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Mark Driscoll's explanation

Mark Driscoll is the teaching pastor for Seattle's Mars Hill Church (not to be confused with Rob Bell's church of the same name in Michigan). A Google search of Driscoll's name makes it easy to find critics. Theological conservatives don't like his non-traditional methods, while liberals don't like his strict adherence to the bible as the final answer on everything.

ABC's Nightline did a special in which they invited Driscoll and 3 others to debate the question: "Does Satan exist?". View the entire episode (including parts that were cut from the broadcast) here: http://abcnews.go.com/nightline/faceoff

I learned about this event after the show had been broadcast. I read about it in a religion blog where the writer complained that the 4 panelists were not intellectual enough. I couldn't disagree with him more. Driscoll in particular laid out the basics of the Gospel very well in his introduction, and made it clear why the existence of Satan is an important part of the need for Jesus to do what He did.

To all those who complain that the discussion lacked true intellectuals, I'd remind you that those who Jesus spoke to most harshly were the intellectuals. The perceived need for someone with a pedigree or credentials comes from an undue and undeserved elevation of man's thinking above that of God. As if someone smart enough can decide whether or not Satan exists.

But putting aside that question, I love all that Driscoll said during this hour. He never berated those who disagreed with him. He let it be known that he loved them and wanted them to experience the Gospel on a personal level. Most important, he made sure that Jesus, not the devil, was the center of all that he said.

If you can't spare an hour to watch the entire thing, click the link to watch the opening clip. Driscoll's closing statement in the closing clip is special, too.

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