Sex sells.

It might be hard to imagine a church adopting this marketing technique, but that’s exactly what Mark Driscoll did in Seattle in the early 2000s. Whether condemning the Western erosion of manhood or elevating women as Christian pornographic ideals, preaching from the Mars Hill pulpit mixed toxic cultural messages with biblical theology in the name of forming men, women, and families for God. And, like Mark’s campaign against diminished manhood, when sex sold in church, both men and women came up short.

In a recent episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, host Mike Cosper explores what happens when words meant to protect women end up hurting them. This episode is heavy. If you decide to listen, be sure to take breaks or talk about it with a friend. Grieve and process however you may need. But remember, only in sitting with this pain, dragging into the light what has long been hidden, can the church continue to heal. And, if the smoldering embers of Mars Hill are any indication, we have so much healing left to do.