Posted on 05/17/2012 5:28:42 PM PDT by fkabuckeyesrule
A shot now reverberating around the evangelical world was fired by Atlanta megachurch pastor Andy Stanley in recent days. Preaching at North Point Community Church, in a sermon series known as “Christian,” Stanley preached a message titled “When Gracie Met Truthy” on April 15, 2012. With reference to John 1:14, Stanley described the challenge of affirming grace and truth in full measure. He spoke of grace and truth as a tension, warning that “if you resolve it, you give up something important.”
The message was insightful and winsome, and Andy Stanley is a master communicator. Early in the message he spoke of homosexuals in attendance, mentioning that some had shared with him that they had come to North Point because they were tired of messages in gay-affirming churches that did nothing but affirm homosexuality.
Then, in the most intense part of his message, Stanley told the congregation an account meant to illustrate his message. He told of a couple with a young daughter who divorced when the wife discovered that the husband was in a sexual relationship with another man. The woman then insisted that her former husband and his gay partner move to another congregation. They did move, but to another North Point location, where they volunteered together as part of a “host team.” The woman later told Andy Stanley that her former husband and his partner were now involved as volunteers in the other congregational location.
(Excerpt) Read more at albertmohler.com ...
Pretty interesting article about megachurches and the bit about Andy Stanley’s church is breath-taking. Yes there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus but if one has no repentance than they not in Christ Jesus and therefore there is much condemnation.
Exactly. If he talks about “homosexuals” in the congregation he should also talk about the adulterers present, thieves, whores, etc.
If any of them are repentant, they can be saved. If not, they are merely being given a chance to repent, and are not saved.
I do believe though, that God holds a special contempt for that sin of throwing aside his order and rebelling against his ordained truth. The language in the Bible is especially hard in that area, speaking of it as a stench in his nostrils.
Crossroads gives a free BBQ Grill if people attend services 3 times in a row and the gifts go up the more they attend. I am Catholic and get nothing....lol. I get a lot out of Mass.
I attend North Point and saw all of this series. This was one of Andy Stanley’s best series ever, and that is saying something. He has a totally different view from mainline Protestant churches. I have had enough of the willful heresy of The Episcopal Church I grew up in.
Andy made the point some churches are only about grace and forgiveness, other only about truth and judgement.
The specific, weird extended family example was a classic, “love the sinner, hate the sin” example.
Andy is not a liberal, but he is not a fire and brimstone type either.
I attend North Point and saw all of this series. This was one of Andy Stanley’s best series ever, and that is saying something. He has a totally different view from mainline Protestant churches. I have had enough of the willful heresy of The Episcopal Church I grew up in.
Andy made the point some churches are only about grace and forgiveness, other only about truth and judgement.
The specific, weird extended family example was a classic, “love the sinner, hate the sin” example.
Andy is not a liberal, but he is not a fire and brimstone type either.
I don’t necessarily think that a very large church is going to water down the gospel and avoid controversial issues, but there is that tendency when you have to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
Weird indeed.
just depends on the church
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