While serving as senior pastor at Mars Hill Church, Mark Driscoll developed a reputation for not being afraid to speak his mind, which sometimes included using profanity during his sermons. In one now-infamous sermon, Driscoll violently screamed, “How dare you! Who the hell do you think you are,” toward the men in his church who abuse, neglect, dishonor, and disrespect the women whom they are dating or married to.
Driscoll has also been known for using sexually explicit language in sermons and books.
Tony Jones’ book “The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier” details a time when Driscoll was asked not to swear while guest preaching at Axxess Church in Arlington, Texas. Instead of complying with pastor Brad Cecil’s request, Driscoll used the f-word in his first sentence behind the pulpit.
Driscoll later apologized for being known as “the cussing pastor.” Cecil explained in a blog post that Driscoll contacted him personally to ask him for forgiveness.
“This is not what I want to be known for,” Driscoll shared, “good theology, a bad temper, and a foul mouth.”
Driscoll’s temper would later force Mars Hill Church’s leadership to launch an investigation against him after allegations that he abused his power came to light in 2014.
Before announcing he was taking a leave of absence for six weeks, Driscoll told the congregation, “I want to say to my Mars Hill family, past and present, I’m very sorry. I genuinely mean it. I’m very sorry for the times I’ve been angry, short, or insensitive. I’m very sorry for anything I’ve done to distract from our mission by inviting criticism, controversy, or negative media attention.”
Less than two months later, Driscoll announced his resignation from Mars Hill Church via a letter to the elder board. He had pastored the church, which he had also founded, for 18 years.
In 2016, Driscoll launched The Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. Since his return to ministry, Driscoll has been accused of repeating his past offenses, prompting former Mars Hill Church elders to plead with him to step down from his current role.
The Cussing Pastor Returns
Last week, Driscoll posted a video clip from a May sermon at a men’s event, wherein he discussed “23 Scriptures Commanding True Christians To Oppose Abortion.”
Driscoll told men in attendance that “the most dangerous place to be in America is not in a room filled with people who have COVID. The most dangerous place to be in America is not behind the wheel of a car without a seatbelt. The most dangerous place to be in America is not on an airplane 10,000 feet above the sky.” Rather, the most “dangerous place to be in America is in the womb of your own mother.”
