What does Rob Bell and Mark Driscoll have in Common?

By Daniel Korol on Jul 11, 2008 in Emerging Church, Faith

For those of you following these two pastors and the emerging Church movement, and especially those who follow Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Seattle knows that he wants to have as little to do with Rob Bell as possible. Rob Bell is the Pastor of Mars Hill Grand Rapids. Mark Driscoll says the following in a video on youtube:

“If you are a leader, Mclaren and Bell are probably good guys to read so that you know what‘s going on. But you know what though, I don‘t encourage them to our people I don‘t recommend them to our people and I would never sell them in our bookstore and I would never let them teach or preach at my church: Never. Unless i saw great repentance on some of their doctrinal instruction. The direction they are going I have strong concerns with. I know that will be very controversial…”

Rob Bell has as far as I am aware not made a comment on this. But I want to ask; what do they have in common?

Besides both calling there churches for “Mars Hill”, being pastors and influential leaders, the one thing they have in common is John Piper.

Rob Bell writes the following in a footnote to his book “Velvet Elvis”: “Read everything John Piper has ever written, beginning with the Dangerous Duty of Delight.” (you can read the 3 first chapters for free from John Pipers website.)

Mark Driscoll has this to say about John Piper on his blog: “Last week was a glorious week. Early Friday morning my wife Grace and I boarded a flight to Minneapolis for the national Desiring God conference hosted by my friend Dr. John Piper.

Interesting to note that two guys who are so far from each other theologically, find common ground in John Piper. For an in depth look at there differences and similarities read my thesis on the Emerging Church, “The dream of a perfect church.”

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  • We have a tendency to forget the context of these Pastor's particular cultures.

    When complaints arise regarding Driscoll's fighting spirit and unapologetic, 'black and white' viewpoints, consider: he fights for Jesus because he HAS to. He's working out of the least churched city in America. Seattle is one of the most pluralistic, 'grey area' cultures, full of people who think they know God, but have no idea.

    Now look at Rob Bell, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and ask yourself if they're in the same type of fight. Bell contextualizes the Gospel for his congregation, and Driscoll does the same for his.

    If they weren't offering their people a message that matters to them, where they are, capable of making real change in their life, THEN I'd be worried.
  • Laura
    The constand division and posturing I see in the Christian Church has always confused and frustrated me. We are called to be one in Christ but in 2000 years we have yet to get it right.

    I listened to Rob Bell's defense of Mars Hill Grand Rapids on YouTube and was greatly impressed by his attitude. He was not concerned with tearing down those who accuse him of heresy. His response is simply "Love Wins." In this statement more than any other I have heard in this "emergent church conversation" I hear the voice of Jesus.
  • Hi Laura,

    Thanks for your comment.
    I totally agree with you on everything you say!

    I have followed Bell closely and I have never heard him defend himself more than his "love wins" talk. The polarization that is created by Driscoll and other Calvin and reformed inspired theologians and pastors is at this moment in time not helpful to the way of Jesus whatsoever.

    So what do we do with the division that does exist? Is it possible to build relationship and friendship? Should it be a goal?
  • Ty
    I feel that Mark Driscoll is responding the same way a Christian should respond to Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons. JW's and Mormons have a very skewed view of doctrinal points concerning salvation, Jesus, etc... and this is why Mark defends. Mark isn't defending his personal ego he is defending Jesus Christ and the living Word. If we are to say that the virgin birth never happened, there is no hell or that Jesus wasn't God despite what the Bible teaches then should we not defend it? Or should we let it go and let everyone design a Jesus which makes them feel good regardless of how biblically unsound it is?
  • hi there Ty,
    Thanks for your comment. I certainly believe Mark is defending what he believes to be the way, truth and life. If my view he does it quite lovingly, harsh and arrogant. He gives no room for any other views on any topic. And there are many views on many topics. We see this even amongst the writers of the bible. Peter writes for example how he finds some of the stuff Paul writes for difficult to understand.
    Rob Bell has never said the Virgin birth never happened. He wrote this in his book "Velvet Elvis" but if you have read it you will see quite clearly that was not what he meant.
    I call myself a christian and follower of Jesus. But i can guarantee that my view on many things in Christianity are very far from Mark Driscoll. His view on woman to name just one thing. (it would bring us back to the dark 1500s, thank God we have all moved on) Most of his views are very reformed. His focus is would be on the cross being the central thing in Jesus life. I would argue the incarnation(God becoming man, like the orthodox church) is just as important in understanding Jesus...but give me more of your thoughts...

    /Daniel
  • Jenn
    As far as I'm concerned, Driscoll's lacking in theological soundness, decency, and humility. He has no business being an elder.
  • Instructions for the church would best be found in 1 and 2 Corinthians. In Titus I see:
    A. Qualifications for leaders
    B. Rebuke the vain talkers
    C. Teach sound doctrine
    D. Teachings of the Grace of God
    E. Justified by God's Grace
    F. Maintian Good works
    I see verse 5 but there is much more to it if you look at the book as a whole. However, I do believe there are some great instructions for Leadership in Titus and I love the Elder concept.
  • guest
    I recommend the book of Titus (in the bible), how does Paul tell Titus to straighten out what has been left unfinished? By appointing elders.

    Mark Driscoll is a good pastor/elder.
  • guest
    Rob's book "The Velvet Elvis" is full of heresy, this is quite unfortunate.
  • Is it odd to anyone that just a few years ago Barna was writing about how great the local church was. Guess he just needed some more money so he went with the flow once again. By the way this book was written a few years ago by viola and it was put on the back burner where it belonged. It was not till barna put his name on it that gave it any credibility at all. A Church without leadership? Jesus did not even attempt that one.
  • Jonny Velocity
    You're right. Jesus is the leader of the Church
  • CMW
    I say forget both of these guys and read more by George Barna and Frank Viola. Scrap the big personality, super-star pastorate that isn't Biblical anyway. Let's go for congregationally led church. Anyone??
  • Jonny Velocity
    YES!
  • Sean Daily
    I attend one of the Mars Hill and I really have been blessed by both pastors. I was disheartened to hear Mark say Rob was a heratic after never meeting him. I've listened to almost every word preached by Rob Bell in the last eight years, and theologically he is very similar to Mark...just don't tell Mark. :-) Also listened to A LOT, obviously, by Mark...loved his slam on Home Schoolers (of which I am one). Funny stuff.
  • Andrés
    Eh, you forgot that your thesis about the dream of your perfect church is written in a Scandinavian language or something
  • Yeah it is unfortunately written in Norwegian. You can however read a small portion of what it is about in one of my other post here on this blog. You will find it here.
  • I've enjoyed both Bell's Nooma videos and am a big fan of Driscoll. However, I've not read anything written by either of them. This connection to Piper is highly interesting. If Bell & Driscoll were put in the UFC Octagon, I'm sure Driscoll would win. ;-)
  • I am pretty sure he would win too. I have a feeling Bell is more a "turn the other cheek guy". Driscoll however is always up for a fight. I believe that is also a big difference in how they see Christianity. Bell sees Jesus as someone one takes part of. Driscoll sees Jesus as someone we have to fight for and defend.
  • guest
    i don't think driscoll sees Jesus as someone he has to fight for or defend for. rather i believe driscoll is out to warn non-christians that Jesus is someone that they'll have to fight and defend against if they do not repent.
  • Thanks for the info. I'm recently joining this emerging/emergent conversation. I've been challenged by watching a number of Rob Bell videos. I then got confused by the whole Mars Hill/Mars Hill Bible church names, and started watching some Driscoll videos. I understand Driscoll is considered emergent, but I'm a bit confused as how that label applies to him. I have viewed the emerging church to be a bit less black and white on the non-essentials and trying to put the focus back on the original central message of the gospel... Driscoll seems to me to be black and white on all issues... maybe just a different black and white than some other traditional churches...

    Interesting post tho... they both like Piper... (and Jesus too)
  • Thanks for your comments Jonathan.

    You have got it right when Driscoll is a little more black and white than some other traditional churches. I would remove Mark Driscoll from the emerging church category all together. He played a part in the conversation early on, but has no desire to be a part of it any more. But as you pointed out, he loves Jesus.
  • Hi Ted,
    Both Bell and Driscoll certainly have become "superstar" pastors in a quite short period of time. I have a couple questions for you?
    How are they not sharing the spotlight?(any examples)
    And how would you want them to share the spotlight?(any suggestions?)
    Are there Christian leaders you can recommend?
  • Ted S.
    One thing in common?
    Neither one is willing to share the spotlight with anybody.
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