we are going to have a deluge of cussing, drinking preachers and church members just like them. {Like people, like priest Hosea 4:9}

May I give a small word of personal testimony?

When God saved me…

I realized I couldn’t drink alcohol any longer.

I realized I couldn’t cuss anymore.

I realized I couldn’t use off colored language anymore.

I realized I couldn’t watch television with foul language and nudity anymore.

I realized I had to get rid of all my country and rock music.

And I didn’t even have to go to discipleship class for a year to find these things out.

Someone had moved in when I was born again and He is performing in my life, and He will continue to perform until the day of Jesus Christ. {Philippians 1:6}

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” {Romans 6:22}

What about these false teachers and licentious “believers”?

The Bible says “…they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” –  Bro. Shawn

Inset photo;  “Christian” rock concert Charleston ,WV 2012