(OPINION) Yet another twist has emerged in the ongoing feud between outspoken Pastor Mark Driscoll and megachurch Preacher John Lindell, whose Stronger Men’s Conference garnered outsized media attention after a performance by sword-swallower Alex Magala.
The tête-à-tête between Driscoll and Lindell, lead pastor of James River Church in Springfield, Missouri, has been brewing since the “Pray Like Jesus” author rebuked Lindell from the platform of the Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, where the men’s event was held, for allowing a performance by Magala, who has earned fame for his impressive acrobatic stunts and sword-swallowing acts.
During his performance, Magala, who reportedly used to work as a stripper, was dressed in an all-leather outfit and removed his top in a seemingly seductive way at the start of his show.
Driscoll veered from his planned sermon to condemn Magala for inviting the “Jezebel Spirit” into the conference. Within a matter of minutes, Lindell called out Driscoll and swiftly ordered him to leave the stage. The two men later appeared together, seemingly mending fences and moving on from the incident.
But now, it appears the rift between the two men is far from resolved.
Lindell took time during his sermon Sunday to “apologize” for inviting both Driscoll and Magala to the Stronger Men’s Conference, which took place in mid-April.
“I want to apologize and let you know I take full responsibility for the decision that was made to invite Mark Driscoll and Alex Magala to the Stronger Men’s Conference,” he said, according to The Roys Report. “I am deeply saddened by the division that our invitation has brought to the Body of Christ. That was never our intent.”
The pastor added, “The Stronger Men’s Conference is about reaching men for Jesus Christ, and it will continue to be about reaching men for Jesus Christ.”
Days prior, during a Wednesday service at James River Church, Lindell revealed Driscoll had accused one of his sons, Brandon Lindell, of a “list of dark sins.” He went on to call Driscoll’s behavior in recent days as “demonic” and urged the Scottsdale-based preacher to repent for his actions.
