Many of us have seen all the videos and posts on Facebook and YouTube about Mark Driscoll confronting Jim Lindell at the Stronger Men's Conference for using provocative worldly stunts to draw a crowd in.
This morning, I listened to a few bible teachers, and it came down to this: The issue is not really Mark’s confrontation or Jim making him step down. The real issue is deception that is infiltrating the church. I have said this before, the greater deception isn’t the stunts. Yes, they’re unnecessary and evil. But it is false teachings, new age practices, and control sneaking into doctrines, and preaching. Some even elevate experiences and the prophetic above scripture. More on this later.
Here are quotes from two pastors:
“We have chosen to use mass entertainment and carnal needs to try to draw people to the gospel. We’re really reaping what we've sown. We are bringing the world into the church and then wondering why worldly things are happening. We are bringing in compromise when we are using carnal means…” (Jeremiah J.)
“Another pastor friend put it this way, “When you begin to use gimmicks to get people into the church each gimmick must be bigger and grander than the one before. Before you know it, you're spending more money on gimmicks than evangelism and going down a dangerous path of worldliness... just to get people in the building.”
The major missing element at this event was repentance. It is also missing from many churches these days. True awakening and revival come are birthed where there has been sincere, heartfelt breaking and repentance before the Lord.
OK, back to the deception concern. Let’s look at a couple of scriptural warnings.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7 NKJV)
One who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house; One who speaks lies shall not maintain his position before me. (Psalm 101:7 NASB)
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. (2Timothy 3:1-5 NIV)
You might say where is God's love in all of this? God is love. He wants to set us free of all bondage, hurt and deception in our lives. It is because of His love that He doesn't want us to remain as we are. He wants us to become more like him. You know, be holy as H is holy. (1 Peter 1:15,16 NKJV) Check out Romans 2:4 (NASB) - Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
It all boils down the to this… it is time for the Church to wake up, to get back to being holy without fear of people being offended. We must rise up to be the God’s remnant in the land.
Lastly, if you would like to hear this presented in a way that is probably better than what I just said, watch a podcast by Pastors Mike Signorelli and Jeremiah Johnson. It might sound harsh at first but hear them out. They cover more than just the conference event. Jeremiah’s audio gets glitched a few times, just hang on to hear the powerful quote from the late David Wilkerson that he shares. Mike suggested that Jeremiah do a stand-alone video about the quote. We’ll see. I love you … Let’s become the “Bride with combat boots on.” Loving others enough to fight for the truth, fight to see the manifest presence of God in our lives and churches.
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/HgLp5pi6ktk?si=HDy6ptRCf4X28TDH
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