Andy Stanley – More Smarterer Than You
I am emphatically not one of them.
I’ve never dug his whole “one point preaching” thing which assumes (among other things) that Christians (or at least, non-seminary-graduated-pastor-types) are idiots who need to have Biblical truth premasticated for them and spoon-fed in only the gentlest, most non-challenging way possible.
Ergh.
Ed Stetzer recently interviewed Andy on his blog (thanks for the heads-up, Brian)
Guys that preach verse-by-verse through books of the Bible-- that is just cheating. It's cheating because that would be easy, first of all. That isn't how you grow people. No one in the Scripture modeled that. There's not one example of that.
Yeah. Not one example.
Like, for instance, not Nehemiah.
Look, Andy…we don’t see very many examples of “one point preaching,” either. And…?
V-B-V isn’t the only way to teach the Word; it is however an amazingly effective way.
Contrary to what Andy says. “That isn’t how you grow people.”
…darn. And here I thought that people were growing just fine in expositionally focused churches and movements like Calvary Chapel, Acts 29, Harvest Bible Chapel, Johnny Mac and Grace Community, and others. Darn those pesky facts getting in the way and blowing up a perfectly good baseless assertion! Darn them to heck!
I honestly don’t know why anybody takes this guy seriously – oh, no, wait, I do…he’s a chief Growthinista. For the Growthinista, apparent results in the nickels-‘n’-noses department trumps all. Alrighty; allow me to revise and extend my remarks. I honestly don’t know why anybody who self-identifies with one of the aforementioned expositionally focused churches and movements likes this guy.
Seriously.
Another gem from Andy:
All Scripture is equally inspired, but not all Scripture is equally applicable or relevant to every stage of life.
Oy.
Apparently, all Scripture isn’t in fact profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, or instruction in righteousness; to be thoroughly equipped unto every good work, the man of God had to wait nearly 2000 years for the Lord to finally and graciously raise up Cap’n One-Point-Preachin’.
Give me multiple-point preachin’ Spurgeon any day over this character.
Again: Why does anybody take this guy seriously…?
Labels:
Bible,
Pastors,
Preaching/Teaching,
Signs of the Times
5 comments:
Can I respectfully offer a suggestion? Remember: he is your brother. Love him (and if necessary, correct him according to your understanding of scripture) without sarcasm but with grace and truth. I didn't sense much grace in your post, only disdain. Does disdain or scorn play a role in being more like Christ? I hope this doesn't offend you, it just hurt to hear you say those things about a guy who I believe IS trying to follow Christ and teach truth, even if you or I don't agree with every one of his methods.
Please post all comments.
This post is brutal, unredemptive and embarrassing for Christians. I'm always sad for Christians when we are vicious with each other.
The two quotes you posted of his are out of context. Andy, when telling his opinions on verse by verse teachers, is talking about the group that just go through the Bible without any thought to how it applies to culture. You will see with just a quick look at Jesus' style of teaching that he never went verse by verse in his preaching. Instead he quoted a few verses and then explained an added his insights (which became our scriptures).
The second quote
"All Scripture is equally inspired, but not all Scripture is equally applicable or relevant to every stage of life."
He is saying that to go through the Bible and not giving any thought to the age or demographic you are trying to reach is often time fruitless and many times inappropriate. Would you teach Kind David's adultery to children? If so, you have lost common sense.
I can't imagine what any person that is considering God must think when they read post like this where you unprofessionally tear into another pastor (Especially one that is hugely successful at spreading the Word and training leaders around the world).
Matt
Wow. I've been a Christ follower for many years and have personally benefited from Andy's delivery of Christ's message. While I can certainly understand each having his own opinion and preference for teaching styles, I couldn't understand why someone would be so upset about Andy's teaching style...not until I saw that you'd rather be watching Star Trek. It all makes sense now. Live long and prosper...
{{This post is brutal, unredemptive and embarrassing for Christians. I'm always sad for Christians when we are vicious with each other.}}
Apparently not; there seems to be no corresponding outrage from you regarding Stanley's hubristic attacks against those who choose to teach expositionally rather than topically.
{{I can't imagine what any person that is considering God must think when they read post like this where you unprofessionally tear into another pastor (Especially one that is hugely successful at spreading the Word and training leaders around the world).}}
Two things:
(1) I am "tear[ing] into another pastor" by pointing out that said pastor's characterization of other pastors is snarky and unfair, but said pastor is not guilty of the same error? Fascinating, the double standard...
(2) But this explains it all: "Especially one that is hugely successful at spreading the Word and training leaders around the world." Nickels-n-noses. If a pastor is materially successful, he is above question.
Got it.
{{Please post all comments.}}
Two things:
(1) I have many other things on my plate than blogging; sometimes it takes me quite a while to get back here.
(2) My blog, my rules.
{{Wow. I've been a Christ follower for many years and have personally benefited from Andy's delivery of Christ's message.}}
Awesome! I don't doubt that the Lord uses Stanley. My beef with him is that he apparently doubts that the Lord uses anybody else.
{{It all makes sense now. Live long and prosper...}}
IDIC.
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