Pastor Mark Driscoll ignited controversy after criticizing Christian fathers who stay at home, calling them worse than nonbelievers.

According to the Christian Post, His remarks sparked a sharp response from pro-life leader Kristan Hawkins, who defended her husband and challenged the pastor’s interpretation of Scripture regarding gender roles and family responsibilities.

Driscoll, senior pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, made his highly criticized statements Sunday on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Referencing 1 Timothy 5:8, he declared that Christian men unwilling to work, including stay-at-home dads, are “worse than a non-Christian.”

He added, “This includes you, stay-at-home dads,” accusing able-bodied men of neglecting their biblical duty to provide financially for their families. The debate intensified after Driscoll reinforced his view on Mother’s Day, saying that any man who allows his wife to earn the family's income while he remains at home is condemned in God’s eyes.

“If you're a voluntary stay-at-home dad forcing mom to leave the kids to make the income, God thinks you're worse than an unbeliever,” Driscoll stated, before adding a fiery note, “and he's sending them to hell, so.”

Kristan Hawkins defends the family’s decision

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, responded strongly to Driscoll’s claims on Tuesday. She explained that her husband, a former schoolteacher of 10 years, chose to stay home and care for their children, two of whom live with cystic fibrosis, while she continued advocating against abortion across college campuses.

“@PastorMark owes my husband an apology for this post,” Hawkins wrote in her online rebuttal. She praised her husband as a Christian and a powerful role model for their children, challenging the suggestion that staying home makes someone spiritually deficient.

Hawkins called Driscoll’s remarks a “cheap shot” and voiced frustration with religious leaders who promote rigid gender expectations while failing to uphold moral credibility in their private lives. She said, “Most of these men have cheated on their wives or have been found to be in some other public sin. It's sickening."

Driscoll’s long-standing views on gender

Driscoll has a record of advocating for traditional gender roles in Christian households. A resurfaced 2008 video from Mars Hill Church featured both Driscoll and his wife, Grace, discussing their views on biblical womanhood and the duties of men and women.

Grace Driscoll referenced Titus 2 during the discussion, stating women are created to be home with their children and should maintain a “homeward” focus to honor Scripture. Her husband called contemporary culture “perverted” and accused men of acting immaturely by avoiding work.

Driscoll did acknowledge exceptions, such as health-related issues, but insisted that able-bodied Christian men must provide financially. "If you cannot provide for your family, you are not a man," he declared, reaffirming his belief that working outside the home defines masculinity.

Public data offers a broader context

However, national data reflect evolving family dynamics that complicate Driscoll’s interpretation. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 2.1 million American men are stay-at-home fathers, amounting to 20% of the stay-at-home parent population.

The number of fathers assuming homemaking roles has nearly doubled since 1989. In 2021, around 23% of stay-at-home dads primarily cared for their children and homes, while others cited reasons such as illness, disability, retirement, or difficulty finding work.

Pew's analysis also found that stay-at-home dads are more likely to face poverty and less likely to hold a bachelor’s degree compared with working fathers. They also tend to be older than their employed counterparts.

Experts challenge biblical claims

Christian ministry Got Questions contested Driscoll’s use of 1 Timothy 5:8 in this context. The passage states, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives... has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” which Driscoll cited as core to his argument.

But the ministry clarified that caregiving can constitute providing for family, and the verse does not prohibit the father from being the stay-at-home parent. They emphasized that biblical teachings do not assign specific employment roles based on gender.

“Generally speaking,” the ministry stated, “it is better for the husband to be the financial provider and wife to be the homemaker, but in no sense is that a biblical mandate.”

Ongoing debate about faith and roles

The exchange has reopened broader debates within Christian communities about gender expectations, family leadership, and how biblical texts are interpreted in modern society. Both Driscoll’s statements and Hawkins’ rebuttal drew passionate responses online, reflecting deep divides over these issues.

While Driscoll’s comments offended many, his supporters argue he is simply defending traditional Scriptural values. Critics, however, see his position as overly legalistic and dismissive of families making individual choices based on unique circumstances.

As public reaction continues, the discussion highlights the growing diversity of family structures—both among Christian households and in the broader American context. The church community remains divided over whether principles of provision should be based on culture, Scripture, or lived experience.