Pastor John Lindell of James River Church in Missouri found himself at the center of controversy after hosting the Stronger Men’s Conference, which featured both professional sword swallower Alex Magala and Pastor Mark Driscoll. The controversy erupted when Driscoll criticized Magala’s performance as demonic, sparking a significant backlash. Lindell subsequently apologized during a Sunday night service, expressing regret for the division caused by the invitations and affirming his responsibility for the decision. He emphasized that the conference’s purpose was to reach men for Jesus Christ, a mission he vowed would continue despite the incident.
The fallout from the event included a detailed rebuke from Lindell directed at Driscoll, criticizing him for not handling his objections in a more private and biblically guided manner, as suggested in Matthew 18. Lindell defended Magala’s character and Christian faith. However, Magala later clarified that he was not “born-again” as Lindell claimed and corrected personal details about his family life, which Lindell shared inaccurately. Driscoll’s objections to Magala’s performance were linked to Magala’s past as a go-go dancer and striptease artist, which Driscoll compared to a striptease, further inflaming the situation.
The controversy highlights the challenges of mixing worldly entertainment with gospel presentation. Lindell’s defense of Magala and subsequent apologies reflect an attempt to have your cake and eat it, too. In the Book of James, he argues that you cannot mix salt and fresh water. Neither should we mix the world’s entertainment with missions and discipleship.
