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| Photo source: bizjournal.com |
This week I have been reflecting on the story of Jonah and how like him, we can have sound theology and yet fail to live it out in our lives when God calls us to obey Him.
I see this at work in my own life, but I also see it at the church level in my country. I ran across an article this week from The Gospel Coalition entitled, Seattle Reboot: Life After Mars Hill, that really highlights this truth.
If you are not familiar with Mars Hills and its story, allow me to fill you in. About two years ago, this mega-church, founded and pastored by Mark Driscoll in Seattle, Washington, imploded in a short span of about two months. Mars Hill was an impressive institution: they boasted a weekly attendance of over 12,000 people in 15 different area locations, released 50 new worship songs, and took in nearly $25 million in weekly tithes and offerings.
However, several controversies within the church leadership begin to surface a few years ago. Current and former pastors filed charges against Driscoll's domineering leadership style, citing his lack of self-control, verbal aggression, arrogance, and anger. Word leaked out that the church bought over ten thousand copies of Mark's latest book so that it would secure a place on the New York Times best seller list. As a result of these controversies, Mark announced that he was taking a break, and then less than two months later, he resigned. The following month, the remaining church leadership announced that all of the Mars Hill campuses were closing their doors.
As a result of this church's collapse, thousands of people left the church, some quitting church all together as they wrestled with hurt and disillusionment. However, far more people made their way into other local area churches. The article recalls this time of transition:
"Departing Mars Hill members hit local churches like a tsunami in the fall of 2014. The first Sunday after the closure was announced, Adam Sinnett’s 250-member Downtown Cornerstone Church saw nearly 100 visitors....Another 100 former Mars Hill congregants hit Taproot’s 200-member congregation that first Sunday after the collapse...So the congregation was just seven years old when ex-congregants from Mars Hill doubled their numbers."
It must have been quite a sight to see such a massive in pouring of visitors at all these small area churches! However, something was particularly interesting about these new visitors. The article goes on to state:
"Although the ex-Mars Hill congregants needed time and attention, they weren’t entirely a burden, even at first. 'One of the things Mars Hill did well was they were serious about their faith,' Gough said. 'People who migrated to other congregations remained serious about their faith, and brought with them that vibrancy.' 'Folks coming from Mars Hill have been well taught,' Sinnett said. 'They have a basic understanding of the gospel and what it means to live on mission. They have a real heart for their city, and what it looks like for a husband to lead his family spiritually. A lot of those big rocks were in place.' In addition, 'you don’t have to persuade them that giving is a good, mature, and holy thing to do,' Braga said. 'You aren’t fighting some funky theology. You’re fighting really good theology that went in weird ways in certain contexts.'”
Did you catch that? Good theology can go weird. Both in our church leadership and among the laypeople. Sound theology is no guarantee for holy living. We see that ring true in the story of Mars Hill, and we see that unfold in the book of Jonah.
Thankfully God is the God of second chances!. Turns out that Mark and his wife, Grace, have relocated to Arizona and started a new church, The Trinity Church, in Scottsdale, Arizona. My first instinct is to groan and think ...really...here we go again. But fortunately God is far more gracious and forgiving than I! A quick Google search lands me on this church's homepage, which features a wide-angle shot of standing worshipers facing a huge screen emblazoned with the sermon title JONAH: A Fishy Tale About a Faithful God. Oh, the irony!
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| The Trinity Church Photo source: thewartburgwatch.com |
So, what is the bottom line? This: sound theology doesn't guarantee righteousness or obedience. In truth, our confessional theology, those things we say we believe, means very little in the grand scheme of things. It is only when our sound confessional theology meets up with our functional, practical, "street level" theology--the way we think, speak, and behave--that great gains are made in the kingdom of God. I pray we would live in that sweet spot, dear one. And I pray that God would bring to our minds and hearts all those areas of our confessional theology that do not line up with our lives, so that we might confess, repent, and live as changed children of an Almighty God!
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