The Bobby Knight Problem
41Description
In 2006, Mark Driscoll met with a group of Seattle pastors who were worried about Mars Hill’s public witness. Mark had risen to prominence with pugilistic bravado, and local leaders expressed concern that his tone and language about women and, in this particular instance, pastors’ wives hurt the perception of the church in their largely unchurched city. Despite their best efforts to connect on common ground, the meeting’s leaders counted the event a failure. Remarkable success had isolated Mark from the average person on whom his words fell. His institution had insulated him from critique. The meeting revealed clearly that power protected Mark from accountability.
Your pastor doesn’t need outsized fame and acclaim to fall prey to the seduction of power, and neither do you. In this episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, host Mike Cosper looks to the world of sports to illustrate how power corrupts and how, when we abdicate our roles as gatekeepers for one another, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Step onto the basketball courts at Indiana University and behind the pulpit at Mars Hill to see how power becomes a strong drug that justifies abuse, keeps truth from speaking, and distances us from our shared humanity.
“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a production of Christianity Today
Executive Producer: Erik Petrik
Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Mike Cosper
Additional Editing: Resonate Recordings and Matt Linder
Associate Producer: Joy Beth Smith
Music, Sound Design, and Mix Engineer: Kate Siefker
Graphic Design: Bryan Todd
Social Media: Nicole Shanks
Editorial Consultant: Andrea Palpant Dilley
Editor in Chief: Timothy Dalrymple
Theme song: “Sticks and Stones” by Kings Kaleidoscope
Closing song: “Anger” by Treva Blomquist
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I have enjoyed this podcast a lot. But I also think it's a ridiculous smear campaign on Mark Driscoll. This particular episode intentionally compares Mark Driscoll to a coach who physically choked his players...This is an obvious attack on Driscoll and biblical leadership in general. If Jesus were alive today the podcast would be the rise and fall of Jesus...a table flipping rabbi that got what he deserved. CT should be ashamed. The "moat" CT talks about that surrounded Mark and every Christian leader is biblical.
Anyone else feeling that this series goes on it gets flabbier and more self indulgent? it's like as it gets more known and powerful (SO many are now talking about it in) that it's risking into falling into its own diagnosis for Mars Hill. don't get me wrong, this is vital stuff, I'm grateful for the story being told and this behaviour called out, and first few episodes were brilliant. I was the one telling so many others about it as a thoughtful and key deconstruction of unhealthy church culture and bullying and abuse of power. but now... it just feels like it's going on and on. stretching it out as it's popularity snowballs... shocking content for the sake of it, to satiate the thirst of listeners to be righteously horrified. I didn't need all the Bobby Knight stuff to get the point that power can attract bullies in other places than church. how many more eps? do we not get the point now? what does the author want ultimately to do with this podcast?
How did Mars Hill get it's name? Doesn't seem like a typical church name.
I've greatly appreciated these podcasts. Why does this episode sound like its speed playing? I'm having trouble listening to it; my brain needs more time to process what I'm hearing. Please don't do this with future episodes, no matter how long they are. It really detracts from absorning the information.
wow! This podcast is blowing my mind and exposing the underbelly of what I've experienced for decades! thanks for your bravery!