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The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill

Bonus Episode: I Kissed Christianity Goodbye

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill

Christianity Today

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, True Crime

4.813K Ratings

🗓️ 20 August 2021

⏱️ 67 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A Bonus Episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Love it or hate it, if you grew up in a youth group after 1997, you probably had to reckon with Joshua Harris’s I Kissed Dating Goodbye, his treatise on dating and courtship. The book sold millions and made him, in Collin Hansen’s terms, an “evangelical boy wonder.”At 29 years old he became the lead pastor of a Maryland megachurch and a rising star in Sovereign Grace Ministries. But when that movement was torn apart by controversy, conflict, and accusations of a systemic cover-up of child abuse, he found himself reeling, unsure of his calling and convictions. He left ministry in 2015, and in 2019, announced that he no longer identified as a Christian. In this bonus episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, we’ll explore Josh’s story as a contemporary of Mark Driscoll, someone who was his polar opposite in temperament, and who’s struggles in ministry led to a divergent outcome. We’ll talk about faith, doubt, and celebrity, and discuss how Christians might think about their own doubts and deconstruction, recognizing them as a normal part of the Christian life. Subscriptions to CT are one of the best ways to support this kind of journalism. If you want to help us continue doing this kind of work, consider joining today at orderct.com/marshill. “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producer: Erik Petrik Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Mike Cosper Associate Producer: Joy Beth Smith Music and Sound Design: Kate Siefker and Mike Cosper Mix Engineer: Mike Cosper Graphic Design: Bryan Todd Social Media: Nicole Shanks Editorial Consultant: Andrea Palpant Dilley Editor in Chief: Timothy Dalrymple Theme song: “Sticks and Stones” by Kings Kaleidoscope Closing song: “Spirit (Keep On)” by Jeremy Casella Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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Over 20 million downloads and 10 million listeners.

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and to give a monthly or one-time gift to support the development of CT Media's next podcast.

0:48.0

That's morect.com slash what's next.

0:58.0

This is CT Media.

1:05.0

In Colin Hansen's 2008 book, Young Restless Reformed,

1:09.0

he profiled seven inflection points for what he saw as catalysts for a renewed interest in reform theology.

1:15.0

Among them were Bethlehem Baptist Church, where John Piper was the lead pastor,

1:19.0

and the Southern Baptist seminary under the leadership of Albert Molar.

1:23.0

Mark Triscoll and Mars Hill were chapter seven of that book.

1:26.0

And chapter six featured Joshua Harris.

1:30.0

Here's Colin Hansen.

1:32.0

So a lot of what I was doing in Young Restless Reformed was focusing on that restless part.

1:39.0

What I was trying to capture was that this is a new different movement.

1:45.0

This is not the same sort of Presbyterian circles, the same sort of Dutch Reformed circles.

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