Mark Driscoll on Homosexuality

Mark Driscoll is the co-founder and teaching pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA as well as the founder of the Acts 29 Network and a contributer to the Faith and Values sections of the Seattle Times.  Driscoll describes himself as of the Reformed theological tradition. 

1.  Do you believe God condemns homosexualy?

2. Is homosexuality a sin?

Driscoll, in this unique discussion, addresses the issue from a Biblical perspective, also drawing on Trinitarian theology to create a metaphor for understanding our human sexuality as God intended, and once established, explains his thoughts on homosexuality.  Driscoll's authority and credibility come from the Bible.  His evidence for his stance on Homosexuality is rooted in the anecdotal/narrative evidence of the scriptures, drawing from Hebrew Law (Leviticus 19) and Paul's letter to the Romans (Romans 1).

From a persuasive perspective, Driscoll draws heavily on Religious Perspectives, specifically Christianity.  As defined in Larson's Persuasion, Religious Perspectives on communication are "rooted in the basic assumptions a religion makes about the relationship of the divine/eternal to humans and the world, and vice versa."  This helps explain a Christian perspective on homosexuality in that it demonstrates how we view our humanity, and thus our sexuality, in light of the divine being we worship.  For Driscoll, this perspective involves the idea of fallen humanity, inherent sin, and grace through Jesus Christ.

It is also safe to say, given the fact that Driscoll is a Christian pastor at a Christian mega-church, there may be some message-sidedness to his persuasion.  Driscoll doesn't need to argue the inverse of whether or not homosexuality is a sin because the likeliness of someone having that perspective in a Reformed Baptist church is very unlikely.  With this in mind, it's safe to say that most Christians are biased based on the Bible and the popular teachings on Homosexuality.

Nonverbally, Driscoll uses an incredible amount of kinesics while talking.  Slashes of the hands, pointing of the fingers, waving of the arms, and other hand/arm motions are all bodily movements meant to back up the message and thus make him more credible.  It is fair to say, Driscoll's entire message is unprepared, which would explain the overabundance of arm motions.  Does it help him or hurt him?  What do you think?