The spring issue of the Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood has a review by Heath Lambert of Mark Driscoll's book Real Marriage. The review is found here https://www.cbmw.org/images/jbmw_pdf/17_1/jbmw spring \'12 17 1 complete.pdf. I have not read the book, and I don't know Heath Lambert, but if what he says is true (which I presume), then the critique is devastating. One of the most concerning parts of the review is below:
Make no mistake: men and women will be introduced to p0rnography because of this book. For almost my entire ministry I have been talking to at least one person a week who struggles with p0rnography. I do not live in some sheltered ministry context away from people with perverse struggles. As true as that is, the Driscolls taught me a lot about p0rnography I wish I never knew. The Driscolls introduce their readers to the titles of pornographic books, magazines, and videos; they provide technical names for specific kinds of pornographic films; they list the names of celebri*ties who have starred in p0rnography; they even provide web addresses where readers can meet people for sex. As I look back on that sentence I am overwhelmed that a Christian minister could be so irresponsible.
This made me think of Matthew 18:6 (and related verses): But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
I felt a bit dirty after reading the review, not even the book, simply because the review described what the book talked about and recommended! It is very sad to me that someone as influential as Mark Driscoll would write something like this, or that a well known Christian publisher like Thomas Nelson would publish it. I'm sure there are helpful things in the book, but to me it sounds like there are a lot of bones (and perhaps flat out rotting flesh) to wade through before getting the nourishing meat. Perhaps some of you will critique me for saying this before I have read the book myself, but the review above is thorough enough that I have no temptation to read it. If the review above is incorrect or misleading, then I look forward to people "setting the record straight" in the comments below.
Make no mistake: men and women will be introduced to p0rnography because of this book. For almost my entire ministry I have been talking to at least one person a week who struggles with p0rnography. I do not live in some sheltered ministry context away from people with perverse struggles. As true as that is, the Driscolls taught me a lot about p0rnography I wish I never knew. The Driscolls introduce their readers to the titles of pornographic books, magazines, and videos; they provide technical names for specific kinds of pornographic films; they list the names of celebri*ties who have starred in p0rnography; they even provide web addresses where readers can meet people for sex. As I look back on that sentence I am overwhelmed that a Christian minister could be so irresponsible.
This made me think of Matthew 18:6 (and related verses): But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
I felt a bit dirty after reading the review, not even the book, simply because the review described what the book talked about and recommended! It is very sad to me that someone as influential as Mark Driscoll would write something like this, or that a well known Christian publisher like Thomas Nelson would publish it. I'm sure there are helpful things in the book, but to me it sounds like there are a lot of bones (and perhaps flat out rotting flesh) to wade through before getting the nourishing meat. Perhaps some of you will critique me for saying this before I have read the book myself, but the review above is thorough enough that I have no temptation to read it. If the review above is incorrect or misleading, then I look forward to people "setting the record straight" in the comments below.
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