Comments for spiritfarmer.com

Comment on My Bad Beliefs by Jason Cormier

Jason Cormier — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:00:51 +0000

Amen. I am in the same boat as you. Looking back I see a crazy journey that is my theology.

Comment on Breaking News: Mark Driscoll Repents by Emerging Peter

Emerging Peter — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:08:13 +0000

Oops, THROW anonymous stones. Not “through.” My bad.

Comment on Breaking News: Mark Driscoll Repents by Emerging Peter

Emerging Peter — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:07:36 +0000

Amber D.,
Would you make the same defense of Mark if it were racial minorities he was abusing with his language and so-called leadership?

No, we certainly can’t tolerate overt racists.

But somehow our Evangelical subculture creates and sustains an economy in which women can be subordinated without reservation, men can be bullied and subjected to both chauvinist and homophobic scrutinies, and the perpetrator(s) are given free rein (or more fitting: reign) to practice runaway pride and narcissism as a “lifestyle choice,” while everyone says, “that’s his theological privilege.”

If some few Christians are not accountable to others, the whole mess falls apart. And it’s falling apart. And it keeps on…

Comment on Breaking News: Mark Driscoll Repents by Emerging Peter

Emerging Peter — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:00:35 +0000

But it’s so much easier to through anonymous e-stones!

Comment on Breaking News: Mark Driscoll Repents by jim henderson

jim henderson — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:10 +0000

Sorry – just noticed that someone brought my name up in you blog- Id be happy to interact with them directly if they really want to

Comment on Breaking News: Mark Driscoll Repents by Amber D

Amber D — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:19:17 +0000

Everyone has sinned. Nobody is perfect. All we as Christians should do is forgve and forget. Without forgetting (or not holding accountable) we have not truly forgiven. Mark and anyone else who wants to preach for God our Father is truly brave and striving to do their best to represent Him. I challenge you to forgive him, because ‘he hasn’t followed through.’ I’m sure EVERY ONE OF YOU reading this has quit or not followed through one time or time again.
Are we to gossip and post every time we have somebody or something we disagree with? I sure hope not. Otherwise, Facebook and twitter would be charging monthly by now.

Christ says to love. Consider taking my challenge and try it.

Comment on Why We Care About Mark Driscoll by Chris

Chris — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:57:17 +0000

Thank you, Steve, for reminding us to step back and see how we contribute somehow to the larger story we’re all part of in one way or another. A kind reminder for us to be human together, yes? ?
I can’t help but wonder how our reactions and responses to Mark stem from our own experience, pain, gain, and participation in the larger Christian church system of domination, submission, power, and control. Because we each have a different story, and each have different positions of power and privilege, our responses will be just as varied and diverse. Is he a villain? A hero? Why one or the other? Or…human? I’m curious about Mark’s story. What injustices has he endured that have influenced and informed his actions?

No, I’m not condoning his methods. The destruction and trauma others have endured are very real and valid, and not to be dismissed. I am just wondering if our responses actually fuel what we’re fighting against. In fact, I think our responses give us more insight into this larger archetypal story we find ourselves in.

It takes enormous internal and kind work to step back and see how we each have been part of this archetypal human story. The work of developing “deeper character.”

I hope and believe that it is possible to be both compassionate and indignant, and to offer our voices to speak out against an unjust system that leads to destruction. Perhaps this way of being is the “small gate and narrow road” Christ speaks of in Matthew 7:13-14.

Comment on Breaking News: Mark Driscoll Repents by Steve

Steve — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:04:23 +0000

At the risk of creepy self-promotion, I have written a follow-up to this post, which is a bit less contentious.

In case you’re interested: http://spiritfarmer.com/2012/02/why-we-care-about-mark-driscoll/

Comment on Why We Care About Mark Driscoll by Steve

Steve — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:33:38 +0000

Thank you for visiting and commenting Elle. I hope we can find a way to not only approach contentious issues like this with grace and without knee-jerk reactions, but also respond with some more careful, nuanced thinking. We all get fired up about various things from time to time – it’s good to feel deeply about things . . . hopefully we can learn how to channel our energies in helpful directions.

Comment on Why We Care About Mark Driscoll by Elle

Elle — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:40:25 +0000

Thank you for writing this, and for the preceding post as well. The former was linked to me from a friend (who got it from her dad) because we’ve been discussing women and faith, and Driscoll’s dogma inevitably crept into the conversation. I agree with you that he really has become an archetype–a face to hold up and either cheer or jeer. (I’m in the latter category.) I think that the approach you are suggesting, that it be clear-headed and of deeper character is not only rational and logical (it’s much easier to convince someone of something when one is not foaming at the mouth), but that it is compassionate, and ultimately, more Christ-like. Thank you for pointing that out, and for acknowledging your own fueling the flames.

I think that more focus should be put on the drawing together rather than the pulling apart; to fix the breach rather than to make it wider. But it’s always the question of ‘how?’ Should you write more on that subject, I would be interested in your thoughts.