But I didn’t stop there. People easily resonate with that, I think. Even if not always put into practice, it’s easy to make the connection between not being responsible and being in a tempting situations. Even moralism can do that. But the flip side is equally as true. I then examined what happened in Uriah’s case.

In examining the text, we read in 2 Samuel 11:6–10 that David summons Uriah, in an effort to cover up his own sin of getting Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, pregnant. He commands Uriah in verse 8 to go home, with Uriah sleeping with his wife being the ultimate goal. We find out later that Uriah doesn’t go home to his wife & family, but rather sleeps at the door of the king’s house.

Here is what every commentary I’ve read and sermon I’ve listened to thus far lead us to believe: Uriah, as an honorable man, doesn’t want to bring shame on himself, on his brothers in battle, or on his nation through the ritual impurities (Leviticus 15:18) that come with sexual intercourse. I don’t think this was the case. In fact, I think Uriah is not necessarily a victim of just David’s hand here, but also a victim of his own to some extent. Let’s look at the text, specifically Uriah’s response to David’s question of why Uriah didn’t go sleep with Bathsheba.

Verse 11 spells it out for us: Uriah was thinking more about his “bros in the field” than about his family at home. He doesn’t bring up ritual impurity. He doesn’t bring up being faithful to the Law. He brings up his comrades in the battle. The sin of Uriah is that he disobeys his king, foregoes his wife, and is eventually sentenced to death because he holds his job to be ultimate. The sin of Uriah is rampant in our culture just as the sin of David is. Just as David shirks his duties, Uriah holds to his too tightly. There are men & women at Harmony, and in our cities, that tend to shirk their responsibilities. There are also men & women at Harmony, and in our cities, that tend to hold too tightly to their responsibilities. And like Uriah, we disobey our King, forget our spouses, and will eventually be sentenced to death because our identity is in our job or other duty.

Uriah is the foil to David here. David finds his identity apart from his responsibility, Uriah finds his identity in his responsibility. In both cases, it leads to sin and death. Thankfully, we know that through Christ our sins are forgiven and that because of our identity in Him given to us by grace, we have duties that we should live out…but not cling to.

Note: This is something I not only teach on, but something I'm wrestling with as well. If you know me or know me well, you know how I fall in the Uriah camp...and can overreact to the David camp.

Thoughts? Comments? Do you tend towards David or Uriah?

I plan on addressing first the accusations against Mars Hill & Mark Driscoll from both a personal and a pastoral point of view. I would then like to address the issues in the Church and in our society that I believe this particular scandal brings to conversation. Here we go.

The Allegations Against Pastor Mark Driscoll & Mars Hill

I’m not going to rehash in detail the allegations. You can read them on your own using the links above. Here are some thoughts on Pastor Mark, Mars Hill Church, and the allegations, in bullet form:

• Before casting blame and bringing judgment to bear on the situation, I would suggest that all believers do a couple things. First, read 1 Corinthians 13 and ask what it would look like to love our fellow brothers & sisters at Mars Hill, as well as anyone involved in an allegation (on both sides). Does trying to figure out who is at fault truly accomplish anything? I’m not so sure.
• The primary allegations through The Stranger don’t align with some of the documents that have been released. I find it very hard to believe that this discipline was over only a kiss (see the discipline plan document). I believe there are details that the general public is unaware of, and likely will never be aware of. These details likely contribute to why Mars Hill reacted the way that it did. If we don’t know the entire story, how on earth could we cast judgment? If you’re not a member at Mars Hill, I honestly think you don’t have a right to truly make a call one way or the other on the matter, myself included.
• As far as I can tell, their reaction to the situation, while stricter than how Harmony would react, is both Biblically-justified and for the most part done in love with the goal of restoration. The primary exception I would hold would be how they treated the situation publicly within the Mars Hill community, on the City (Mars Hill’s internal social network), and with regard to the friends of the member under discipline.
• Regarding Pastor Mark and the other pastors involved: I’ve said this plenty of times before, and will continue to say it: high-profile leaders within the Church are in a very tough position. They hold one of the toughest jobs in the world, possibly second only to that of mom. They are rarely encouraged, often lambasted, and people assume that they know them simply because of what they hear from podcasts, videos, and blog posts. I’ve followed Mars Hill and Pastor Mark for a few years now, and would align myself with them for the most part, and I’ve noticed three things: he loves Jesus, he has grown in grace, and he loves his people. Those three things, regardless of character flaws, or arrogance, or bad leadership choices make a man if you ask me. I sympathize with Pastor Mark primarily because I see a lot of myself in him. Like I believe Mark to be, I’m a passionate guy who struggles with the sin of pride but is in love with Jesus, simply trying to do the best he can with what and whom he’s been given by Christ.
• Will Pastor Mark, and other leaders at Mars Hill or any other church for that matter, make mistakes? Yes. He is not Jesus. Probably most importantly, he knows this.
• Could you cut him some slack? Yes. You are not Jesus.

The Issues this Brings Up

I think the most important thing that has come out of the allegations is not necessarily the “controlling” or “brainwashing” nature of Mars Hill Church, but rather the anti-authoritarian and anti-discipline nature of our society and, in particular, my generation. We don’t ever under any circumstances want to be told what to do, how to do it, or why to do it. Especially with something so “private” as our spirituality. But here’s the rub: Scripture commands it. The Bible is quite clear that within the Church there is a structure of authority, and that we (every Christian) are to submit to it.

This is not avoidable. The Church that does not practice church discipline is not a Biblically-functioning community. It is only a matter of how to practice discipline, not if.

As soon as someone in our culture hears of a person (male or female) exerting authority (whether God-given or not), the person exerting authority is burned at the stake. This is not healthy. Christ did not die to bring us democracy or anarchy. We are not all in charge, and neither is no one in charge.

The Cross brought a monarchy. He’s King. He’s in charge.

The remaining question is do we, as His subjects, obey His rule? Do we submit to those He has put in place? Do we see it as loving, or do we submit begrudgingly?

Pastors: do you submit to one another and to Christ? Do you have others that serve alongside you? How does your church function with regard to government, discipline, and authority?

I can tell you right now that I love the guys I serve alongside. They love Jesus, they love Greenville, and they love Harmony. I’m truly blessed to learn from them, be submissive to them, and to be corrected/rebuked by them when necessary.

And the rest of Harmony is blessed in the same way. It is my prayer that all churches everywhere would experience the same grace of God as given through authority and discipline.