As I have observed Mark Driscoll's very public ministry over the past many years here is a list of questions and concerns that immediately come to mind.
Since the true Church belongs to King Jesus it is His sovereign prerogative to establish biblical qualifications for those serving as New Testament elders and deacons. Popularity, pedigree, and giftedness do not trump the inspired qualifications of Holy Scripture. The last time I checked the phrase "must be" actually means a man "must be" X, Y, and Z. When we neglect the safeguards of Holy Scripture the people of God always suffer. No safeguard better protects the flock than the biblical qualifications.
The non-negotiable qualifications for a local church elder/pastor-teacher are clearly preserved for us in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. It is obvious when reading through the Pastoral Epistles that character is more important than giftedness in the mind of God.
1 Timothy 3:1-7; It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?); and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Titus 1:7-9; For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
When you weigh the public evidence against the backdrop of Holy Scripture the following questions must be honestly considered: How long has Mark Driscoll been biblically qualified to serve as a pastor of Mars Hills or of any local church for that matter? How long has he been biblically disqualified (based on public evidence alone)? Do evangelicals even care? If not, what does this say about the health of the church in America? What does this say about our "celebrity" culture? Why did it take so long for Acts 29 to take this action? Is Mark Driscoll permanently or only temporally disqualified from pastoral ministry? What will the fruits of repentance look like? What does God want to teach me as a result of this very public fall?
Will this devastating fall help the people of God grow and mature in the Lord? I am praying that it will.
