I visited Andy Stanley's church (Brownsbridge, part of Northpointe) I believe about 8 years ago on Easter Sunday when we visited w/ family in Dawsonville, Ga.
What blew my mind as I walked in was that no one had a Bible. As we sat down, I saw one person other than my wife...1/
What blew my mind as I walked in was that no one had a Bible. As we sat down, I saw one person other than my wife...1/
who had a Bible. I thought that extremely strange.
Then the band started playing in this giant church. I tried to sing this music I had never heard, but it was so loud that my voice was drowned out. If memory serves me well I tried to tell my wife this, but she couldn't hear. 2/
Then the band started playing in this giant church. I tried to sing this music I had never heard, but it was so loud that my voice was drowned out. If memory serves me well I tried to tell my wife this, but she couldn't hear. 2/
When Andy came to teach he was on screen. Not once during his sermon did he open his Bible or quote scripture. I don't even believe that he put scripture on screen. I now understood why 99% of the people in his church did not have a bible. 3/
During his "sermon" he talked about about the Bible being a library of 66 books that do not contradict each other. He never talked about Christ's life, death, burial, or resurrection for which we were there to celebrate. It was a gospel-less sermon. 4/
I remember leaving feeling absolutely empty inside. I was not challenged to holiness, or convicted of sin, or even challenged to examine what areas in my life were in rebellion to God. I learned nothing new in scripture.
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If this was Andy Stanley 8-9 years ago, then why are people denying or surprised by his departure from the Bible for a more philosophical man-centered approach?
He is not a pastor that any orthodox Christian should be getting their doctrine from. 6/
He is not a pastor that any orthodox Christian should be getting their doctrine from. 6/
I forgot to mention that my brother-in-law and sister-in-law were unbelievers that attended his church. They are still unbelievers today. I am not saying that as a rebuke that their unbelief is his fault, rather, I say it because they did not know the gospel at all. 7/
They did not know the gospel until I explained it to them. They didn't even have a basic understanding of sin. They still rejected it after my explanations. What does that tell you about what is being taught at his franchised churches? They are not getting the truth. 8/
Unbelievers will remain unbelievers, and be content in it, while the Christians there will regress in their growth & holiness.
A church that does not preach the word will quickly become a cemetery. There are plenty of Orthodox teachers out there, and Andy is not one of them. 9/9
A church that does not preach the word will quickly become a cemetery. There are plenty of Orthodox teachers out there, and Andy is not one of them. 9/9
