Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: GiovannaNicoletta
"...give me a concrete example from one of Dr. Stanley's sermons of, as you call it, "reductionism"."

Reductionism is when we take complex matters and so distill them that the cliche' ridden result no longer represents the issue. For example:

"8. Fight all your battles on your knees and you win every time."

The Scriptures make it clear that we will "win" in the end irrespective of what happens here. And, it will not matter how much time you spent on your knees. What battles is he referring to and what does a "win" look like? Many believers have terribly difficult lives with no "win", such as the Iranian pastor who is about to be executed because he will not convert to Islam. Tell his children after the gunshot that prayer will "win" the battle.

"10. If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will."

No, this is not true. God withheld all kinds of information from the prophets and others, such that the entire matter of the Gentiles being grafted in. Much of what He was doing with his people was called a "mystery". God has an enormous amount of information he is not sharing with anyone...even Stanley or you. And, Stanley has no idea what God is going to do with him over the next 2 years. Unless he is a "prophet" and granted direct revelation, he needs to be quiet about this. After all, he didn't even follow through on what happened in his marriage.

"Well, a few weeks ago, the other shoe dropped. Stanley announced that the divorce was final, a great personal tragedy. But instead of resigning as he promised five years ago, Stanley vowed to stay on as senior pastor. He characterized it as being "faithful to God's call.""

This is a quote from a 2000 article on Stanley. Faithful to God's call? Another "still small voice". Malarky.

"11. God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him.

23. You can never outgive God.

These are related and equally false. God is the One caring for us at all times, NOT when we are obeying Him. Stanley's remarks are wrongheaded Judaism warmed over. Paul suffered hunger, beatings, shipwreck and did not succeed the way Stanley paints this picture. This is God caring for us no matter how much or how little we pray. Such blasphemous "health/wealth" theology is also coming from Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Oral Roberts, Robert Schuller. Believers are going to suffer in this life. Is that one of his 30 principles?

All of these are examples of reductionism. Stanley is teaching like believers are 3rd graders needing nursery rhymes. And, much of what he is teaching is false. There are the facts...should you wish to face into them.

21 posted on 02/25/2012 1:10:52 PM PST by Dutchboy88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies ]


To: Dutchboy88
Well, it is glaringly obvious that you did not listen to any of the messages and therefore have absolutely no credibility in commenting on what Dr. Stanley said in his sermon.

The only thing you can do is take the one-line description of the topic of the message and make some lame attempt to discredit the message while remaining completely ignorant of what Dr. Stanley actually said.

You could not produce any direct quotes from the sermons, or anything from the sermons that validates your false accusations against Dr. Stanley because not only did you not listen to what he had to say, you wouldn't understand what he had to say because it involves taking God at His word without arrogantly allegorizing the Scripture into meaninglessness. That's why you can't back up your accusations - you don't even know what the man is talking about.

So, you have no credibility, you hurl false accusations at men who preach the word of God, and you can't validate your assertions. Just as I said from the beginning.

22 posted on 02/25/2012 1:27:11 PM PST by GiovannaNicoletta ("....in the last days, mockers will come with their mocking... (2 Peter 3:3))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson