Posted on 06/30/2023 11:41:22 PM PDT by Morgana
As North Point Community Church pastor Andy Stanley continues to be embroiled in a series of controversies featuring the revelation of widespread LGBTQ-affirming pastors, church leaders, and sentiment within their churches (see endnotes), Stanley is going through a sermon series where he outlines the fundamentals of the faith that must be believed to be a Jesus follower.
In the seventh installment of this eight-part series, Stanley defends his ‘Fundamental List.’ He compares it to the Apostles Creed, acknowledging that while the Creed may be more ‘theologically robust,’ it was also formulated when the church was sanctioning activities that were ‘unchristlike.’
Because Stanley’s approach is to elevate the ‘red letters’ – the direct words of Jesus – above other scriptures, he suggests that the church’s historical misuse of the Bible for ‘harmful nonsense’ stems from treating Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18 (And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me) as “just another verse in the Bible,” and equating it with other scripture.
Stanley argues that the problem lies in the church considering the ‘entire Bible’ as its authority. In his view, it should be Jesus, not the Bible, who is the church’s authority. This line of circular reasoning rarely makes sense, given that the only trustworthy information we have about Jesus is found in the scriptures. He believes this perspective, supposedly held by first-century Judeans, prevented them from misrepresenting Jesus.
Do you know why the church has been able to leverage the Bible for all kinds of harmful nonsense through the ages? Do you know why the church and church leaders and Christian people have been able to leverage the Bible for all kinds of harmful things that end up harming other people who claim to be Christians?
It’s because this statement, this statement (Matthew 28:18, And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”) has been reduced to just another verse in the Bible, equated with every other statement or verse in our sacred text.
And so the Bible, the entire Bible became the church’s authority. But the Bible says ‘Jesus is our ultimate and final authority’. More importantly, Jesus said ‘Jesus is our ultimate authority’.
The words of Jesus are the final word because he is our King, right? Now, as Jewish men and women sitting there listening to Jesus, let me tell you what they heard that we don’t hear because we aren’t Judeans, first century Judeans. Here’s what they heard when Jesus said, ‘all authority and heaven and earth belongs to me.’ Here’s what they thought they heard him say, or here’s the implication of what he said:
‘Ladies and gentlemen, Moses was your guy. Torah was your text. But the King has arrived. The shadow caster is here.’ So when they saw him, they worshiped him. They got what we miss. And because they got what we miss, they never misrepresented their King.
For other non-LGBTQ Controversies, he made waves for encouraging Christians to essentially throw out the Old Testament, arguing that believers should “unhitch” themselves from portions of Old Testament Scripture. He denied the Genesis account, saying God only said it to ‘accommodate to our capacity,’ repeatedly told his congregants, ‘I’m not arguing that the bible is correct,’ and told his church the ‘foundation of our faith is not the whole bible.’
Stanley argued that Jesus’ birth and the events surrounding the nativity doesn’t really matter, thus casting doubt upon his supernatural birth by saying “If somebody can predict their own death and then their own resurrection, I’m not all that concerned about how they got into the world” and “Christianity doesn’t hinge on the truth or even the stories around the Birth of Jesus.”’
Wow.
They are completely non-believers. Like the televangelists, if they believed even half of what was taught, they wouldn’t be betraying their office.
I’m still in shock over this one.
Lots of heresies throughout the ministry of Christ ( Judas Ischariot) and after the resurrection of Christ.
Stanley values the opinions of men very much and is not ready to bear the the scorn of men for believing that God did speak clearly and can change the course of what we believe is the nature of things. He is turning out to be a lightweight.
Protestia has more stories on this guy and his church. I’m considering now if I should post them. It would shock (or maybe not) you all.
No real surprise. Many people turned against Jesus even after witnessing his miracles. Persecution does separate the believers from non-believers. So some guy who doesn’t follow the known, and accepted, words of God and is probably involved in all kinds of bizarre stuff is not new.
Christ based his authority on the fulfillment of the Jewish prophecies. Can’t throw out the OT. SORRY, Andy.
Ah good old Andy of the mega church of the mall
You know of this guy and his church?
If anyone is still in that church, they are fools
Please do post them.
My son, his wife and 3 girls go to this “church”. My son knows better but she likes it. It is a Disney show every week. It’s horrible. Last time I went with them, I had to plug my ears to protect my eardrums. The “music” is so deafening I can’t believe they haven’t been sued because people have lost their hearing from attending.
I wish they’d find a good church, It’s not like there aren’t any other churches in Atlanta.
Just for a point of reference, Michelle Obama spoke there a few years ago.
Shame of it all, his father, who just recently passed away, was a pretty straight-on Biblical preacher.
Stanley wants to separate Jesus from the Father in terms of Righteousness and then bend His (Jesus's) words so as to make LGBTQ permissible within the definition of Righteousness.
He starts with a "bias" ("homosexuality is OK) and then starts his examination of the evidence (the Bible in this case).
Bias confirmation--which is a powerful human urge--means that when you examine evidence AFTER already having drawn a conclusion, you only see the evidence that supports your position and are blind to evidence that disagrees with you.
You see that on some FR forums about all kinds of issues. The facts become irrelevant once a person is dominated by a strong preconceived bias.
His dad was a good man. Sad.
‘I’m not arguing that the bible is correct,’ and told his church the ‘foundation of our faith is not the whole bible.’
..............................
Red flag! Red flag!
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
Remember when we visited and had to walk out because the music was so loud and disgusting?
Indeed.
I live a few miles down the road. Some folks gush over him as if he’s the second coming. It’s pathetic
Why is he rejecting the Old Testament? I’d like the Vatican to release all the writings. Yeah, there’d be chaos but at least the world would know what had been written.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.