"Reflections on the Church in Great Britain"

Unless he was aiming for a British sense of sarcasm, it appears Mark Driscoll recently took the British to task for their lack of celebrity pastors: "Let's just say this: right now, name for me the one young, good Bible teacher that is known across Great Britain. You don't have one – that's the problem. There are a bunch of cowards who aren't telling the truth."

On the plus side, I guess Northern Ireland pastors are aite in Driscoll's book.

Anyway, D.A. Carson responds (with a good measure of wit, to boot) to his good friend in a post titled "Reflections on the Church in Great Britain."

While we're on the topic, Carson's article "Observations of a Friend" (1995) on the Anglican Communion is likewise helpful to read. Although it should be noted there have been significant developments within Anglicanism since the article was published (e.g. GAFCON, St. John's Vancouver aka J.I. Packer's church leaving the Anglican Church of Canada).

It should also be said there are several fine British pastors and teachers in the United States. I'm thinking of men like Alistair Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, Liam Goligher, Mark Johnston, Robert Norris, Derek Thomas, and Carl Trueman. By the way, one of my favorite 9Marks interviews features Norris.

A poker tell

From Carl Trueman:

I see Mark Driscoll has had a go at my old country. Well, not really. Only foreigners really talk of 'Brits.' Those of us from the UK never think of ourselves in those terms: we are English, Welsh, Scottish or Irish, especially during the Six Nations. To have a go at the old country, you have to be a bit more specific, I am afraid.

I am surprised at the offence his comments have apparently caused. I cannot speak for the Celts, but the English take a certain pleasure in being hated and rubbished by everyone else. The nation -- like the man -- who has no enemies has, after all, no honour. Nevertheless, there is one quotation which is worth noting:

"Let's just say this: right now, name for me the one young, good Bible teacher that is known across Great Britain. You don't have one - that's the problem."

Notice the three important elements of this sentence: the definite article, 'young' and 'known across Britain.' The Great Man, youth and fame: not high on the list of Paul's priorities; and three basic elements of celebrity culture.

A bit of a poker tell, is it not?