Mark Driscoll, senior pastor of the Mars Hills megachurch in Seattle and co-founder of the Acts 29 church planting network, believes “we’re sitting at the edge of a precipice” or “a new movement, with the potential to see revival in our generation” (Driscoll, “It’s Time to Move from Minutia to Movement,” Acts29network.org, March 8, 2012). Driscoll is excited that this movement is “spilling over traditional boundaries that have historically separated people” and describes it as “a number of tributaries coming together to form a river.” He speaks of how he has learned from a diverse assortment of Christian leaders, and though he differs with them doctrinally his “goal is to work relationally with them.” He says, “I’m fortunate to have close friendships with Christian leaders from around the world and across the theological spectrum.” The unity that Driscoll praises is created by “moving from minutia,” which is defined as “the small, precise, or trivial details of something.” This is the tired old heresy of “in essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty” which is at the heart and soul of the ecumenical program but which is rebellion to the clear commands of God’s Word. You will look in vain for support for the “non-essentials liberty” doctrine from the writings of Christ and the apostles. Jesus commanded that the churches teach “all things” (Mat. 28:20) and Paul taught all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27). We are to keep the apostolic doctrine and commandments “without spot” (1 Tim. 6:13-14). There are no “non-essential” teachings in Scripture. While not every teaching is equally important, no teaching is of no importance so that it can be ignored for the sake of a broader unity. Driscoll is describing a movement, for sure, but it isn’t new and it isn’t godly. It is the spirit of end-time apostasy. It is the corrupt “church” that grows into an impressive tree whose branches are filled with birds of the air (Mat. 13:31-32). It is the “church” that is well on the way to being fully leavened by ancient and end-time heresies, all orchestrated to the theme song of the world’s rock & roll (Mat. 13:33). Predictably, Driscoll concludes by taking a nasty and slanderous cheap shot at those who refuse to jump in the new movement river but instead “shoot at” and “attack” the leaders of the new movement by testing them by God’s Word. Driscoll is a likable person, a “man’s man” in a feminized society, but he has no idea what he is doing. 

(Friday Church News Notes, March 23, 2012, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)