controversial quote of the week: Mark Driscoll

Posted on September 7, 2007  by Geoff Matheson
Filed Under Church, Quotes

From the always-controversial Mark Driscoll:

“The reason they (young men) don’t go to most churches is because they could take the pastor and can’t respect a guy in a lemon-yellow sweater, sipping decaf and talking about his feelings.”

(The Resurgence - The Right Hand of Fellowship, Hat tip to planet telex)

Discuss.

About Geoff Matheson

Geoff is a 23 year old database administrator who has birthed amateurtheology.org from some crazy thoughts he had early one Monday morning. Geoff does his best to sound lots smarter than he actually is. He also runs some youth stuff at Yarra Valley Vineyard, and he is married to the very lovely Rebecca.

Geoff's site: http://www.geoffreport.com/wp/

Comments

4 Responses to “controversial quote of the week: Mark Driscoll”

  1. Geoff Matheson on September 7th, 2007 9:40 am
    Just as a clarification, in the context of the post, the phrase “could take the pastor” is in reference to being able to beat the pastor in a physical fight.
  2. Rebecca on September 10th, 2007 9:54 am

    As much as the stereotype description puts me (a girl) off… (anyone who drinks decaf is a try hard) the fault cannot possibly lie just with the pastor. It throws into mix perhaps how we treat church, individuals within our churches and even our approach to leadership.

    also, I guess the whole ‘lemon’ thing is reflective of us/leaders/Christians trying to chase and fit a cultural mould (perhaps the metrosexual?) which is an issue in itself - because it seems the church continuously on the lag when it comes to ‘being trendy’.

    It’s a tad pathetic to imitate - why do we try? People should expend more effort in understanding themselves as themselves and not as copies. To really hit ‘now culture’ you need truth and truthfulness.

    Lemon screams phony, and as a 20 something (Christian or not), that’s what I’m trying to avoid.

  3. Geoff Matheson on September 11th, 2007 10:53 am
    But do you think that the real problem with young men (in particular) not coming to church is that we have an image problem? I’m not so sure. I think your comment about authenticity is closer to the heart of the issue than “toughness”. I think that if you try and turn yourself into someone who could take all the people in your congregation: you end up with the same pretence.
  4. Rebecca on September 11th, 2007 11:14 am

    I’m sure there are some roots in tradition/try-hard’ism that are off putting but yes, I think the issue lies more within a lack of authenticity and general honest relationship.

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