I’m in the Springfield Missouri area and can, with great confidence, tell you that there are intellectual and biblical conversations on theology happening here. There is an enormous amount of spiritual depth. James River Church used to be a very serious church with grounded teaching, but it’s become an absolute circus and does not represent this part of the state very well at this point. Very sad…
I have been in many strip clubs in my (previous dead) life. I have to say, I saw this sword swallower on AGT, and even on that secular show, the act made me queasy. Pastor Mark’s assessment was spot on. If there was a single gay man at the conference fighting demons, that act was the opposite of a blessing.
I'm a member of JRC and went to the conference. I appreciate your opinions/beliefs on this. My wife and I don't agree with everything JRC does, but we still go because we get fed the Word and have found so many other believers to walk with. Friends who went to the opening night with Jabin Chavez but not the second day because Mark was there. Last year, Josh Hawley was a speaker, and some people didn't attend but still went to JRC. Mark has been a speaker before, and we had a bible study about his church, which I did not like. I was split on John's use of Matt 18 until he explained Mark and his relationship. They're friends; despite all that happened to Mark, John helped him and continues to have a relationship with him. Mark's not a stranger or a guest speaker but a friend and brother in Christ. That closeness entitles John to Mark's thoughts on John's actions before the public. If a friend publicly does something you disagree with, you would go to them before demonizing it. John probably should have reacted differently instead of telling Mark he's done. John brought him back to discuss it and attempted to reconcile and disagree to agree, and it appeared they both had at the time. I don't know if people would be talking about Alex if Mark had not talked about him but it could have been a line too far pushed that JRC probably won't ever cross again.
Maybe God wanted to use Driscoll to correct what is happening at JRC? Like Nathan to David. When you give someone the pulpit, you don't get to tell the speaker when they preach a hard truth. Lindell has never taken responsibility for the decision in the first place.
For a couple years I've been trying to fill more of my time with RUclips sermons. Mark Driscoll has become one of my top 5 RUclips bible teachers. I didn't know anything about his past but he has taught me a lot about the bible through RUclips. He has been posting videos on the Jezebell, Ahab, and Elijah spirit long before the JRC incident. I don't think having an exotic male dancer was proper. It is also incredibly hypocritical to say Matthew 18 applied to Marks public criticism... while publicly criticizing Mark. Matthew 18 applies to Mark Driscoll but not John Lindell?. Then John says don't criticize Pators because they are annointed. There have been plenty of criminal men of the cloth that need criticism. John has been blowing the whole thing up. Dragging texts before the church and on videos on social media. Posting videos with Thumbnails in giant letters about shunning Mark. But you guys are talking like Mark is the one doing all of this. "Thats what John gets for having someone like Mark at his events" "Mark fights dirty" Mark hasn't been posting anything about John that I have seen. Your bias against Mark is thinly veiled. I don't think Mark "can do no wrong", but the Lord fixes and uses broken people. Whichever one of you said that hunting and trucks is low IQ, that was ignorant and insulting. You're entitled to your opinion/feelings, Probably fits right in with the Seattle/Portland crowd but not so much in Missouri. It's not uncommon around here to have smart people who like to hunt, fish, drive trucks, and motorcycles. You should stay put, you are probably in a good place with those opinions.
Lindell was arrogant. He was covering for his son's decision to invite the sword guy. Lindell just could have leaned into the sermon a little and it would have been a blessing. Lindell apologizing for inviting Driscoll is like me being mean to my wife, and then I say I'm sorry that she is mad.
I understand the devil likes division, but at some point, people need to own their own behaviors! Stop blaming it on someone else. Mark Driscoll was humble and genuine in speaking what he felt. John Lindell, not so much. Yelling from the audience, acting like an arrogant fool. Of course, he must get a selfie with Mark, after the embarrassing on stage discussion, to save face, of course. And by the way, Mark did apologize on stage, you got that wrong. Also, Alex is not a born again Christian. I feel like you should do your research thoroughly before you put out content. Alex himself made a video regarding this. However, the most egregious component of this entire ordeal was John's "sermon" on Wednesday night. It was the most inappropriate, characterless, "I am right, he is wrong" talk I have heard. He is a pastor, of a large church, where some treat him like a celebrity- and that's a whole other problem in and of itself. He behaved like a narcissist with a bruised ego. Mind you, all that happened was Mark didn't discuss with John prior to speaking, and feeling lead by the Holy Spirit, to speak on what he saw and felt. John read confidential text messages, discussed phone calls, and kind of in a mocking tone with the phone call. We were not privy to what Mark actually said, only to the Lindell's interpretation. All of this I love you crap is annoying. Christians throw this around like a band-aid to what they are getting ready to say. "I love you, but get out of my life, but I love you" Please. He threatened a legal course of action, encouraged fellow christians to shun Mark in all areas, and in tasteless fashion noted JRC was one of the few that allowed Mark to use their platform when almost no one else would, according to the saint of a guy John Lindell. Oh, and he is also anointed, so he is apparently above criticism or being wrong. He also provided untruth during his "sermon." I would love to know who the JR host is, you know the one who witnessed Alex boldy declaring his faith at the airport. Uh huh. It went on for a painful 30 minutes. Then, on the following Sunday, the only thing he apologized for: having Alex and Mark at the conference. Wow. Wow. That should say everything right there. So, yes, John is the problem. His behavior has been like this over the last 5-7 years. It is prideful. It is arrogant behavior. It is one big show at JRC. The worship is rehearsed and feels fake. All of their looking up at the ceiling mouthing words, doesn't feel genuine. The Bill Johnson hairstyle of John and David, all of the ridiculous videos, reels, and posts. "We are soooo excited. This is AWESOME" It is a show. And it has gone to their heads. A lot of the congregation act like they are royalty. This is not a singular event. Multiple families have left the church. There is something not right with JRC. It has changed so much. I am guessing it starts with the pastor.
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I’m in the Springfield Missouri area and can, with great confidence, tell you that there are intellectual and biblical conversations on theology happening here. There is an enormous amount of spiritual depth. James River Church used to be a very serious church with grounded teaching, but it’s become an absolute circus and does not represent this part of the state very well at this point. Very sad…
My opinions. If lindell received the criticism and repented it was a complete God moment that would have change every body.
I have been in many strip clubs in my (previous dead) life. I have to say, I saw this sword swallower on AGT, and even on that secular show, the act made me queasy. Pastor Mark’s assessment was spot on.
If there was a single gay man at the conference fighting demons, that act was the opposite of a blessing.
I'm a member of JRC and went to the conference. I appreciate your opinions/beliefs on this. My wife and I don't agree with everything JRC does, but we still go because we get fed the Word and have found so many other believers to walk with. Friends who went to the opening night with Jabin Chavez but not the second day because Mark was there. Last year, Josh Hawley was a speaker, and some people didn't attend but still went to JRC. Mark has been a speaker before, and we had a bible study about his church, which I did not like. I was split on John's use of Matt 18 until he explained Mark and his relationship. They're friends; despite all that happened to Mark, John helped him and continues to have a relationship with him. Mark's not a stranger or a guest speaker but a friend and brother in Christ. That closeness entitles John to Mark's thoughts on John's actions before the public. If a friend publicly does something you disagree with, you would go to them before demonizing it. John probably should have reacted differently instead of telling Mark he's done. John brought him back to discuss it and attempted to reconcile and disagree to agree, and it appeared they both had at the time. I don't know if people would be talking about Alex if Mark had not talked about him but it could have been a line too far pushed that JRC probably won't ever cross again.
I think we should wait until the General Superintendant Doug Clay to make a statement before we make any final thoughts.
Great wisdom here! Thanks PB 👊
Maybe God wanted to use Driscoll to correct what is happening at JRC? Like Nathan to David. When you give someone the pulpit, you don't get to tell the speaker when they preach a hard truth. Lindell has never taken responsibility for the decision in the first place.
But Lindell doing what he did was worse
For a couple years I've been trying to fill more of my time with RUclips sermons. Mark Driscoll has become one of my top 5 RUclips bible teachers. I didn't know anything about his past but he has taught me a lot about the bible through RUclips. He has been posting videos on the Jezebell, Ahab, and Elijah spirit long before the JRC incident.
I don't think having an exotic male dancer was proper. It is also incredibly hypocritical to say Matthew 18 applied to Marks public criticism... while publicly criticizing Mark. Matthew 18 applies to Mark Driscoll but not John Lindell?. Then John says don't criticize Pators because they are annointed. There have been plenty of criminal men of the cloth that need criticism.
John has been blowing the whole thing up. Dragging texts before the church and on videos on social media. Posting videos with Thumbnails in giant letters about shunning Mark. But you guys are talking like Mark is the one doing all of this. "Thats what John gets for having someone like Mark at his events" "Mark fights dirty" Mark hasn't been posting anything about John that I have seen. Your bias against Mark is thinly veiled. I don't think Mark "can do no wrong", but the Lord fixes and uses broken people.
Whichever one of you said that hunting and trucks is low IQ, that was ignorant and insulting. You're entitled to your opinion/feelings, Probably fits right in with the Seattle/Portland crowd but not so much in Missouri. It's not uncommon around here to have smart people who like to hunt, fish, drive trucks, and motorcycles. You should stay put, you are probably in a good place with those opinions.
Great wisdom here! Thanks PB.
Lindell was arrogant. He was covering for his son's decision to invite the sword guy. Lindell just could have leaned into the sermon a little and it would have been a blessing. Lindell apologizing for inviting Driscoll is like me being mean to my wife, and then I say I'm sorry that she is mad.
I understand the devil likes division, but at some point, people need to own their own behaviors! Stop blaming it on someone else. Mark Driscoll was humble and genuine in speaking what he felt. John Lindell, not so much. Yelling from the audience, acting like an arrogant fool.
Of course, he must get a selfie with Mark, after the embarrassing on stage discussion, to save face, of course. And by the way, Mark did apologize on stage, you got that wrong. Also, Alex is not a born again Christian. I feel like you should do your research thoroughly before you put out content. Alex himself made a video regarding this.
However, the most egregious component of this entire ordeal was John's "sermon" on Wednesday night. It was the most inappropriate, characterless, "I am right, he is wrong" talk I have heard. He is a pastor, of a large church, where some treat him like a celebrity- and that's a whole other problem in and of itself. He behaved like a narcissist with a bruised ego. Mind you, all that happened was Mark didn't discuss with John prior to speaking, and feeling lead by the Holy Spirit, to speak on what he saw and felt. John read confidential text messages, discussed phone calls, and kind of in a mocking tone with the phone call. We were not privy to what Mark actually said, only to the Lindell's interpretation. All of this I love you crap is annoying. Christians throw this around like a band-aid to what they are getting ready to say. "I love you, but get out of my life, but I love you" Please. He threatened a legal course of action, encouraged fellow christians to shun Mark in all areas, and in tasteless fashion noted JRC was one of the few that allowed Mark to use their platform when almost no one else would, according to the saint of a guy John Lindell. Oh, and he is also anointed, so he is apparently above criticism or being wrong. He also provided untruth during his "sermon." I would love to know who the JR host is, you know the one who witnessed Alex boldy declaring his faith at the airport. Uh huh. It went on for a painful 30 minutes. Then, on the following Sunday, the only thing he apologized for: having Alex and Mark at the conference. Wow. Wow. That should say everything right there.
So, yes, John is the problem. His behavior has been like this over the last 5-7 years. It is prideful. It is arrogant behavior. It is one big show at JRC. The worship is rehearsed and feels fake. All of their looking up at the ceiling mouthing words, doesn't feel genuine. The Bill Johnson hairstyle of John and David, all of the ridiculous videos, reels, and posts. "We are soooo excited. This is AWESOME" It is a show. And it has gone to their heads. A lot of the congregation act like they are royalty. This is not a singular event. Multiple families have left the church. There is something not right with JRC. It has changed so much. I am guessing it starts with the pastor.