http://timmybrister.com/2009/02/12/my-take-on-baptist-press-throwing-mark-driscoll-under-the-bus/

In any case, sorry I was going on the media accounts. I stand by what I said in principle about those who swear as a form of “engaging the culture” but see now that Driscoll is no longer an example of that kind of contextualization.

Blessings,
Todd

As for the online questions, they were posted on the blog so that he could actually answer real questions he was being asked weekly (mostly from newer believers), without having to do so in church. I think this was really wise. Also, if you read the Q&A you’ll find a lot of the BP’s accusations are just ridiculous. When he does reference the notorious website they drill him for, he says himself that they don’t endorse everything on the site, but on the particular subject they had some interesting information. What they failed to mention is how helpful some of these online resources connected with the series could be. This Q&A series involves questions that everyone wonders but are often afraid to ask; if they do ask, the last place they will is at the church, because of reactions like the BP is exhibiting. If they cannot ask questions about sexuality at church then that is very dangerous. Also, connected with this series, Re: Lit put out Driscoll’s “Porn Again Christian,” which is probably the most helpful resource for young men about porn and masturbation available today (I just finished taking a small group of college guys through it who were incredibly helped by it).

I think this is yet another example of the good ole boys being the good ole boys. Instead of seeking to love and encourage a young pastor in a Paul-to-Timothy fashion the way John Piper and CJ Mahaney have, they are quite happy to throw many a baby out with the bath water. I don’t agree with everything Driscoll says and does, but he’s a brother with some incredible gifting and a sweet God-glorifying ministry. Let’s love, support, and learn together.

This comment from MacArthur is old news. Actually it is three years old, so my question is why is this being dragged back up at this time? I would just like to know what the motive of BP is in writing and publishing this article at this time? Are they just trying to embarrass Dr. Akins and SEBTS because Mark Driscoll was invited to speak and a very large number of young students turned out to hear Mark?

Driscoll also has gotten into hot water over the use of profanity before, at one time having the reputation as the “cussing pastor.” In that case, he repented, starting with a public apology for having become known for “good theology, a bad temper, and a foul mouth.

“This is not what I want to be known for,” he said then.

If Driscoll has repented then to continue to bring this stuff back up is unfortunate at best and quite possibly even sin. I am left to wonder if the BP, or even all Southern Baptist for that matter, actually believe in the doctrine of “Forgiveness”? If past sins for which I have repented are still grounds for disqualification from the ministry then brother “I am disqualified!” .

“”If a pastor is preaching or teaching on an edgy topic just to get the attention of people in the community, and not to glorify God, then he has stepped over a line,”

It would appear from this article that those who have an Ax to grind with Driscoll are quick to assign an impure to his preaching. Goodness I hope no one ever every says such a think about the current SBC Pastor… If my sources are correct I believe he has attracted the attention of quite a few people in his community as well… I sure hope he is not stepped over the line.

This whole article is a sad case of the BP attempting to “Slash, Trash, and Burn” the reputation of Mark Driscoll and to try and stem his growing influence among young Southern Baptist. I predict it will fail miserably as most young Southern Baptist do not read the BP… ever!

Grace Always,

More importantly, I think they would have done so if they were acting biblically. Instead they just basically engaged in slander and gossip. It was a hit piece on someone who espouses everything they fear – Calvinism, the Acts 29 network (full of drinkers and rock music), etc.

It’s all so petty and silly and political – great reminder about why I jumped out of the SBC a few years ago…

Driscoll does have critics, so it’s not unreasonable to speak with a few of them. However, because he has many supporters and people who are influenced by him within the SBC, BP also needed to speak with some people representative of that group as well.

BP could have written a feature on Driscoll and how and why he is so influential within the SBC, and easily touched on his “vulgarity”. Instead of dribbling inside for the sure layup (or dunk!), they knocked the ball out of bounds off their foot, then tried to pass it off like good basketball.