The Cussing Pastor tells it all (Book Review)

Book Review: Mark Driscoll’s Confessions of a Reformission Rev.

Many of you will remember the character in Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz who was called Mark, the cussing pastor. His full identity is Mark Driscoll and he is the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. Recently Mark released a work called Confessions of a Reformission Rev. where he chronicles the life stages of his church and his growth and transformation as a pastor. But, this is unquestionably not your average leadership or pastor book. Mark is known for a sharp tongue, hilarious sarcastic humor, and a lack of mental filter that works between having a thought and speaking it aloud. The book seems to be an accurate self portrayal of Mark and all his strengths and weaknesses. It is a very interesting book, but not for the easily offended. (He describes one event he witnessed as the gayest thing ever. That will make you sit up and take notice like someone just yanked out a leg hair)

Using his sarcastic style and brutal honesty, (how many people are brutally honest anymore, aside from any cable news show personality that is, ok never mind, there are tons of brutally honest people, just most of them aren’t in the church) Mark tells his story that goes from being some dude in his mid twenties who decided he could be a pastor and start a cool church to his place now as a well known teacher, pastor of a church of thousands, and obviously an author. One of the reasons I really appreciated his writing is that he doesn’t pull any punches. Mark hangs himself out there for you to see. Very few authors seem willing to do that. Whether it is his theology (postmodern conservative reformed?), his view of women in the ministry (not as elders), his view on men who are effeminate (don’t apply to be his worship pastor) or his view on leadership (the man has the courage to make tough decisions), Mark is certainly Mark.

The very good parts of the book are tied into its structure. The book is a chronological account, but it is ordered around the size of the church and its stages of development. Moving from infancy to maturity to rebirth and new direction, Mark gives us an insider view on a church that is trying to start growing, then it is shrinking, then it is growing too fast, and then it is redefining itself. Many of his leadership insights are important lessons for pastors and lay people alike. One of the toughest lessons Mars Hill went through was the reality that if they were going to grow and change, not everyone would make the transformation with them. Some would have to go their own way and others would be left behind. But, the future of their church and its vitality was at stake, so that is a decision you have to make. All pastors can glean some great insights for ministry from Mark’s account.

The hard part of the book is that not everyone will be able to glean these insights or even get through the book. Unquestionably many will throw this book down in disgust or become cussing Christians themselves in response to Mark’s matter of fact and confessional style. This book is offensive. It has some of the least Christian and pastoral interactions I have ever heard of. It deals with the homosexual issue in an insensitive and not necessarily Christ honoring way. And yet, much like Mark, despite its imperfections it is fun to read, full of great insights and hysterical.

I appreciate Mark for his candor, his confession and for sharing his story. I am also encouraged because God has used him in great ways, to transform lives and advance his kingdom. If God can use Mark, he can use us all. Lay people may appreciate this book because it will unquestionably reinforce the startling truth that pastors are very human, even inhuman at times. So if you have the intestinal fortitude, don’t mind bluntness, can get past the truth of a pastor’s struggles and want to find another perspective on how to do church, pick up this book. Even if you don’t have those things you should read it, after all who doesn’t need to spend time with the Cussing Pastor?