The Heated Clash Over Biblical Fatherhood
Pastor Mark Driscoll of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, has sparked controversy for his recent comments criticizing Christian fathers who stay at home to care for their children. On social media, Driscoll cited 1 Timothy 5:8 to argue that Christian men who do not work to financially support their families are “worse than a non-Christian,” explicitly including stay-at-home dads in his criticism. He has expressed similar views in the past, calling out men who he claims shift financial responsibility onto their wives.
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, publicly condemned Driscoll’s remarks. On social media, she defended her husband, a former schoolteacher who chose to stay home to care for their children, two of whom have cystic fibrosis. Hawkins emphasized that her husband is not only a committed Christian but also a role model and provider in his own right. She criticized Driscoll’s statements as narrow-minded and out of touch, labeling them as damaging “cheap shots.”
Hawkins also expressed frustration with what she sees as hypocrisy among certain Christian leaders who preach rigid gender roles while often falling short in their own personal conduct. She rejected the idea that caregiving isn’t meaningful work, especially when done with love and responsibility, and questioned the spiritual maturity behind Driscoll’s messaging.
Statistical data supports the growing presence of stay-at-home fathers in the U.S. According to the Pew Research Center, there are over 2 million stay-at-home dads, making up about 20% of the stay-at-home parent population. Reasons for fathers staying home vary—from childcare and family care to disability or retirement. Notably, the number of dads staying home to focus on caregiving has significantly increased since the late 1980s.
Driscoll, in past sermons including one from his former Mars Hill Church, has consistently promoted traditional gender roles, suggesting that men are primarily responsible for providing income while women should focus on homemaking. However, Christian teaching platforms like Got Questions interpret 1 Timothy 5:8 more flexibly. They argue that the verse warns against neglecting family responsibilities, not against alternative family arrangements where caregiving and financial roles are shared or reversed based on circumstance and mutual agreement.