I am not quick to publicly criticize or debate an issue with fellow believers or pastors. This viewpoint that Ps. Andy has been pushing, that people wanted him to "take a stand" and that meant "their stand" implies they want him to agree with their opinion about something the scriptures are unclear about. I don't think that is what is happening right now. I think Christians are applying pressure to pastors and churches to take a biblical stand on clear moral issues. What the corporate tax rate should be is certainly debatable, but abortion and LBGTQ issues are clear in the Word of God. There aren't major theological differences on these issues for the vast majority of Christians - protestant or Catholic. If churches want to address these issues in different ways, that is fine, but to not address them at all is not right.
Wow! The enemy is really at work dividing the church. I truly appreciate Andy’s sincerity, but I fear the enemy will largely twist his statements to be received solely as blanket criticism of the bride of Christ - yielding a further abandonment from Christ’s church. As a young pastor (35) serving in northeastern US, trained at progressive seminary, and serving in theologically progressive culture & church, I implore you to open your eyes and see that there is nothing contagious about the progressive brand of Christianity. I do not believe it will connect with the next generation. Yes, we are ‘correct’ and ‘ proper’ but “the fire has left the stove.” Our version of the gospel is limited to social holiness and we have abandoned any meaningful, bold teaching on holiness of heart. While you may see young people expressing anger at the ‘harsh’ church of the Bible Belt, I am here to say that a growing number of Gen Y & Z are discovering that a progressive Christianity that apologizes for the Bible, and slices and dices the text, is equally unappealing. This is why, I believe many of these young people are simply walking away from the Church. Furthermore, the Spirit does not honor this environment with His presence and power. In the meantime, at least you have people attending your churches. The mega churches of the northeast are almost non-existent post-pandemic. Let’s use this moment to talk about growing deeper, and spiritual accountability groups as part of the Church DNA moving forward. Now that would be exciting to hear lifted up by our large church Pastors.
The church has drunk the cool-aid of current cultural climate because Churches like Northpoint have a deficient view of how to make disciples and what a disciple of Jesus is. I am a pastor who lives down the road from Andy and regularly have to deal with people who see church as a mere weekly experience that makes them feel good about life vs seeing Jesus as more valuable that anything in life. As Andy has said: “Jesus will make your life better and make you better at life.” This statement is certainly a result-oriented truth but should never be a source-oriented truth. In other words, if this is your motivation for being a Christian then you do not know what being a disciple of Jesus is. However, if you follow Jesus because of who He is and what He has done, full stop. Yes, the result will be your life will be better. People fall for cultural messages (like the last two years) because “seeker sensitive” pastors necessarily create cultural conforming churches… the last two years is merely the fruit of the last 30 years of bad pastoral leadership in high profile churches.
Thank you, Andy Stanley, for your ministry in the past two years.
I am not quick to publicly criticize or debate an issue with fellow believers or pastors. This viewpoint that Ps. Andy has been pushing, that people wanted him to "take a stand" and that meant "their stand" implies they want him to agree with their opinion about something the scriptures are unclear about. I don't think that is what is happening right now. I think Christians are applying pressure to pastors and churches to take a biblical stand on clear moral issues. What the corporate tax rate should be is certainly debatable, but abortion and LBGTQ issues are clear in the Word of God. There aren't major theological differences on these issues for the vast majority of Christians - protestant or Catholic. If churches want to address these issues in different ways, that is fine, but to not address them at all is not right.
Wow! The enemy is really at work dividing the church. I truly appreciate Andy’s sincerity, but I fear the enemy will largely twist his statements to be received solely as blanket criticism of the bride of Christ - yielding a further abandonment from Christ’s church.
As a young pastor (35) serving in northeastern US, trained at progressive seminary, and serving in theologically progressive culture & church, I implore you to open your eyes and see that there is nothing contagious about the progressive brand of Christianity. I do not believe it will connect with the next generation. Yes, we are ‘correct’ and ‘ proper’ but “the fire has left the stove.” Our version of the gospel is limited to social holiness and we have abandoned any meaningful, bold teaching on holiness of heart.
While you may see young people expressing anger at the ‘harsh’ church of the Bible Belt, I am here to say that a growing number of Gen Y & Z are discovering that a progressive Christianity that apologizes for the Bible, and slices and dices the text, is equally unappealing. This is why, I believe many of these young people are simply walking away from the Church. Furthermore, the Spirit does not honor this environment with His presence and power.
In the meantime, at least you have people attending your churches. The mega churches of the northeast are almost non-existent post-pandemic.
Let’s use this moment to talk about growing deeper, and spiritual accountability groups as part of the Church DNA moving forward. Now that would be exciting to hear lifted up by our large church Pastors.
The church has drunk the cool-aid of current cultural climate because Churches like Northpoint have a deficient view of how to make disciples and what a disciple of Jesus is. I am a pastor who lives down the road from Andy and regularly have to deal with people who see church as a mere weekly experience that makes them feel good about life vs seeing Jesus as more valuable that anything in life. As Andy has said: “Jesus will make your life better and make you better at life.” This statement is certainly a result-oriented truth but should never be a source-oriented truth. In other words, if this is your motivation for being a Christian then you do not know what being a disciple of Jesus is. However, if you follow Jesus because of who He is and what He has done, full stop. Yes, the result will be your life will be better. People fall for cultural messages (like the last two years) because “seeker sensitive” pastors necessarily create cultural conforming churches… the last two years is merely the fruit of the last 30 years of bad pastoral leadership in high profile churches.