I'm not Mark Driscoll.
You'd think that would be obvious.
Driscoll is the Seattle mega-church preacher (with a Portland satellite right down the street from Sunnyside Church, one of the two congregations I pastor) who tweeted out on Inauguration Day:
"Praying for our president, who today will place his hand on a Bible he does not believe to take an oath to a God he likely does not know."
It is hard to imagine a minister being so hateful. Driscoll doesn't even represent most conservative evangelical Christian thinkers. Back in 2010, I joined Christian leaders in releasing a letter that read in part:
As Christian leaders— whose primary responsibility is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with our congregations, our communities, and our world— we are deeply troubled by the recent questioning of President Obama’s faith. We understand that these are contentious times, but the personal faith of our leaders should not be up for public debate.
President Obama has been unwavering in confessing Christ as Lord and has spoken often about the importance of his Christian faith. Many of the signees on this letter have prayed and worshipped with this President. We believe that questioning, and especially misrepresenting, the faith of a confessing believer goes too far.
This is not a political issue. The signers of this letter come from different political and ideological backgrounds, but we are unified in our belief in Jesus Christ. As Christian pastors and leaders, we believe that fellow Christians need to be an encouragement to those who call Christ their savior, not question the veracity of their faith.
Yesterday morning I attended the National Prayer Service that President Obama, Vice President Biden, the First Lady and Dr. Biden participated in. Many of the people who signed this letter where in attendance as well. Not all of the people at the service voted for President Obama but none question the president's faith and all of us, regardless of important differences, believe that faith should bring us together in the pursuit of justice. Faith shouldn't be used to tear us apart.
Twice in recent months people looking for Driscoll's Portland church have attended Sunnyside Church by mistake. One woman demanded a rebuttal to the sermon. Another man walked out yelling obscenities.
My theology is very different from Driscoll's. God's love for us is radical and God's hospality great. We are called to build up the Beloved Community. Driscoll reads Scripture differently.
If you're looking for a place to worship in Portland where all are welcome - where you are encouraged to think for yourself and not bound by the leadership of a minister who preaches what you must believe - visit Sunnyside Church or University Park Church anytime.