How NOT to preach the Gospel (Part 2).

In my first post of this series (a response to Mark Driscoll's tirade against abusive men), I gave some reasons to why his method is not an effective way to preach Christ's forgiveness. After meditating on how to share the Gospel with Christians who live in unrepentant sin, and arguing with some who believe Driscoll's method to be spot on, I have developed my argument more fully.

Preaching should include law and gospel (sin and grace), but where was the gospel in what Driscoll said? I'm really troubled that there are so many men in his congregation that live the way he says they do. Still, scripture, properly applied, does not simply mean yelling at people from the pulpit whether you are giving law and gospel, or not.

It is appropriate for such men who continue to live in unrepentant sin to be cast out after they have been properly confronted. A little leaven leavens the whole loaf! On the other hand, why is he not yelling at the women who stay in such abusive relationships? They are in sin that is just as revolting. Yet, the bar seems to be set abysmally low so that instead of encouraging women to be healthy and wait for godly men, he simply yells at the men for being ungodly. So how do we properly confront such people (men and women)?

Consider Matthew 18:15-17 and ask yourself if Driscoll applies it properly.

"If your brother [or sister] sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

That passage is directed towards individuals, is it not? The biblical way of pointing a man towards the grace of God is to direct him to see his sin through the lens of God's forgiving grace. This should be done firmly by showing him his fault while allowing him to know that he is still loved and supported. Importantly, loving support means that you do not accept a person living in destructive behavior. That being the case, you should send them from your midst when you gather if they don't repent.

If you preach sin and judgment without a gospel of grace and forgiveness you preach a crushing and unbearable burden upon the shoulders of people. Guilt brings death if it is not used to reveal God's love for sinners and forgiveness for them. I am concerned that many people who believe Driscoll was right in the way he addressed sin are suffering from unresolved and unrighteous anger towards abusive people.

How NOT to preach the Gospel.

The video is Mark Driscoll shouting at the men in his congregation who have failed in their duties as men, husbands, boyfriends, etc. The motivational message he drives home is powered by the engine of guilt and lacking in grace completely. If he is preaching to unbelievers his message derides them because he is not allowed to judge those who do not claim the name of Christ. They live according to their nature. If he is preaching solely to Christians, he does not invoke the love of God that brings us to repentance. He is quick to condemn. Watch it:



I know that some men (and women) who watched this clenched their fist and shouted, "Preach it!" Do you not know that you are that man? What makes you the judge of your brother? Do you not need forgiveness just as desperately? Do not make the love you have for others a love of self-righteousness. There is no checklist that you can complete that proves that you are capable of showing grace and mercy towards others that you have not first obtained from Christ, yourself. The love we know has been taught to us by Christ alone and we boast in His love above anything that we can do.

Romans 8:1-4 states:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

In a worldly sense, men are under a legal obligation to the women they marry. After all, they sign a document stating that they have declared their intention to honor and love their wife. Yet the legal obligation they are under according to the worldly law is dead and their duties are resurrected in the spiritual law as gifts of unmerited love (this law applies to the single man, as well). Is not the best gift one that is given with no desire for something in return? That is love, and it is the gift of God's grace to us. We can offer the Lord nothing of ourselves that is worth His undeserved gift of forgiveness of sins, godliness and eternal life.

We must not teach one another to obey the gospel out of obligation or else our obedience is a self-righteous work. Truthfully, obedience on our part means that we trust in the sacrifice of Christ and His righteous life of obedience. That alone encourages us to count others as better than ourselves. The godliness of a true Christian comes from a broken and contrite heart because Christ was broken for our sakes. It is a heart that is humble and quick to forgive because of the forgiveness we have received. It is one that is quick to ask for forgiveness because we live by God's grace. Take that to heart you sinful man and know that the love of Christ alone will teach you to love a woman properly. Christ loved you, sinner, in order that His mercy and grace would teach you to show mercy and grace to those who don't deserve it.

Now go out and speak the truth in love!