It All Comes Down To Aesthetics

It is interesting that the crisis finally came only when the aesthetics flipped the other way, when Driscoll and his antics became more distasteful than the words of his critics. It is important to notice that it was not the embrace of a Unitarian prosperity teacher and that decision’s obvious doctrinal significance which brought things to a head. Rather, it was the numerous allegations of bullying and loutish behaviour which finished him off — things that are aesthetically displeasing in the current climate.

—Carl Trueman, “The secret of big evangelicalism is the secret of great comedy

    Post authored by:

  • R. Scott Clark
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    R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

    More by R. Scott Clark ›

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2 comments

  1. Trueman (aptly named) is correct; it seems that Driscoll’s embracing of TD Jakes (read: heresy) was not quite enough to finally defrock him.

  2. When those of us who are faithful to the Reformed faith don’t even get the time of day, wolves in sheep’s clothing get away with all sorts of behavior. We are the ones who are accused of being “unloving, bitter, angry, and etc, because we are anguished by what we see and hear coming from the pulpits of even “reformed” churches and ministries. I include those who have embraced forms of Arminian belief, Amyraldianism, and the New Perspective on Paul. How is it that we in the pews, do not get the same hearing and consideration that these hirelings in the pulpits do?

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