The Cussing Pastor

There is an interesting movement afoot in the Mega-Church world. Mark Driscoll, known as the "Cussing Pastor" has developed a hyper-masculine, uber-Calvinist style of church that has a attracted a large following of young people in Seattle. The NYTimes Magazine article about Driscoll argues that this is really a reaction to to main-stream evangelical pastors who have been watering down the edgier side of Jesus and the Gospel for the sake of attracting seekers. Driscoll will have none of that. Neither will he abide feminists or, apparently, dissent to his policies!

Nowhere is the connection between Driscoll’s hypermasculinity and his Calvinist theology clearer than in his refusal to tolerate opposition at Mars Hill. The Reformed tradition’s resistance to compromise and emphasis on the purity of the worshipping community has always contained the seeds of authoritarianism: John Calvin had heretics burned at the stake and made a man who casually criticized him at a dinner party march through the streets of Geneva, kneeling at every intersection to beg forgiveness. Mars Hill is not 16th-century Geneva, but Driscoll has little patience for dissent. In 2007, two elders protested a plan to reorganize the church that, according to critics, consolidated power in the hands of Driscoll and his closest aides. Driscoll told the congregation that he asked advice on how to handle stubborn subordinates from a “mixed martial artist and Ultimate Fighter, good guy” who attends Mars Hill. “His answer was brilliant,” Driscoll reported. “He said, ‘I break their nose.’ ” When one of the renegade elders refused to repent, the church leadership ordered members to shun him. One member complained on an online message board and instantly found his membership privileges suspended. “They are sinning through questioning,” Driscoll preached. John Calvin couldn’t have said it better himself. (source)

But this is not your grandfather's Calvinism--Driscoll is very with-it. He knows exactly how to speak to this generation and does so fluently. Nor he is afraid to talk about sex. This is one of the things that alienates him from other evangelicals. "Family friendly" he ain't!

Anyway, I would recommend the article for it's protrayal of this very controversial preacher and exploration of how Calvinism and Chauvinism intersect.

-t