Destiny TV Blog - Comments on Visit and Message from Mark Driscoll
by Pastor Andrew Owen

Some people have been shocked at the subject matter of last Sunday evening's service at Destiny Glasgow (the same message was preached at the second morning service at Destiny Edinburgh). Mark Driscol - pastor of Mars Hill church Seattle - was the guest speaker.

To some the shock began when he put his subject matter for the night to a vote. In the event it was a tie, and so Mark asked if I would, as the pastor in the house, make a choice - I chose the sermon on sex.

Mark's texts were taken from Solomon's Song of Songs. Mark spoke about sex inside marriage and covered a wide range of issues including oral sex.

While some folks found the evening shaking their comfort zones, the overwhelming response I have had is extremely positive. including the GNR8 guys (11-16yrs old) - and their parents. Most understand that while sex is openly discussed everywhere, including our junior schools where kids as young as 8 or 9 discuss oral sex, its hardly ever discussed at church. And so God's view on things is left to marriage seminars, a place where singles and teens never go!

In my mind, Mark's message took two tracts:

• What you can do as a Christian, and not what you can't do! Life with God is amazing in every sense of the word and sex in inside marriage is to be enjoyed, with an understanding that it's something we give as a gift to our spouse.
• For singles who often ask the question “how far can I go?”, it's the wrong question! Don't even start!! You guys who are single must listen to the message.

I can understand some concerns raised. Here they are and my responses:

1. Should have been left to marriage seminars!

Song of songs is an open book, available for all to read. In fact, we encourage our kids to read the Bible!! So are we saying they should read and not understand?? Mark simply explained the text.

It's an open book because God wants us to raise our kids with wisdom and sound advice on every subject including sex.

2. I had moral issues before marriage, and have stayed away from exploring liberating sex in case I offend God, this evening gave me a problem.

Sorry about that! But you may have a bigger marriage problem if your sex life is being affected by your past.
Mark's introduction of a historical look at sex inside the church was helpful, including the views of heroes like Augustine/Luther etc. It showed how coloured they were by platonic philosophy, some of which touches us today. We get confused between the “flesh” and the “spirit”. We end up calling bad things good and good things bad! It's very good to abstain from sex when single but not good when married! We need to get our lines straight, and understand what is carnal and what isn't.

I am teaching on this very issue this Sunday morning at Destiny Glasgow.-both meetings.

3. Didn't mention Jesus or preach the gospel

If you were looking for John 3:16 then you will have been disappointed. But many sermon subjects fall into this catagory. I feel that Christ was honoured, His word was elevated and the message clearly fell into the catagory of very important things that Jesus Himself taught us to do. I.E

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”.

We were learning how to do just that in this area. At every Destiny meeting opportunity is given to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour. Unusually in the event, no one did at the evening service, but several had at Destiny Edinburgh in the morning to the same message, 7 had the day before at the MENMAKERS event, and several had at the morning services at Destiny Glasgow. As a church in the nation we endorse this kind of real, relevant teaching, and see between 10 and 30 come to Christ every week.

4. Couldn't bring my friends to a church that preaches like this!

Personally I believe the exact opposite! Religious people may have a problem - but they have a problem with just about everything we do! The friends I have, who have issues in their marriage, problems with their kids and are sick with disease or depression are desperate for answers.

To those who wrote or phoned, I am very grateful to you for your honesty and integrity. You did the Christian thing in raising the issues with your brothers. I hope that my attempt to answer your questions shows that we, like you, are on a journey, needing to change and learn all the time.

Andrew