If you don’t have time to watch the above video of Mark Driscoll, you can watch it half way through and still tell me what you think.
Here’s my question-What do you think of his delivery? Do you like preachers that yell, preachers that are more reserved or do you just not care?
Wow. I don't know what I think on the delivery. Lots of things. The first outburst seemed like a stunt. That would shut my ears off immediately, however, I don't know how men hear things. Also, do angry people engage more easily if they are yelled at? Is that what they understand? Its a heck of an intervention. What's the men's perspective?
first of all i grew up in churches where the pastor yelled. Now I hate listening to it. I turn my ears off when someone even gets close to it. I understand that he was mad and y he was, but something is, hmm… no word to describe but intense.
I completely agree about the constant yelling.. but in general the whole preacher yelling stunt is mostly compensation for being a bad speaker. It has been so overdone for so long by so many that it is mostly a joke these days… and it hails back to the days of prohibition and hellfire and damnation camp meetings. In my opinion these were some of the worst times for Christianity, Bigotry and denominational-ism spread like wildfire and left us with a very politically active, pastor dependent, bigoted, and morally deficit church. Sure nobody smokes, drinks, or swears, but the rest is all fair game… look at the statistics… the "church" BARELY differs from the world by most accounts.
Personally I prefer one on one discipleship and a grace filled relationship, to the yelling pastor scenario. I believe that most people just need good pastoring and discipleship more than anything… however with a nearly catatonic, and morally bereft, American church, that would rather pass around emails about how evil the current president is, than provoke one another to love and good works… It can drive a good man insane!
sorry about my soap box rant ! 🙂
*dragging soap box back to my own blog* 🙂 good discussion though!
hey man love it. good discussion and thanks for bringing it over here. anytime man, anytime
I also grew up in a church where the pastor yelled. I think the difference for me (because I also tend to turn off the ones that yell) is the content. I can't tell you how many times I've heard preachers yell, as Jason said, to compensate for lack of speaking skills, or worse, to compensate for lack of content (as if yelling makes what they're preaching sound more important).
In Driscoll's case, he can get a bit grating when he yells, but he seems to always have the content to back up the emotion, unlike what I grew up with.
I agree totally with the content, and not knowing the background or the circumstances involved, cannot question his approach. I believe God gives you more than just the message, he will impress upon you the best delivery for the message. With that being said, there is a fine line between anger and pride. My personal preference, is a pastor that will preach the hard truth, but with confidence and humility.
agree with you. only word to describe this is intense
a
I am not always a fan of yelling from preachers, but you can definitely see the passion behind what he is saying. There is a big problem with men in the world, so maybe a big challenge is needed. I love Driscoll's passion about men living Godly lives; it is time someone stood on scripture and spoke truth.
I love Driscoll because he is passionate and consistent in his lifestyle and theology.
for sure. and yes, i can always appreciate his truth everytime.
I didn't care for the delivery, however, what he is saying is true. From experience I know that some people don't listen or can't hear unless they are being yelled at but the rest of us may be offended or disturbed by it. I most likely would not return for this type of preaching. I like a preacher who is convicting but motivates you to become a better person by following Jesus' teaching. I don't remember reading anywhere in the bible where Jesus yelled at anyone like this. Have people changed so much that preachers have to yell at you? Have our hearts harden that much?
for sure. yeah the world has hardened their hearts. Maybe when Jesus went into the temple and overturned the tables is the only time I remember Him really mad. Maybe Driscoll's anger is a holy anger…Maybe at some times God allows us to yell if we are angry enough…Your thoughts?
I was thinking of Jesus in the temple and I believe that was holy anger. I think that good can come from holy anger and if just one person was saved from this preacher's words then more power to him. However, if he becomes a stumbling block to others then I think he should re-think his delivery. As a Christian we need to win as many souls as possible, time is short.
very true. there were prob folks that were turned off by it. I was at first til I heard others' arguments
I've been going to church for a gazillion years, and I've never had a preacher scream at the congregation like that. Sometimes they get excited, many times they talk loudly, but most of the time, it's not "in your face" like this guy seems to be. Such tactics seem over the top to me. I have had little experience with people who are genuinely angry who can keep from flinging in a curse word here or there, so my feeling was that his rant was for show. If anyone in his congregation was used to his delivery, if this is a regular thing, I don't think his message would get through even if it pertained to them. His message applies to many, but is it doing any good? Personally, I would prefer going to a church where my sins were addressed by my preacher one on one, instead of being screamed at from the pulpit.
good point
I have liked Mark the few times I have heard him, so that being said… I have to admit I felt like I was watching a wrestling interview. 🙂
No disrespect, just saying.
haha. yep, for sure
I like Mark and most preachers who speak with passion. Not preachers who speak out of anger….I could name a few of those, but I don't care if they're yelling, whispering or crying….If they're doing it with heart-felt passion, and speaking the Truth, I will, most likely, enjoy you. Mark Driscoll, Perry Noble, Craig Groeschel, Scot Longyear….to name a few. yeah, you might have to look up that last one….he's great!
those are good ones
those are some good preachers now
Heartbrokenness for people and showing grace is how we reach people. "It's the goodness of God that brings us to repentence" If the men in your church are living the promiscuous, abusive lifestyle, they probably need to be treated as unbelievers (possible involve church discipline after meeting with them one on one to allow opportunity for repentence following the Biblical model), and how do we treat unbelievers? By grace, we build relationships with them so we can present the Gospel to them. I know it's terribly frustrating as a pastor to constantly hear and deal with guys who call themselves Christians and treat their families like crap, but we've got to take the high road. These guys are not religious rulers/teachers like the Pharisees and if they are, then yes, call them out, but do it as a separate audience and not the general congregation.
On the flip side, even if I've never said what Mark said out loud, I know I've thought it so I'm gonna cut Mark some slack
true dat
I 100% agree with what he is saying but I really struggle with how he delivered it. I understand the whole "righteous anger" thing but you never see Jesus treating people this way (except of course the religious elite who thought they were perfect.) I definitely have mixed feelings about it …
for sure. maybe a little over the top…