William Paul Young’s best selling book The Shack has provided comfort to millions of people all over the world. But not everyone likes it. Especially the pastor of Mars Hill – Mark Driscoll watch
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I found this on Bob Hyatt's Blog blog. The author of wildly popular book, "The Shack" calls Mark Driscoll to meet him publicly to dialogue (to "man up") about his assertions of heresy. Paul Young would like to have him do it to his face. He says in the blog that he has a few questions for Driscoll as well. Interesting! Do you think Driscoll will or should show for the public dialogue or is he is a simply a "pulpit bully."
The bigger questions for me are: Is this the best way to resolve this sort of public castigation? Is it a power (or camera) grab by Young (and Jim Henderson)? Can a person make very public "heresy" assertions (a very serious contention) without any accountability or push back? Is there a better way to both challenge aberrant positions (aside from what you think about Young's book) or to defend ones self against others siloed allegations? Not to come off "hyper-spiritual (as if I could do that)," but what is the Jesus way?
Let me know what you think?
What I want to know is, what’s that white mark on Mark’s jeans? Is that a pen in a cargo pocket, or some goofy decoration?
I am tracking with you on this one Andrew. If we speak out as a provocateur, then we should have to answer for our exaggerated statements.
Rob, I think you are correct. The author of the shack was not writing a systematic theology. There may be some interesting theological implications of the book, but his intention was certainly not to start making doctrine. This though seems to be the intention of Driscoll, who for some reason thinks that he has the know how–which, he clearly does not–to proclaim sweeping and unfounded statements about Christian doctrine.
I actually think that William Paul Young should meet him publicly. Driscoll goes around running his mouth about what he believes to be theologically correct and no body ever challenges him–someone should make him accountable for all of the crap he says publicly. And why does everyone listen to him anyway? I obviously don’t like Mark Driscoll very much, and in that way I probably lean toward having Driscoll meet with Young in order to have him back up his assertions. Is this the Jesus way you ask? Sometimes. Can we and should we meet publicly to talk about issues of faith and theology? Yes? But can we do it in in the character of Christ? That is the bigger question.
Yes, it’s a story, a great one, for communicating larger truths of the Gospel and all truth which ultimately flows from God. You don’t need a self-help book to spell that out before you read something like the Shack. It’s called being educated and understanding how to read literature.
M.Driscoll obviously feels himself to be an arbiter of truth and correct doctrine, enough to publicly chastise another believer. Ballsy and bizarre, sort of like alot of American Christianity in general.
Thanks Nance. Great insight. The whole heresy contention is amazing. I am not certain that Mark understands the full gravity of tossing around such assertions. If he does, worse yet.
Maybe I should just say this for clarity sake (I know, restating the obvious) – It’s a novel, not a systematic theology tome.
In general, giving people more press gives them more press. Obviously Young feels strongly enough about this charge for some reason to go after him. I look at people like Billy Graham and others who tend to ignore and move on. In business, the phrase is “Success is the best form of revenge.” So to Young I would say go out and write a killer sequel and dedicate it to Pastor Mark Driscoll.
Jesus? He would have told an amazingly eloquent parable, gone to a party and then moved onto the next village, dust clean off his feet.