Mark Driscoll catching some heat over his Song of Solomon Video Clip (continued)

March 3, 2008

When considering Mark Driscoll’s recent Song of Solomon video clip, I cannot help but reflect on the work of Jonathan Edwards in his The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God. I am reading through The Spirit of Revival: Discovering the Wisdom of Jonathan Edwards with a modernized text of The Distinguishing Marks.

In Section 1: Indifferent Signs, Number 7 is titled, Errors in Judgment and Delusions of Satan Intermix with the Work. Number 7 reads:

Nor are many errors in judgment and some delusions of Satan intermixed with the work any argument that the work in general is not of the Spirit of God. However great a spiritual influence may be, it is not to be expected that the Spirit of God should be given now in the same manner as it was to the apostles. The Spirit, without error, guided the apostles in points of Christian doctrine. Therefore, what they taught can be relied on as a rule to the Christian church.

And if many delusions of Satan appear at the same time that a great religious concern prevails, it is not an argument that the work in general is not the work of God. In Egypt there were true miracles wrought by the hand of God in spite of the fact that Jannes and Jambres wrought false miracles at the same time by the hand of the devil. Yes, the same persons may experience great influences of the Spirit of God and yet in some things be led away by the delusions of Satan. This is no more a paradox than many other things that are true of real saints. In the present state, grace dwells with so much corruption.

The new man and the old man subsist together in the same person. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil remain for a while together in the same heart. Many godly persons have undoubtedly in the present and previous ages exposed themselves to woeful delutions. They have an aptness to put to much weight on impulses and impressions. They treat these impulses and and impressions as if they were immediate revelations from God to signify something future or to direct them where to go and what to do.

To be sure, Jonathan Edwards immediate context in this ‘work of the Spirit of God’ is revival. Nevertheless, I would argue we can apply these ‘Marks’ to a ‘work of the Spirit’ in a ministry such as Mark Driscoll’s. To that end, it may be helpful to consider what Jonathan Edwards has said here and apply it to Driscoll and his ministry.

I am not saying I agree with Edwards completely or that Driscoll is being influenced by the Devil or that we can apply these ‘Marks’ in all aspects to Driscoll. What I am saying is that Edwards’ thoughts are worth our consideration.

Resource:

• Jonathan Edwards: On Revival
• The Spirit of Revival: Discovering the Wisdom of Jonathan Edwards
• Works of Jonathan Edwards, Yale, Vol. 4, The Great Awakening
• Various books on Jonathan Edwards

Posted in Jonathan Edwards, Mark Driscoll