11 - Mars Hill Church and their Disciplinary Acts

Have you thought how manipulative a church can be if they wanted to? I mean, they have the power. Churches, or rather, their belief system can easily make people follow, because from the start, religions is meant to be followed.  They have the power but it is rarely use in an obvious way, more or less in an abusive way.

I started to look for an incident where a religion or a belief system has become manipulative in some way. I didn't expect to find any but I stumbled an article entitled "A Shunning in Seattle" written by Ruth Graham.. Graham told the story of Andrew, a former Mars Hill Church (MHC) member. Andrew did something wrong and against the church's rules and laws. Thus, he went through different disciplinary procedures. It became too much for him, so he decided to leave the church.

First off, the disciplinary procedures was too much demanding. He was asked to sign a contract in which will make him on probation and he wouldn't be involved in church activities. Also, in the contract he was required  to write down all his “sexual and emotional attachment history with women". I think, such methods is unnecessary. It's like they're taking judgement on the church's officials own hands which is supposed to be God's.

Graham wrote:

“The fury over Andrew’s experience—and his decision to publicize the church’s internal disciplinary procedures—has led to accusations by other Christians that one of the most powerful evangelical voices in the country, Mars Hill pastor Mark Driscoll, employs a cultlike leadership style.” 

Because of these incidents, questions about the church’s disciplinary practices arise. Mars Hill Church was confronted with questions about whether its disciplinary measures are, as Graham puts it, “misunderstood and biblical, or disturbingly controlling”.

As a result of these incident, Andrew was labeled as an unbeliever just because he wasn't able to finish the disciplinary procedures. Other MHC members were force, if not persuaded, to avoid any interaction  with Andrew.

This event only proves that the belief system of religion can also be use to control people.