Andy Stanley ‘s Tour: “Deep and Wide” What Happened to the Narrow Way?
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
I wrote in an article recently that I had contacted In Touch Ministries about Andy Stanley. Dr. Charles Stanley heads In Touch Ministries. I have loved and respected Charles Stanley for years. I simply wanted to find out what (if anything) he was doing about his son’s false teaching. I asked if Dr. Stanley was still inviting Andy to preach at his church.
I received this in response:
Dear Geri,
“Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and questions with us. It is a privilege to correspond with you.
Please understand Dr. Stanley does not critique other pastors, churches, or ministries; this includes his own son, Reverend Andy Stanley, pastor of Northpoint Community Church. You asked if Dr. Stanley has disallowed his son from preaching at First Baptist Atlanta. We are not aware of any such ban, as Reverend Andy Stanley does occasionally join Dr. Stanley in taping special birthday or holiday messages. We hope this answer, though brief, has been helpful. Thank you again for contacting us. May the very best of God’s blessings be yours.” (Emphasis added)
So, evidently Dr. Stanley does not think that being a “Watchman on the wall” is of any importance. The Bible does not support Dr. Stanley’s view:
“When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul” (Ezekiel 3:18-19).
I wish to make clear that I am not judging the Salvation of Andy Stanley. I pray that he will understand that the slippery slope on which he finds himself is leading to all sorts of errant teaching. His words are NOT from the Word of God.
I also pray that Andy’s father, Charles, will be convicted of his need to rebuke the false teachings of his son. For that matter, I pray that Dr. Stanley will see that he is called to be a watchman on the wall. All of us who are born again are called by God to be watchmen.
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber” (2 Peter 2: 1-3).
If the reader is not aware of the errant teachings of Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church, here are two articles I wrote about this:
The Apostate Teachings of Andy Stanley of North Point Church
Andy Stanley’s Deep and Wide Tour: “Reclaiming Irresistible”
My comments are italicized
From deepandwidetour.com
ONCE UPON A TIME OUR FAITH WAS IRRESISTIBLE.
Was the Gospel ever “irresistible?” This infers that “once upon a time” all of mankind could NOT resist the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is simply not true.
I’m convinced it can be again; and last year during our inaugural Deep & Wide Tour, I discovered I wasn’t alone.
Thousands of church leaders showed up at each event to learn how to better navigate the complexity and opportunity of growing our churches and expanding our influence in a post-Christian culture.
A Post Christian culture? I think that Andy Stanley is not studying the Word of God. If he was, he would clearly see that we are still in the “Church Age” but that more people reject the Gospel than embrace it.
So this fall, I’m going back out on the road to keep the conversation going and the adrenaline flowing. This time around, we will be discussing:
- The New Jesus introduced for the world
- The best-kept secret of Christian apologetics
- New approaches to evangelism and evangelistic preaching
- A fresh approach to preaching and teaching the Old Testament
The NEW Jesus? Could anything be more telling about the heretical teachings of this man? How completely arrogant to tell his followers that he has discovered the NEW Jesus? There is ONE Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ, and He changes not!
A fresh approach to preaching and teaching the Old Testament? Andy, I have recently read that you said that preaching from the OT is completely unnecessary for the believer! Is that your “Fresh approach?”
As always, I can’t promise to fill your cup, but I will certainly show up prepared to empty mine. The day will be structured around these four talks along with two Q&As. The content will be practical, actionable, and field-tested. I’m confident you will find much to adapt and apply to your current ministry context.
Don’t worry about not promising to fill the cups of your attendees – your promise to “Empty yours” is scary at best. But Andy, your people will surely fill your bank account at $129 a pop!
As a bonus, everybody who registers will receive a free copy of my soon-to-be-released book, Irresistible.
WOW! Andy Stanley is not just raking in the money for his tour, but he is presenting his soon-to-be published book! What an entrepreneur Pastor Stanley has become!
The church changed the world once. There’s still much about our world that needs to change. To be the catalyst it once was, the church must rediscover irresistible. If the thought of that makes your heart beat a bit faster, you’re the type of leader who will benefit from our day together. source
If the reader can stomach reading more from this promotional hogwash, here is the link:
As discerning believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we should be able to see clearly that the teachings of Andy Stanley are becoming more and more errant and heretical.
Sadly, his popularity continues to grow across the world. His followers are not comparing the words of Andy Stanley to the Word of God.
We should be praying for both Andy Stanley and his father, Charles Stanley. We should pray that God will open the eyes of Andy, and will convict the heart of Charles to speak truth to him, no matter the outcome.
We must put God and His Word first – over and above family and friends.
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANATHA!
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