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D.A. Carson on UK Churches (contra Mark Driscoll)

Feb 1st, 2012 by Michael F. Bird

Mark Driscoll seemed to think that the lack of mega-pastor celebrities in the UK is a litmus test of spiritual decline in the UK (I’m biting my tongue, restraining my fingers on key board, and will say no more about what a stupid criteria that is for spiritual vitality). During my time in the UK, I heard some great preaches like Vaughan Roberts from Oxford, Dominic Smart from Aberdeen, and Liam Goligher from Glasgow. One problem is that the US tends to poach some of the best UK pastors/preachers because US churches are just better resourced to give pastors a platform to have a wider ministry. Don’t believe me, think Sinclair Ferguson! Any ways, D.A. Carson has a good piece over at TGC on UK Churches which I heartily recommend since Carson is genuinely informed about the state of UK churches.

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  • Frederik Mulder

    In the context of the likes of Spurgeon and Martin Lloyd Jones, one should not dismiss Driscoll so easily… but yes, you make valid points

  • Joshua

    Driscoll’s comment was presumptuous and arrogant, although the interviewer was egging him on to a degree.

    In my mind Driscoll was speaking to the effect of: “You know what the UK’s problem is? It doesn’t have me. You should have someone great and influential the way I am. In fact, I think everyone should.”

    Anyway, as I said, I realize that the interviewer was egging him on, but at the same time, I can’t help but think that it was a bit over the top, not to mention, it’s not a very good criteria. The church in the UK is showing signs of growth, despite what Driscoll said.

  • Jeallman

    Thank you for speaking to this issue. It riles me, as well.

  • http://www.redeemerseminary.org/ Rev. Bill Burns

    I’d apologize for us Yanks poaching Sinclair Ferguson, but I can’t bring myself to do it!

  • Mkholmes 25

    I enjoyed Carson’s piece. Carson usually takes a little bit more time to think about what he says before Driscoll. When listening to some of Driscoll’s sermons and seeing some of his ideas/dreams turn into action, he definitely has a good heart and wants the best things for his congregation, as well as the world. However, his mouth is a loose cannon at times. Hopefully in time, Driscoll will use more of a filter.

  • Jeremy

    N.T. Wright, while not a ‘pastor’ anymore, is probably more popular than most anyone in the U.S.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniel-Fiester/100000218088527 Daniel Fiester

    When the interviewer asked Driscoll to defend his outrageous views about what constitutes appropriate sexual behaviors within marriage, Driscoll answered, “I’m a Biblical teacher.” As if that settled it, no further defense required.

    The interviewer was fair. Driscoll was the one who appeared immature.

  • http://mikesnow.org/ Michael Snow

    I did not know who Driscoll was until all the reviews on his book started popping up. As someone said, he has a motor mouth. I listened to the interview, and though I agree with his biblical interpretations except for his bit of porn in the book [I see a salivating book agent behind some of this], I thought the interviewer was very gracious. Driscoll seemed to get a bit paranoid.

  • Charles

    Criteria—->criterion. (Either way, stupid indeed. Driscoll seems caught up in his own celebrity. We Yanks are addicted to numbers. If numbers are a sure-fire sign of God’s blessing, then the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the LDS are way up there on his list.)