Mark Driscoll, the controversial pastor of The Trinity Church, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, recently shared the story behind his most “controversial sermon ever.”
The sermon Driscoll was referring to was one that he preached 15 years ago at the now defunct Mars Hill Church, titled “Marriage and Men,” from his sermon series “Trial: 8 Witnesses from 1-2 Peter.”
Driscoll co-founded Mars Hill Church in 1996 but resigned in the fall of 2014 after receiving complaints that he was an abusive leader. Mars Hill Church started as a home Bible study but had grown to a multi-campus ministry that averaged a weekly attendance of over 12,000.
On Jan. 1, 2015, Mars Hill Church dissolved. This history of the church and the allegations against Driscoll were detailed extensively in the podcast, “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.” In the time since Driscoll founded The Trinity Church, new allegations have emerged of him exhibiting controlling behavior.
Driscoll’s Most Controversial Sermon
During the now infamous sermon, Driscoll addressed men strongly—many say inappropriately—rebuking some of them.
“It’s just so frustrating,” Driscoll said. “Some of you guys have been coming here for years [and] you got your hands all over your girlfriend…you aren’t praying with your wife…you’re still single and having sex.”
Driscoll continued, “Some of you guys, even while I’m preaching the sermon, are sitting next to your girlfriend or your fiancée or your wife and have already given her that look [that says], ‘Don’t cry. Don’t let them know they’re talking about me. Just hold it together.’”
“You’ve already intimidated her right here,” he added.
“Some of you have already whispered in her ear, ‘I don’t want to hear it. We’re not talking about this in the car on the way home,’” Driscoll said. “Some of you have already whispered in her ear, ‘I’m sorry; I’ll do better. Trust me. Let’s just move on real quickly.’”
Driscoll then yelled at them, “How dare you! Who the hell do you think you are? Abusing a woman! Neglecting a woman! Being a coward! A fool! Being like your father Adam. Who do you think you are?! You’re not God! You are just a man!”
Driscoll went on to tell Christian men that there is no excuse to treat a woman in a dishonorable or disrespectful way. “You change now, little boy,” Driscoll said. “You shut up. You put your pants on. You get a job. You grow up, and maybe one day you can love a woman. [Marriage] is for men, not for little boys.”
