Questions on Mars Hill Church Discipline

One of the men I have served with in ministry recently posted on facebook about a blog addressing a specific disciplinary action by Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church. I expressed that I am not sure that I disagree with the post and those that followed up, but I am also unsure if I agree. You may follow the link above to see the entire conversation. Following is my final questions for those who have posted in the facebook stream. Feel free to look at the original blog and provide feedback. I am learning, as I hope we all are, and I pray that we may all learn from these circumstances.

Josh and Dillon,

You both use the term "unbiblical" in your statement about the contract and letter, but are not specific. In the letter, scripture is provided. I am curious to hear specifically what you find unbiblical. They provide scriptural support for the actions they have taken. What is your scriptural argument against them? Church discipline is Biblical, and as a pastor I have struggled and studied seriously to resolve the very things with which you appear to be struggling. I too, from the presentation provided on the surface, struggle with how they handled the situation. I am, however, interested in how you would deal with the specific scriptures they provide.

I am not trying to be argumentative. I believe that the goal of real discipline is always reformative and restorative by nature. It appears to me that you do not see any restoration in the interaction between Andrew and MH. I wonder if we are not seeing the whole picture. Could Andrew be worse than is presented in "his" side of the story? Could we see between the lines in phrases like, “a pattern of unrepentant sexual sin” and “over the course of many months”, that perhaps Andrew has a greater problem than is revealed to us? Perhaps the required confession, meetings, and description of "wolf" behavior are simply the leadership attempting to shake him into the realization of the severity of his sexual sin (which is taken very seriously in scripture). I do not know. I was not there. If this is their goal, is that bad?

I would also ask that you consider the possibility of bias by the author himself. In the second addition of his post he makes the statement, “We discuss Mark Driscoll a lot at this blog. His sermons. His theology. His sexist rants. His rage against Avatar. His sincere love for hell. And all of those topics are valid for discussion, disagreeing, and sometimes poking fun at”. I wonder how much slant is contained in the writing and presentation by the blogger himself. If it is simply as presented, I find myself leaning toward your reaction, but I wonder if we are reacting to the appearance of evil rather than to what may truly be evil.

I personally do not know much about Mark Driscoll or Mars Hill. I typically do not follow the mega churches or leaders of the same. What I do know is that Jesus Himself established the church, and I am hesitant to make judgments about another body of believers or church leadership without knowing all the facts. Truths are often misunderstood, twisted and biased in print and other media.

So, if you do not mind, if you were to assume that Andrew had a serious problem and needed real church discipline, would you exegete the passages MH has quoted and demonstrate how they are abusing them? Additionally, would you provide any other scriptures that deal specifically with church discipline to demonstrate how what MH did with Andrew was unbiblical?

Please understand that I really have no desire to argue. This will be my final post unless you ask me a question or specifically to respond. I would be happy to provide any word studies or other resources in which you are interested. My intent is not to “debate” the issue. I am seeking to understand better your response to the blog, and the perspective from which you are responding.

Be blessed,
Scott