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Tony Jones on Mark Driscoll: What came first, the thug or the theology?
This drawing is inspired by the Ouroboros Snake... of the snake eating its own tail.
What came first? The chicken or the egg? What came first? The thug or the theology? I read Tony Jones' thoughts on Mark Driscoll.
Jones has always admired Driscoll, maybe envies him a little, wants the best for him, believes he can be redeemed, and suggests that things can be restored.
What I found most interesting though is that Jones believes the problem with Driscoll is theological.
- He titles his post is "Thoughts about Mark Driscoll"
- He talks about the "heady" days of publishing and speaking.
- He dismisses his disturbing personality traits by his use of the word "sure".
- He says it isn't a moral issue (evil) but that he is passionate.
- He says more than once that Driscoll is "extremely smart" or "brilliant".
- He suggests that he will "see" (as in "think"?) his way out of this.
- He writes that Driscoll has just embraced a toxic version of theology.
- He hopes that Driscoll will turn away from this toxic theology.
- He concludes therefore that Driscoll is not the problem, but his theology.
But my question is‚ What came first? The thug or the theology?
That is, did Driscoll become the focus of concern because of his theology? Or was it because of his behavior?
I'm concerned that Jones' post reflects the refusal of the church to understand spiritual abuse. It neglects the pathology of its abusive leaders. I don't think this is being fair to the victims or the perpetrators of spiritual abuse. People are victims of not just a bad theology, but a pathological cruelty.
I don't think Driscoll's theology made this happen. Driscoll "embraced" his toxic version of theology because it aligned with his moral compass. It fit his personality. It worked for him to achieve his goals. Then it manifested the worst in him. Then he continued to develop his toxic theology in order to make more room for his pathological behavior. Mars Hill Church too.
Jones' sentence, "It could have happened to any of us." is true, because I believe we all participate in this dynamic. Theology is our creation. It is a reflection of our drives and desires.
Then, not satisfied to only be the product of our drives and desires, it also becomes the producer of them. Theology is a vicious cycle of our desperate need to understand and control our universe.
Step into this cycle at any point and you can see that we are both the root and fruit of our theology and pathology.
And yes, it spins out of control by manifesting itself in toxic, controlling, and abusive behavior. Nothing can be done about bad theology because of free thought and speech.
But we can do something when this manifests itself in bad behavior. Cruel theology is a nuisance. Cruel behavior is unacceptable.
When Driscoll thinks bully to his people, we can say please stop. But when he actually bullies people, we can step in and say you will stop now!
I don't think this is a theological issue. I think it is a pathological one. Not just for Driscoll and Jones, but for the entire church.
If we would be healed, our theology would take care of itself.
1079 comments
A significant wire service news story is coming in the next few days.
I agree with Brother Maynard, apologies are not about evidence and proof, they are about acknowledgment of the person. It isn’t necessary to throw anyone under the bus in order to validate Julie’s story.
The attempts to escalate the request for an apology to the level of an investigation or trial seem intended to over-complicate the matter and avoid simply acknowledging the grievance.
Brad outlined above (9/25, 1:56) the existing evidence supporting Julie’s story and the potential issues involving a more complex investigation.
“But any larger and more formal process could actually get way more complicated in part because, as best I understand it, most of that core list of people she’s mentioned had at the time of the main events all kinds of “interlocking connections” via business companies, tax-exempt non-profit church(es), and a tax-exempt non-profit corporation. It isn’t simply that they were all friends as Emergent Village writers-speakers-leaders-mentors. So that brings potential regulatory agency issues to bear (which is some of what Mars Hill could also end up dealing with), on top of the contentions of criminal actions and/or civil liability issues."
@Becky Garrison: re RHE etc., that’s disappointing. I guess she’s too close to the complex…
@RobGrayson BTW, go over the list of authors touted as connected to emergent and it’s VERY telling to see who is silent here. Re Rachel Held Evans – she has been asked on a # of occasions to lend her voice when women and LGBT people were being bullied both on and offline – not only she has chosen to stay silent, but she has blocked those who question her silence given her status as a public author who claims to be championing women and LGBT rights. Hence, not holding one’s breath here. As far as other influential blogs – take a log as the analytics of this blog – it’s now more influential than a lot of the named authors. We are the change we’ve been waiting for …
Which brings me to @LostVoice words of wisdom. During this dialogue, I was reminded by some trusted friends thatI cannot ask or demand an apology – that has to come freely from the person once they realize of their own culpability and the need to make amends. What we can do is lay out how we have been wronged and then as best we can create a grace filled space so those with ears to hear will step up to the plate – we’ve seen this here with Steve Knight, Tall Skinny Kiwi and a few others connected to US emergent. At this juncture, I feel to keep demanding an apology will result in more bashing one’s head into the wall that will result in non-apologies such as the one issued by Brian or partial truths a la Mike (sorry but you told me this year that there never was an affair between Courtney and Tony, a fact that without a doubt discredits Julie’s story. Also, as one hired to promote Brian’s products, handle PR for Wild Goose and the like you definitely have skin in the game).
What we can continue doing is speak the truth and bring this to light – this is what happened at Mars Hill and the results speak for themselves (and good chunks of that story have yet to be brought to light). As in the case of Mars Hill publishers, conference organizers and even those leading the very Acts 29 Network Driscoll co-founded concluded thatit was bad business to associate with him anymore – the blowback wasn’t worth whatever buzz and bucks he could deliver. I feel the same has happened re all those connected with US Emergent will think twice about here they want to invest their time and money. As more of the truth continues to surface, it will be harder for authors/speakers, publishers, conference organizersand othes who keep the Christian industrial complex going to say yes to what these bullies are pushing.
@ Mike M
“I’ve stayed out of it since my apology for calling Julie names several years ago”.
There’s the problem right there, that’s why Julie doesn’t trust you. If you want to truly own it, I mean really own, it, Mike, you don’t make that your preamble, because it minimizes and decontextualizes what you did; i.e., ALL I DID was call her names (you know, “sticks and stones…”), it was SEVERAL years ago (come on, get over it already, Julie, what the heck!)
No, I will not reveal myself, inasmuch as I don’t want my family getting the sort of treatment Julie got. And in all candor, I’m willing to bet it doesn’t “make you cynical”, it just ticks you off.
It takes time to learn how to own it, it’s not easy, it hurts, but it’s probably the first step to mental and spiritual health. It’s how I came to know the Lord in the first place, it’s how I grow in Christ. And when I apologize—as I’ve had to do on a number of occasions to my wife and children, it’s never been easy and they’d never allow me to qualify it. I’ve just had to learn to eat it whole, choke it down. There you go, that’s what you do.
Now on to the “dislikes”, I truly love them and own them gladly…