CMI article image.
CMI article image.
Another grievous wolf.
One reason Stanley argues we need this change in perspective is that Scripture is too hard to defend:
“What your students have discovered, and if you read broadly you’ve discovered, it is next to impossible to defend the entire Bible. But if your Christianity hangs by the thread of proving that everything in the Bible is true, you may be able to hang onto it, but your kids and your grandkids and the next generation will not. Because this puts the Bible at the center of the debate. This puts the spotlight right on the Bible. Everything rises and falls on whether not part, but all the Bible is true. And that’s unfortunate, and as we’re going to discover today, it is absolutely unnecessary.”2
Among the things he specifically states are indefensible and not supported by evidence:
Israel’s Exodus from Egypt
The walls in Jericho fell down
The earth is 6,000 years old
The chronological information in 1, 2 Kings, 1, 2 Chronicles, and 1, 2, Samuel
The global flood in Noah’s day
He has itching ears.
If you interpret the bible literally it is literally impossible to interpret the bible.
I saw that on another site and think it is spot on. Heck, Paul “appears” to contradict himself in the same chapter sometimes if you ignore context.
The bible is a lot like Yogi Berra when he said, regarding a restaurant, “nobody goes there any more because it’s too crowded.” The words make no sense, except we all know exactly what he means. :-)
A great thinker. /s
Has Stanley ever been queried on his opinion of the Koran, I wonder?
IT’S IN THE BOOK. THAT’S THE WAY IT WILL BE.
The bible never claims to be the center of Christianity. Rather, it says it is very useful for teaching, etc. The early church had no new testament, but a lot of people were saved.
Prayer and a relationship with Him through the spirit is most important. The bible is a nice teaching tool. One can be a Christian without ever seeing a bible. One can not be a Christian without a relationship with Him.
False teacher.
I am fearful enough of my own judgment, I wouldn’t want to witness his.
I’d heard he’d had a lapse of judgement a few years ago and was probably involved in some sort of overwhelming sin. I’m guessing the enemy has taken over his life during this season. Spiritual warfare is real and he desperately needs our prayers.
Truth does not need any defense, not from Andy Stanley or from me.
Well at least he clearly identified himself as a false teacher. The Bible stands on its own as our sole authority for all matters of faith and practice regardless of whether Andy can defend it or not. Voltaire didn’t pretend he believed.
Well at least he clearly identified himself as a false teacher. The Bible stands on its own as our sole authority for all matters of faith and practice regardless of whether Andy can defend it or not. Voltaire didn’t pretend he believed.
Yeah, that’ll build the Kingdom....NOT. What a fool.
Related article:
Is the Bible Foundational to Christianity? Engaging with Andy Stanley
What is the cure that Stanley has offered? In brief, Christians need to stop basing their faith on the Bible.
http://theaquilareport.com/is-the-bible-foundational-to-christianity-engaging-with-andy-stanley/
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
I have watched some of this series, and I think the title of this article is a little misleading.
Andy points to the fact that the Bible, as it now exists, did, IN FACT, not exist for hundreds of years AFTER Jesus’ resurrection. He is asking for new believers or for believers who have fallen out of the faith to look at HOW Christianity survived for those years on the teachings of those who witnessed the Risen Christ. Christianity survived because people saw him after his death, and were willing to die for that belief.
His biggest takeaway from this is that people need to believe in the resurrection of Christ. If they are presented with that fact, and BELIEVE it, they can be saved.
Also, in later episodes, he DOES point to Scripture to make points.
“We believe Jesus rose from the dead not because the Bible says so’
We believe it because the scriptures tell us he did! (1Cor.15:3-5)
‘according to the scriptures’.
Nearly the same logic that is used to “interpret” the Constitution as a living document ....because we can’t know what people meant 200+ years ago (/Sarc).
If that were true then there'd be no Hoover Dam. No Orbiter/Shuttle. No Cure for polio. No...well, you get the picture.
Oh...and this post would be in German. Unless I lived on the West coast. Then it would be in Japanese.