Pastor Mark Driscoll, a guest speaker at a Springfield, Mo. men’s conference, was kicked off stage after comparing a sword-swallowing entertainment act to a stripper’s pole.
The Stronger Men’s Conference is organized annually by James River Church and the event drew attendees from 38 states and 42 countries April 12-13 at the city’s large arena.
Driscoll, who pastors in Arizona, was on stage for his scheduled address to the arena when he diverged and began to talk about a “Jezebel spirit.” His comments were referring to Alex Magala, a male stripper who won Britain’s Got Talen, who earlier demonstrated aerial sword swallowing while performing acrobatics on a vertical metal pole.
“I’ve been up since 1 o’clock in the morning,” Driscoll told the audience that may have numbered 1,000 men, according to videos posted online.
“The reason I’m hoarse is I have been praying and my heart is very burdened for you. And I want to be very careful with this and it’s not what I want to say, but the Jezebel spirit has already been here,” he began.
NEW: Pastor Mark Driscoll gets kicked off stage at a men’s conference after he calls out pastor John Lindell for allowing a demonstration from a male stripper.
The incident happened at the Stronger Men’s Conference in Springfield, MO.
After Vegas stripper and ‘sword swallower’… pic.twitter.com/hlDHqHHriY
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 14, 2024
“Before the Word of God was open, there was a platform. It was a high place. On it was a pole, an ashera, the same thing that’s used in a strip club by women who have the Jezebel spirit to seduce men. And in front of that was a man who ripped his shirt off like a woman does in front of a pole at a strip club,” Driscoll said. “That man then ascended — See, our God is not arrogant. He is humble and he descends. And then, he swallowed a sword and Jesus cried.”
Megachurch has strip-show-like performance at men’s conference. Guest speaker Mark Driscoll spoke out against it and was kicked off stage.
Unbelievable that any church would allow this. Reason #538 not to attend a megachurch.#ChristIsKing @pearlythingz @sovereignbrah @scrowder… pic.twitter.com/Fl2Vd3DDhn
— Caeden (@thecfrazier) April 14, 2024
That was when James River lead pastor John Lindell was heard shouting Driscoll’s name from the the side of the stage saying Driscoll was “out of line.”
“Okay, Pastor John, I’ll receive that,” Driscoll responded and began to gather his notes and bible.
“You’re done,” Lindell continued as he took the stage.
At that point, Driscoll left the stage as the audible gasps and groans were heard from conference attendees.
The crowd, visible angry at Lindell, began chanting “Bring him back!” and “You’re not in charge!”
Lindell was almost drowned out as booing erupted as he attempted to speak and justify his telling Driscoll to leave the stage.
“Mark is out of line. If Mark wanted to say that, he should have said it to me first,” Lindell shouted back at the audience.
Driscoll, who has been embroiled in controversy himself, was defended by social media posters. @Caeden posted on X, “Mark Driscoll. Been in some controversy himself, but he’s right about this.”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice