Andy stanley gay marriage
Andy Stanley’s Circles and Lines: A Response from Robert Gagnon
October 10,
Robert A.J. Gagnon, Ph.D.
Andy Stanley seriously misrepresents the teaching and practice of Jesus on sin, and even his own education about egregious sin. Stanley claimed in his Sunday sermon on Oct. 1, right after the so-called &#;Unconditional Conference,&#; that Jesus &#;drew circles so large and included so many people in His circle that it consistently made religious leaders nervous.”
So, Stanley says, “we draw circles; we don’t draw lines—we draw large circles,” meaning that his church will now “embrace the journey” that homosexually active or trans persons who come to their church are on, without rebuke or a call for repentance.
It is not just a ask of Stanley putting aside the Old Testament witness any longer, nor even of disrespecting the apostolic witness. Stanley is in rebellion against the witness of Jesus himself on sexual ethics.
I. Circles, Lines, and Stanley&#;s Dilution of Homosexual and Transgender Sin
Two points about “circles” and “lines” are in order. Fir
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) &#; Megachurch pastor Andy Stanley is being criticized for a recent sermon illustration involving a gay couple in which Stanley labeled adultery, but not homosexuality, a sin.
Stanley preached the sermon April 15 which had been discussed on a handful of blogs in subsequent days before gaining wider attention May 1 when Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. wrote about it on his website.
&#;The story was so adv told and the word so well constructed that there can be petite doubt of its interpretation. Does this signal the normalization of homosexuality at North Point Community Church?&#; Mohler wrote of Stanley&#;s congregation, which is nondenominational and located in Alpharetta, Ga. &#;This hardly seems possible, but it appeared to be the implication of the message.&#;
Stanley&#;s sermon, titled &#;When Gracie Met Truthy,&#; focused on the tension Stanley said exists between Jesus&#; teachings on grace and truth. The sermon was part five in a series on the meaning of &#;Christian.&#;
To illustrate that tension, Stanley &#;
Go and sin no more: Andy Stanley doubles down on his departure from Biblical Christianity
Christians should find no happiness in addressing theological error, but passivity in the meet of serious error amounts to complicity. The Apostles warned the Church to be on guard against false gospels and teachings that contradict the faith “once for all delivered to the saints.” Clearly, that calls for cautious discernment and a necessary note of humility. This stewardship also requires diligent consideration of theological weight, Biblical substance, and ethical priority. A disagreement over eschatological timetables is not a first-order theological issue, but a subversion of the gospel is a first-order crisis.
On Sunday, Andy Stanley responded to my previous column about his departure from Biblical Christianity, speaking of my argument and noting, “Lots and lots of people saw it. That’s why we are talking about it today.” He did chat about it, and in both services at North Aim Community Church in metro Atlanta. He said a wonderful deal, and he stated up front that he “never subscribed” to the Ch
It's time to be blunt-edged about Andy Stanley and gay Christians
By Michael Brown, Op-ed Contributor
I do my best to be sensitive in the language I use, not wanting to drive people away from a life-giving message because of controversial terminology. Yet there are times when being blunt-edged is essential, and now is one of those times. That is why Pastor Andy Stanley must be called out publicly for inviting practicing homosexuals to speak at his Unconditional Conference. The truth that these men claim to be committed Christians makes the sin all the more grievous.
I’m speaking specifically of Justin Lee and Brian Nietzel, both of whom are not only openly “gay Christians” but are also “married” to their same-sex partners. This means that, according to the plain education of Scripture, they will not inherit the Kingdom of God (see 1 Corinthians ) and their actions are detestable in His sight (Leviticus ).
Justin and Brian might be very gracious and caring men. Their partners might be terrific people in many ways. They might even model certain aspects of Christian compassion and grace and pr