Religion Saves: And Nine Other Misconceptions (Re: Lit Books) [Hardcover]

Mark Driscoll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2009 | Series: Re: Lit Books

After 343,203 online votes on the Mars Hill Church website, nine questions for Pastor Mark Driscoll emerged as the ones most urgently calling for answers.

Inspired by 1 Corinthians, in which Paul answers a series of questions posed by the people in the Corinthian church, Pastor Mark Driscoll set out to determine the most controversial questions among visitors to the Mars Hill Church website. In the end, 893 questions were asked and 343,203 votes were cast. The top nine questions are now each answered in a chapter of Religion Saves.

After an introductory chapter devoted to the misconception that religion is what saves us, Driscoll tackles nine issues: birth control, humor, predestination, grace, sexual sin, faith and works, dating, the emerging church, and the regulative principle.

Because the purpose of this book is to address commonly asked questions, all readers will find relevant, engaging material, written in Driscoll's distinctively edgy, yet theologically sound style.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Forget political correctness and timidity. Through this gritty, didactic countdown, author Driscoll answers sensitive questions Christians may be afraid to ask. Pastor of the Mars Hill megachurch in Seattle, Driscoll (Vintage Jesus) asked his congregation to submit their burning questions online. After they submitted and voted on 893 questions, Driscoll answers the top nine in the nine chapters of this book. From worship styles to explicit discussions of sex and birth control, the topics represent timely questions with which real people struggle. Driscoll includes quotations, stunning statistics, endnotes and footnoted verse numbers as evidence. Historical context and pop-culture references help to further clarify the more complicated explanations. When handling controversial topics, Driscoll sometimes employs a crass, mocking humor. Though this humor accomplishes its goal of being arresting and difficult to ignore, it may alienate the very readers from other denominations, religions and sexual orientations Driscoll hopes to rebuke and reconcile. Some questions have only idealistic, black and white answers (don't have sex until you're married). In other instances, such as birth control, he presents the arguments and leaves gray areas the reader may resolve as their conscience permits. On the whole, Driscoll is strong medicine. (June 30)
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Review

"Driscoll has a unique gift of unpacking and explaining lofty truth in a language any of us can understand. Not only does Religion Saves challenge readers, but it also allows them room to wrestle. This is a fantastic book full of biblical truth. You can't help but walk away thinking about the content daily."

Lacrae Moore

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Crossway (June 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433506165
• ISBN-13: 978-1433506161
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 5.8 x 8.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Pastor Mark Driscoll is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington and is one of the world's most-downloaded and quoted pastors. His audience--fans and critics alike--spans the theological and cultural left and right. He was also named one of the "25 Most Influential Pastors of the Past 25 Years" by Preaching magazine, and his sermons are consistently #1 on iTunes each week for Religion & Spirituality with over 10 million of downloads each year.

Pastor Mark received a B.A. in Speech Communication from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University, and he holds a masters degree in Exegetical Theology from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of fifteen books.

In 1996, at the age of twenty-five, Pastor Mark and his wife, Grace, with the vision to make disciples of Jesus and plant churches, started a small Bible study at their home in Seattle, which at the time was the least churched city in America. Since that time, by God's grace, the church has exploded with upwards of nineteen thousand people meeting across thirteen locations in four states (Washington, Oregon, California, and New Mexico). Mars Hill has been recognized as the 54th largest, 30th fastest-growing, and 2nd most-innovative church in America by Outreach magazine.

Pastor Mark is the co-founder of the Acts 29 Network, which has planted over 400 churches in the US, in addition to thirteen other nations. He founded the Resurgence, which receives close to six million visits annually and services Christian leaders through books, blogs, conferences, and classes. And he is co-founder of Churches Helping Churches with Pastor James MacDonald, which raised over $2.7 million to help rebuild churches in Haiti and empower them minister and provide aide to the Haitian community, and helped deliver $1.7 million in medical supplies to the devastated country.

With a skillful mix of bold presentation, clear biblical teaching, and compassion for those who are hurting the most--in particular, women who are victims of sexual and physical abuse and assault--Driscoll has taken biblical Christianity into cultural corners previously unexplored by evangelicals. In the same year that he spoke at a Gospel Coalition conference with notable contemporary theologians like John Piper and Tim Keller, he also discussed biblical sexuality as a guest on Loveline with Dr. Drew, was featured on Nightline, and preached for Rick Warren at Saddleback Community Church.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 54 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Mostly good. More practical than exegetical. August 26, 2009

By Mark Lamprecht

Format:Hardcover

I like the concept of the book as found in its title Religion Saves. As much as a book debunking that religion saves needs to be written I think it is hard to do in the format Mark Driscoll has chosen. Letting others pick your topics and then finding an appropriate title would not be an easy task for anyone. I say that as I ask the question of whether or not the topic of religion saves was actually tackled. Most of the topics aren't really salvation issues. They are moral issues for the world and Gospel issues for the church. Driscoll is very good at addressing moral issues, their practical outworking in one's life and practical solutions. Let's browse through the topics.

Question 9: Birth Control

This chapter is to be appreciated. Driscoll goes over the biblical view of people as God's creation, families and children. He then lays out a helpful over view of the history of birth control. Birth control is looked at in five different levels. No birth control (19), natural (33), non-abortive (34), potentially abortive (37) and abortive murder (40). He walks the reader through the different forms of each type of birth control and attempts to give biblical guidance for each. Mixed in with Driscoll's answers are historical and medical research. I found this chapter helpful as it offers a good over view and wisdom from which to make decisions.

Question 8: Humor

Next to the question what is too crude for a pastor and the pulpit, this is a much wondered about question from Driscoll's perspective. I appreciate much of Driscoll's humor. Not all of it. Even though no particular group is under his radar as names them off I wonder at times just how pastoral this approach is. Is there a time when you stop making fun of the guy downloading porn and sleeping on Star Wars sheets and bring the Gospel to light as the solution. (45)

As he seeks to answers the question of whether or not humor is biblical, he simply asserts his position. Showing that humor is biblical is not the same as pointing out what an individual personally finds humorous. Driscoll points to the greek word skubalah, meaning "s**t" according to Greek scholar Dan Wallace, in Philippians 3:8 as scatological humor. While the language might be scatological I don't see it as humorous and neither does Wallace as Driscoll has quoted him. Just as the reference to Noah who is referred to as a camping redneck when he became drunk.(49) Again, this doesn't prove that the Bible is humorous. Actually, these acts aren't acts of humor, but of showing the sinful side of men that needs to be repented of. He uses a similar approach when quoting the Wisdom books pointing out God laughing at the wicked. There are just too many assumptions built on Driscoll's personal taste to prove the point he is trying to prove.

Driscoll goes on to quote Elton Trueblood's The Humor of Christ to build his case about Jesus and humor. I don't know enough about this book to comment either way. I do agree that Jesus laughed. He was God and Man. While I appreciate Driscoll laying out his ten ways humor is helpful (61) and ten commandments for sanctifying humor (64) I wonder if he could stand up to his own test at times.

Question 7: Predestination

Driscoll starts by defining monergism and synergism. Then he gives a brief history of some key theologians throughout church history and their views on this topic. Getting to the heart of the chapter is when Driscoll lays out the five points of Calvinism and the Arminianism.(74) He explains some of the nuances of each position. Showing his cards he lets the reader know that he named his second son Calvin Martin after Martin Luther and John Calvin.(75) He explains that he doesn't base his fellowship with other Christians on this issue. The real meat of the chapter is where many questions about predestination are answered in light of salvation, free-will, God being unfair,etc. Though this is a pretty good and thorough chapter it is another one of those topics that will be debated until our predestined life ends. As a bonus, there is a very helpful appendix with Bible verses on predestination.

Question 6: Grace

"Grace" answers the question for Driscoll of what is the hardest part of Christianity for him to grasp.(105) I can't help but relate to his thinking here. The grace of God in my salvation is beyond my comprehension. Driscoll relates this by telling the story of his life as a sinner. As a "good" moral guy. It's a good recounting for all to reflect on.

He then expounds on grace in Scripture. The reader is walked through 13 experiences of grace. These include the aspects of grace working in electing, preaching, regeneration, conversion, justification, adoption, ministry, sanctification, empowering, provisional, miraculous, persevering and glorifying. (117) Understanding grace in this way if very helpful so that we understand it is God sustaining us in all we do not just in salvation, but in life as a whole.

Question 5: Sexual Sin

This chapter deals with the question of breaking free from the bondage of sexual sin.(127) Driscoll starts by describing something I'm not familiar with called "Naughty coffee". His description of what happens while ordering this coffee might be enough to make a man's mind wander where it shouldn't. The author moves to briefly describing sexual sin in Scripture and then sexual sin today. A whole barrage of different types of today's sins are given. Included in these descriptions are historical, medical and societal statistics. These statistics are helpful and informative as far as facts go. It will probably be eye-opening to those out there who take such things for granted. An excerpt of an interview with Ted Bundy just before his execution certainly puts these issues in a different light.(138)

Winding the chapter down are 11 tips for breaking free of this sexual bondage.(140) These tips are helpful and rooted in Scripture. However, the Gospel seems to be assumed rather than explicitly applied. The redemptive aspect of the Gospel and the Christian's identity in Christ could be a bit stronger. I'm reminded here of what Bryan Chapell calls the "deadly be's". "Be" like this person in Scripture, etc. is the message and it must be accompanied God's grace.

Question 4: Faith and Works

Not only is this a debate between Protestants and Roman Catholics, it is also a type of wrong thinking that occurs in religious people as far as works go. Good works are certainly the religion of the world. Driscoll does a decent job of laying out the doctrine of justification. I really appreciate how he explains that justification is about Jesus.(162) He then takes 12 pages on the doctrine of regeneration in the middle of a chapter on faith and works. Finishing the chapter is about one page on the doctrine of sanctification. Even though I appreciate the author's presentation on regeneration I don't understand why it was inserted in this chapter. The biggest disappointment is that Driscoll doesn't deal with the exegetical work of concerning faith and works with James and Paul. Instead, he assumes his position.

Question 3: Dating

This is a another good topic for Driscoll. He seems to do well with the social, moral aspects of life. Again, the reader will find some decent research of dating in times past into the present. The author tackles cohabitation citing statistics touching on who engages in, and some of the outcomes of, this practice. The issue of singleness is up next touching on the gift of singleness (1 Cor. 7) and those who might create different idols within it.

Driscoll nicely lays out 16 helpful Christian dating principles for men and women.(191) He offers much wisdom here from maximizing one's singleness for God to agreeing theologically with a potential date.(195) Many of these points are over looked by today's Christians. The chapter ends with seven Christian dating questions for men (198), seven for women (200) and dating methods.(202) Again, this is where Driscoll shines and gives some good practical advice.

Question 2: The Emerging Church

The question is what can established/traditional churches learn from emerging churches?(209) A brief history of Driscoll's association with emerging church leaders kicks off the chapter. He gets into the differences of the emergent, emerging and missional categories of churches. Rob Bell is singled out as the exception among acquaintances and friends of Driscoll's in these movements.(210) Concerning the church the author explains the cultural shifts, the need to be missional and the friendships that blur theological lines with in these movements. These things are said to account for confusion in understand how the differing positions are defined.

The reader is then given four lanes on the missional church highway.(213) They are missional evangelicals (214), missional house church evangelicals (215), missional reformed evangelicals (216) and emergent liberals.(217) Driscoll goes on to finish the chapter with strong critiques, really rebukes, of the emergent liberals. He takes on Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, and Rob Bell by analyzing their theology where some key problems lie. This chapter ends with a damning prognosis. Driscoll states that the emergent leaders and their churches are not leading people to Christ and His Gospel. There is actually no Gospel and no salvation found amongst these communities. This is an important chapter that needs to be read by today's post-moderns.

Question 1: The Regulative Principle

Full disclosure, I was one of the folks who helped Timmy Brister get this question through by using my votes on it. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The humor chapter misses the point, but the rest is solid May 21, 2010

By Kurt Conner VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

This is essentially a case of the book being better than the movie. I listened to the podcasts of these sermons as Driscoll delivered them, and they were good, if moderately frustrating at parts, but Driscoll has really improved his work by putting it in print, attributing more quotes, and enhancing the content itself. Specifically, when he spoke about the emerging church (question 2), he told his congregation that he knows this was all from internet voting and that they don't care, so he only used half of his time to address the question and then picked a topic of his own for the rest of the sermon (I don't remember what it was, but I remember feeling cheated, since Driscoll has a unique position as someone who used to work with some of the big Emergent names but now is one of the leading voices in the Reformed movement) (and, seriously, the question about the regulative principle is the top question, and Driscoll didn't whine that the internet voters skewed that result?). This book treats each question with respect, presenting Driscoll's well-researched responses with dozens of footnotes and endnotes, along with an earnest but not humorless tone that makes it sound like he really cares that people feel like their questions have been answered. The footnotes and endnotes alone make this book a valuable resource (even moreso than recordings of the sermons).

I still think, as I thought when listening to the podcast back in the day, that Driscoll completely misses the point of question 8. Essentially, the question asks, "Why do you make fun of so many people and then expect them to become Christians?" and Driscoll answers (I'm paraphrasing), "You don't seem to like that I'm funny. Let's look at how humor is used in the Bible." The problem isn't that Driscoll is funny. He is. The problem is that he's mean. He demeans people, and yes, he refuses to single specific people out or over-focus on one people group, but his attempts to get laughs (while often successful) are not gentle, and they don't feel loving. I have read enough of his books and listened to enough of his sermons to know that Driscoll has a loving heart beneath the pugnacious exterior, but that does not often come across in his funnier sermons. Question 8 is, at the heart level, "Why are you mean?" and Driscoll answers, "Hey, I don't have to apologize for being funny." This book was a chance for Driscoll to really address what was going on, and although I love the book overall, I think he made a mistake on that chapter.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun read heavy on practical advice but laced with Calvinism and presumptive prooftexting. December 21, 2009

By lighten_up_already2 VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

First of all, this book is fun to read. Mark Driscoll has encouraged me through this book because he is edgy, writes what he really thinks, and isn't overly concerned with who might be offended. I like that.

Second, there is a lot of practical, biblically based advice in here. The chapters that really shine are:

Birth control. Here's a great overview of the issue, including some insights into the history of birth control for the past few thousand years, and a process of arriving at a balanced yet biblical point of view. This is Mark Driscoll at his best. Especially fun are all the erotic, and completely permissable within the bounds of marriage, er...activities that are encoded in the Song of Solomon. He includes scripture references for these, but I think on a few he's reaching a bit. I'd like more here than just a scripture reference in a footnote. How did he reach some of these conclusions?

Humor. Well, I'm already familiar with the passages he covers here, so it wan't that funny to me, but he made his case well. It really never occured to me that the use of humor by Christian leaders or in the scripture was an issue at all.

Predestination. Here is where the heavy dogma happens. Mark Driscoll is a Calvinist. He takes a large number of scripture-bytes out of context and lists them all together as if this somehow proves he is right. For example, just dropping "You were slaves to sin" (Rom 6:20) on a page as if this helps prove the Calvinistic "point" of Total Depravity doesn't do much for me. There's no context here so it really doesn't prove anything, except that the Christians in Rome that Paul was writing to were once slaves to sin. But slaves can rebel, and I sort of like to think of turning to God through Jesus Christ as a slave rebelling againt the world and Satan.

And, in the appendix "Bible verses on Predestination" Driscoll lists Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Now, since when is this a verse on predestination? Huh? Time to take a breath and back away from the issue a bit.

(It's this kind of stuff that reminds me of why I don't like to read Christian books much anymore. It seems that in so many of them the author has an axe to grind, so he throws the Bible into an cognitive blender and pulls out the shreds that make his case. This is self serving, not completely honest, and gets really old fast if you have an inquisitive mind and like to verify what people say and write. All I would say with this book, like any other, is don't assume an author is right just because he can cut and paste scripture shreds on a page. Look it up and study it for yourself. If you genuinly seek truth and study for yourself, at least then you own your beliefs. As for me, "All is foreseen; yet free will is given" (Rabbi Akiva, Pirkei Avoth 3:15) which is a great thought that I discovered through doing a little verification on the teaching in this book.

Grace. This chapter is too permeated with Calvinism to be useful to me, sorry.

Faith and Works. Great balanced and thoughtful approach.

Dating. Really really great advice!

The Emerging Church. Dead-on brief buy pithy overview of what this "emerging church" is all about. I particularly appreciated the section on Emergent Liberals.

So, here's a fun to read book loaded with practical advice on a number of issues that affect us all to one degree or another, but also sadly laced with many presumptive uses of scripture in support of Calvinism. Take it with a grain of salt.