What does Rob Bell and Mark Driscoll have in Common?

Posted by Daniel Korol on Jul 11, 2008 in Emerging Church, Spirituality |

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.

Read my thoughts on Heaven, Hell and Rob Bell here. (and his book “love wins”)

For an in depth look at there differences and similarities read my thesis on the Emerging Church, “The dream of a perfect church.”