opinion please ~~Andy Stanley Yea or Nay?

[missmuffet]

6 minutes ago, Out of the Shadows said:

I believe it was CS Lewis that once wrote something to the effect of "do not judge a man by where he is without knowing where he came from"

[Jayne]

2 hours ago, Rick_Parker said:

This who line was based upon the teaching to bring people back to faith, not because the Bible says so, but because we know it to be true. Not "Jesus loves me this I know, cuz the Bible tells me so" but because Jesus told us so. You seemed to have missed the who point of what he was saying. I saw the same series. whoneedsgod.com

But Rick, don't we have to actually read the Bible to know what Jesus said?

[Flsnookman]

42 minutes ago, Jayne said:

But Rick, don't we have to actually read the Bible to know what Jesus said?

Yes but when we study the Word only to show others how great our knowledge is then we miss the message. Happens a lot here and everywhere. It is a fine line between using biblical knowledge to glorify God and using it to glorify self. Think about it, this is a forum where almost no one here really knows anyone else and more than half the posts are arguments between people trying to prove they and only they know what the bible says. I know many will say "we must correct false teachings" or "it's done out of love". Uh huh. Love does not use knowledge to put down others, in fact love lifts others up. Not a lot of that in evidence either in the world or this forum. 

I am as guilty as anyone, some days the flesh wins and I just have to show how deep my knowledge is because all the shallow, misguided people here must succumb to my superior......well you get the idea. 

If someone paraphrased what Jesus said and paul wrote there would still be people posting that it was unbiblical. 

I suppose a forum is as good a place as any for spiritual "discussions" but please do yourself a favor, do NOT seek life advice here. Ask God who He would have teach you. You may have to turn of the computer and pray but I am convinced the answer will be both more perfect and more sincere.

 

[Ezra]

5 hours ago, Jayne said:

But here are a few examples of what I am talking about  where he obfuscates things instead of making them crystal clear.

From the quotes you have provided, I would say that either (1) Andy should not be preaching at all because of his shaky theology or (2) he is starting to move away from sound fundamental doctrine and take a compromising position. As some have mentioned this is the direction of the Emergent Church.

Let's take this quote:  even if you never come to the conclusion that Jesus is the Son of God, or that Jesus is your savior, if you follow his teachings you will have a better life.”

Well he could also have added "You will also end up in Hell".  One has to wonder why he watered down the truth.

The Lord Jesus Christ clearly said that He is the I AM (the personal name of the LORD God Almighty), and  those who do not believe this will "die in their sins".  

It is not by following the teachings of Christ that we are saved,  but by repenting and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, which leads to justification by grace through faith, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of eternal life, and the New Birth.

[Ezra]

1 hour ago, Flsnookman said:

Yes but when we study the Word only to show others how great our knowledge is then we miss the message.

You are simply making an assumption here, and it is not even close to the truth. We study the Word in order to know the heart and mind of God and Christ as we should, and to know what they have said -- God's truth and the true Gospel.  That is the only way to fight Satan's lies.

What did Christ say? "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Mt 4:4).  That means that it is food for our souls and spirits.

If we share God's truth with others, it is not necessarily to display our "greater knowledge" but because we are commanded to do so. While some may do this with the wrong motives, you cannot simply accuse everyone of the above. And even Paul said that if someone preached the Gospel with the wrong motives, it was still a good thing.

People come here to learn and to seek Christian advice, and you are advising them to shun the Forum and simply pray.  Where is your scriptural basis for that? Here is the true scriptural basis (2 Tim 2:15): Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

In the context of the OP, this is critical.  Andy Stanley has been making quite a few dubious statements not supported by Scripture.

[JohnD]

If you are looking for one with whom you are in total agreement... look no further than your mirror.

Not a photo but a mirror. For only the current way you think or feel or believe will suffice.

Even God will contradict your will from time to time.

This is what I remind myself trying to remember not to take myself so seriously.

And also to identify the culprit that is always stirring up strife unnecessarily...

myself.

It also identifies the one person I presume from the start is never wrong...

though I so often am!

 

[da_man1974]

I actually like andy stanley. I have listened to quite a few of his sermons. There are a few that had me wondering but i think he is pretty good. If he is leading ppl to the lord thats what matters.

I think too many people get hung up on things that dont matter that much. 

[LeavesSeeds]

Jesus is no respecter of persons.

He warns the disciples over and over not to trust men , but to test everything before receiving it or the person bringing a message about anything.

Remember WHO Jesus did say to listen to and when ? --- the ones teaching TORAH !  Yes,  He told His Own disciples, and they taught the others after them,  to listen when TORAH is taught. 

But not to live like the TORAH teachers did.... see ?

TORAH was and is good to listen to,  but beware as Jesus says not to follow men and not to do as they do,

unless they pass the tests of faithfulness , truth, and life in Him.(see elsewhere the lists/ descriptions/ of what Jesus says to do, and the apostles and disciples did, and taught to do - what is right) ...

Jesus warned often that there are many many false teachers and false prophets.  This is even more dangerous today than it was then.

It's a lot like the food supply in the grocery stores in the usa - I went down the soup aisle a week or 2 ago looking for healthy soup.   I couldn't find even one.(in a can or box or jar).  They all had adulteration/ 'known posin' / added in ... for whatever reason....

Finding good healthy unadulterated food these days is a big challenge in the usa grocery stores.

Likewise, finding a good teacher these days anywhere - so do as Jesus says  "TEST EVERYTHING" and if something is

not in accord with all of God's Word - if it is different than the original gospel message of faith in Jesus by grace;    if it contradicts or opposes any part of God's Word,  then do not accept it or the messenger.