(OPINION) Mark Driscoll, the former pastor of Mars Hill Church and current senior pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, has sparked significant controversy with his recent comments condemning Christian stay-at-home fathers.

In a post on X on May 25, 2025, Driscoll stated, “A Christian man who doesn’t work is worse than a non-Christian. This includes you, stay-at-home dads.”

This statement, rooted in his interpretation of 1 Timothy 5:8, has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from pro-life activist Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America.

Driscoll’s argument hinges on 1 Timothy 5:8, which states, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (NIV).

He interprets this verse to mean that Christian men must work outside the home to provide financially for their families, asserting that stay-at-home dads fail to fulfill this biblical mandate.

In a 2008 video alongside his wife Grace, Driscoll further described the choice of men staying home as succumbing to a “perverted, corrupted, stupid culture,” suggesting it is incompatible with Christian values.

This perspective was reiterated in a Mother’s Day post where Driscoll claimed that “voluntary” stay-at-home fathers are “hell-bound,” intensifying the backlash against his remarks.

His stance aligns with his long-standing complementarian views, which emphasize distinct gender roles where men are the primary breadwinners and women focus on homemaking.

Kristan Hawkins, a prominent Christian pro-life activist, responded directly to Driscoll’s comments, demanding an apology for her husband, a stay-at-home father.

Hawkins shared that her husband, a former schoolteacher, chose to stay home to care for their children, two of whom have cystic fibrosis, while she leads Students for Life of America.

She wrote on X, “@PastorMark owes my husband an apology for this post. …

He is 100% a Christian and the best example of a male role model I know.” Hawkins’ rebuttal highlights a personal and practical perspective, arguing that caregiving at home is a valid and valuable contribution to the family, challenging Driscoll’s narrow definition of “providing.”

Driscoll’s comments are not new; he has consistently expressed this view throughout his ministry.

In a 2008 video, he and his wife Grace argued that Titus 2 mandates women to be “homeward focused,” while men must work outside the home to avoid being “worse than an unbeliever.”

Critics, including Christian apologetics ministry Got Questions, argue that Driscoll misinterprets 1 Timothy 5:8.

The ministry notes that the verse does not explicitly prohibit stay-at-home dads and that providing for a family can include non-financial contributions, such as caregiving.

Data from the Pew Research Center indicates that approximately 23% of stay-at-home dads in 2021 chose to stay home to care for their families, while others cited reasons like unemployment, illness, or disability.

This growing trend—nearly doubling since 1989—challenges Driscoll’s rigid stance, reflecting diverse family dynamics in modern society.