by Travis Maples
Well I bought my copy of Mark Driscoll's book Confessions of a Reformation Rev. day before yesterday. Driscoll is a pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Wa. I looked through the table of contents and I have to say I have no clue what to expect. First off there's a chapter zero. I don't think I have ever read a book with a chapter zero. I thought with this first post I would stick with the prelude and chapter zero.
Obviously the goal of this blog is to keep the family in Chicago and the family in Knoxville connected by uniting around our love for the truth in the gospel and our love for reading. So ofcourse the first book that DD chooses to really foster unity and fellowship around the dinner table is a hot topic issue like the Emerging Church.
This book seems to be a little bit of everything. Not only is it an account of Mark Driscoll and his development as a pastor in particular but it's also his "blow by blow history of Mars Hill Church" in the least churched cities in the country, Seattle. The city that he loves "like drunk uncle". In doing so he exposes folks to church history, church and cultural trends and terms like "reformission", "missional" and "emerging". I love his writing, though I'm not sure if it's for his insitefulness, his passion or the way he seems to say "whatever, I don't care what you say, I'll put a chapter zero in my book if I want to".
At first I didn't know how accurate his data was when I didn't see Knoxville listed among the giants. I was alittle offended and wondered how credible this book could be, to see Knoxville so carelessly disregarded. I mean we do have several building downtown that have more than ten floors. Did he not understand the impact that Knoxville has on the cultural and spiritual landscape of America? I mean Chicago not being listed I understand, but Knoxville?
There's so much to unpack in this book. We could spend all day going back and forth on all the points he makes about culture and the church's role in it. Cultural centers, east and west coast forces, magnet cities and urban culture making, trend setting tribes that exhert their influence on the rest of us hilljacks.
So in the Prelude I encountered an interested concept. The "Noah's Dove Church"(pg.11), which he seems to consider Mars Hill. Like Noah's dove there are churches that are sent out to look for land, "a new world of ministry opportunity to explore, among cities, young people and cultural progressives"(Pg.11). Driscoll asserted that churches not located in these areas have an obligation to seek out and learn from these "Noah's dove"churches that are on the front lines of culture production. In a sense these guys are running reconnaissance for the rest of us.
Chapter Zero: Ten Curious Questions are a kick in the tail, but are some generally good accountability questions for faithfulness to our calling as Christians and the calling of our church to minister the gospel to our local culture.
- Will your Rev. require reformission?
- Will your church be traditional and institutional, contemporary and evangelical, or emerging and missional?
- Will your church be an emergent liberal church or an emerging evangelical church?
- Will you proclaim a gospel of forgiveness, fulfillment, or freedom?
- Will your church be attractional, missional, or both?
- What size shoe will your church wear?
- Will your church have a mission of community or be a community of mission?
- Will your leaders work from guilt or conviction?
- Do you have the guts to shoot your dogs?
- Can you wield a sword and a trowel?
What stuck out to you guys the most?
Is there a question in chapter zero that was more convicting or encouraging than the others?
Obviously being in leadership in your church in a more direct way, was there anything in particular that you would like to adapt from the book?
11 comments:
Thanks for the Review Travis, I appreciate how you recognize the cultural and spiritual relevance the sprawling metropolis of Knoxville has on the nation at large. Very insightful.
I have really enjoyed the discussion questions at the end of each chapter. It helps to process some of the content laid out in each chapter.
I wonder how the emerging style of church would do outeach and community into places like Knoxville and South-Chicago suburbs?
I really like how he approaches community and mission with question 7 "Will your church have a mission of community or be a community of mission?"
My favorite line thus far has to be "preaching a complimentary view of women (headship and submission) goes over just about as well as farting in a crowded elevator."
So here goes! I love this book! I go from laughing out loud, to being shocked at his candor, to saying to Dabo - Listen to this, this is so good! I never liked the idea of a megachurch, but this is causing me to rethink my position! The idea that people born after 1965 are used to big everything and feel at home in a megachurch - interesting! And do you have the guts to shoot your dogs?! It's true - churches know who and what their dogs are but don't have the courage to pull the trigger! I encourage everyone (come on Randy & Julie!) to read this book - I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
Aunt Ruth, That's true at first I was like "what's the deal with all the numbers, why is it so important how many numbers are in a church?" But his argument for being "attractional" as in how many numbers you can attract is all about how many people you can get to hear the gospel, how many people you can impact with the gospel, kingdom building.
Travis
My favorite quote so far:
"Leaders must frequently decide between offending Christ or a Christian, and Ghost-guided biblical conviction alone must determine the duties of church leaders."
I also thought it was very interesting the whole "Generational" approach to ministry. You hear so much about "Gen X" or reaching your specific generation. I like the Biblical approach to a generation being everyone living on the planet at that time. I think having a "Gen X" approach can really hinder our evangelistic approach to others.
I'm really enjoying this book as well. There are a few things about his style that annoy me: (1) that he includes a Chapter zero, and (2) the way he uses "Ghost" instead of Spirit or Holy Ghost...not wrong, just a little quirky to me.
I like that Driscoll's candor literally forces you to think differently about familiar topics. His edginess can be a bit shocking sometimes, but ultimately it is thought provoking and often challenging.
In reading through the questions he poses, I couldn't help but consider Echo. The question "Do you have the guts to shoot your dogs?" made me stop and think...have we even identified our dogs? Do we know what the good ideas are and what the bad ideas are? Do we have the foresight to analyze what is not working and why. Something to think about!
I am very drawn to Mark's writing style and way of thinking. I just love how real he is. I am mostly challenged by the way he talks about being missional--boldly being who you are as a Christian in the middle of the culture that surrounds you.
He describes the people in evangelical contemporary churches as typically being private about their faith outside of church but very expressive about it in church. This really grabbed my attention because I think that is me at this point in my life. As a stay-at-home mom, I have given into the fear of man and have gotten out of the habit of sharing the Gospel regularly. I have reached out to neighbors with hospitality, but have gotten stuck with actually crossing the line to challenge where they are spiritually. So that description Mark gave would fit me right now. I believe that this book is going to encourage me in living a "missional" life. So I'm really excited to read it!!! I am really praying for God to help me. I don't want to look back on my life and remember my evangelistic days as only having been in high school and college! I'd love it if you guys would pray this for me--that I would be bold and take every opportunity I can to share.
I'm so glad we're doing this! I love it already!!! Whose next? Beth?
Beth, I have to agree that every time he talks about the Ghost, I have to cringe. God the Ghost is even wierder! But I like the Chapter "Zero" - it prepares you for the rest of the book!
Amy - good to hear from you!
It's all well and good to shoot your dogs until you head out with your pastor for coffee one day and BLAM!!! you get blasted yourself!
I don't think our pastors have any qualms with laying busters down...
Helps you see the need for humility and a vision for the bigger mission.
Travis - you are so funny!
I would like to nominate mom as the official site encourager/exhorter.
Travis/Amy we are pumped to see you soon.
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