Andy Stanley
| Charles Andrew "Andy" Stanley (born May 16, 1958) is the senior pastor of North Point Community Church, Buckhead Church, Browns Bridge Community Church, Gwinnett Church, Watermarke Church, and Decatur City Church. He also founded North Point Ministries, which is a worldwide Christian organization. |
Andy Stanley
“The truth is, Christians are not expected to believe what we believe based on a collection of ancient manuscripts written by men who never met each other over the course of hundreds of years in a time when everybody was superstitious and everybody believed in the gods and there was no modern science. Our religion is built on something much stronger than that. It’s a much more long-term solution. [the Christian faith] rises and falls on the identity of a single individual: Jesus of Nazareth.............those who are seeking or doubting faith are typically wrestling with the wrong questions. The question to wrestle with is not ‘Is there a God?’ or ‘Is the Bible true?’ In fact, such are typically exit routes from religious belief rather than entry points.......the question at the heart of Christianity, is whether or not the gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John give an accurate account of the events they describe. What they say about Jesus is true if even one of these four is a credible account of actual events...And if what is said about Jesus of Nazareth is correct, then it’s game on and faith is justified. You need to keep going. “Lean in” is the correct posture. The story of Jesus is not a Bible story. The reason for the existence of the Bible is the account of Jesus’ life. The Bible exists because of Jesus.
--Andy Stanley March 8, 2022
--Andy Stanley March 8, 2022
May 9, 2023: News Pocket: Andy Stanley’s Tweet About the Accuracy of the Bible Is Heavily Criticized!
This week, pastor and author Andy Stanley received criticism online for a tweet he posted, which he has since deleted, in which he claimed that the centrality of Jesus to Christianity is more important than the inerrancy of the Bible.
The tweet argued that the truth of only 66 historical scriptures was not crucial to the Christian faith. Everything hinges on whether or not you believe Jesus was the Messiah.
This week, pastor and author Andy Stanley received criticism online for a tweet he posted, which he has since deleted, in which he claimed that the centrality of Jesus to Christianity is more important than the inerrancy of the Bible.
The tweet argued that the truth of only 66 historical scriptures was not crucial to the Christian faith. Everything hinges on whether or not you believe Jesus was the Messiah.
April 25, 2023: AFA: Reprove, Rebuke, and Exhort
Schreve shared an audio clip from North Point Community Church’s 2022 DRIVE Conference. In the clip, lead pastor Dr. Andy Stanley openly commended “gay Christians” who regularly attend church despite the lack of acceptance received from fellow church members. Stanley said these gay men and women have more faith than he does, and he wished he could get straight people as excited and engaged in serving the church.
Schreve shared an audio clip from North Point Community Church’s 2022 DRIVE Conference. In the clip, lead pastor Dr. Andy Stanley openly commended “gay Christians” who regularly attend church despite the lack of acceptance received from fellow church members. Stanley said these gay men and women have more faith than he does, and he wished he could get straight people as excited and engaged in serving the church.
2023
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April 19, 2023: Church Leaders: Andy Stanley Reflects on His Father’s Passing as Church Leaders Offer Tributes to Charles Stanley
North Point Ministries founder Andy Stanley has said that his “final few weeks” with his father, Dr. Charles Stanley, who passed away at age 90 the morning of Tuesday, April 18, were “precious beyond words.” “At the end of every visit, he asked me to pray for him,” said Andy. “Which of course I did. On my knees beside the big leather chair he was confined to for the past several months.” Feb 9, 2023: Gospel Coalition: Downplaying the Sin of Homosexuality Won’t Win the Next Generation
Much has been made of Andy Stanley’s recently surfaced comments about church leaders and homosexuality—specifically his counsel on how the church must approach this issue if we’re to advance the gospel into the next generation. |
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Jan 28, 2023: Christian Post: Did Andy Stanley do a 'great disservice' with comments on LGBT churchgoers?
A now-viral video of Georgia Pastor Andy Stanley magnifying the faith of LGBT people over "most" of his own congregation has drawn sharp criticism from pastors and Christian thinkers alike, with one ministry leader claiming the megachurch pastor does God a "great disservice." The clip of Stanley, an influential pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, and the leader of North Point Ministries, comes from North Point's Drive Conference last May, where Stanley told churchgoers that any LGBT individual who continues to go to church has "more faith than a lot of you." "A gay person who still wants to attend church after the way they've been treated, I'm telling you, they have more faith than I do," Stanley said in the clip. "They have more faith than a lot of you." |
January 23, 2023
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Jan 31, 2023: Christian Post: Andy Stanley to host conference for Christian parents of LGBT-identified kids
Megachurch Pastor Andy Stanley, who has been the center of controversy following public comments he made regarding gay individuals in the Church having more faith in God, is scheduled to host a conference at his church for Christian parents of LGBT-identified children later this year.
Megachurch Pastor Andy Stanley, who has been the center of controversy following public comments he made regarding gay individuals in the Church having more faith in God, is scheduled to host a conference at his church for Christian parents of LGBT-identified children later this year.
Jan 26, 2023: Christian Post: Andy Stanley says gay churchgoers 'have more faith than a lot of you'
Stanley, who leads the multi-site North Point Ministries and North Point Community Church based in Alpharetta, Georgia, said in a now-viral sermon clip that any LGBT individual who continues to go to church has "more faith than a lot of you."
"A gay person who still wants to attend church after the way they've been treated, I'm telling you, they have more faith than I do," Stanley said in the clip, which had over 1.2 million views on Twitter alone as of Thursday. "They have more faith than a lot of you."
Stanley, who leads the multi-site North Point Ministries and North Point Community Church based in Alpharetta, Georgia, said in a now-viral sermon clip that any LGBT individual who continues to go to church has "more faith than a lot of you."
"A gay person who still wants to attend church after the way they've been treated, I'm telling you, they have more faith than I do," Stanley said in the clip, which had over 1.2 million views on Twitter alone as of Thursday. "They have more faith than a lot of you."
2022
Dec 17, 2022: Frederick News-Post: Some Georgia pastors push back against spread of Christian nationalism
Andy Stanley, founder of the nondenominational, Alpharetta-based North Point Ministries and one of the most prominent religious leaders in the nation, writes in his book, “Not In It To Win It: Why Choosing Sides Sidelines the Church” that during the 2020 elections he felt pressured to “politicize” his church.
“Dozens of families reached out to me to let me know they were leaving our churches because I had bought into the Democratic narrative,” he wrote.
When a local church becomes preoccupied with “saving America at the expense of saving Americans, it has forsaken its mission,” Stanley wrote.
Andy Stanley, founder of the nondenominational, Alpharetta-based North Point Ministries and one of the most prominent religious leaders in the nation, writes in his book, “Not In It To Win It: Why Choosing Sides Sidelines the Church” that during the 2020 elections he felt pressured to “politicize” his church.
“Dozens of families reached out to me to let me know they were leaving our churches because I had bought into the Democratic narrative,” he wrote.
When a local church becomes preoccupied with “saving America at the expense of saving Americans, it has forsaken its mission,” Stanley wrote.
Dec 6, 2022: Atlantic Journal Constitution: Some Georgia pastors push back against spread of Christian nationalism
Andy Stanley, founder of the nondenominational, Alpharetta-based North Point Ministries and one of the most prominent religious leaders in the nation, writes in his book, “Not In It To Win It: Why Choosing Sides Sidelines the Church” that during the 2020 elections he felt pressured to “politicize” his church.
“Dozens of families reached out to me to let me know they were leaving our churches because I had bought into the Democratic narrative,” he wrote.
When a local church becomes preoccupied with “saving America at the expense of saving Americans, it has forsaken its mission,” Stanley wrote.
Andy Stanley, founder of the nondenominational, Alpharetta-based North Point Ministries and one of the most prominent religious leaders in the nation, writes in his book, “Not In It To Win It: Why Choosing Sides Sidelines the Church” that during the 2020 elections he felt pressured to “politicize” his church.
“Dozens of families reached out to me to let me know they were leaving our churches because I had bought into the Democratic narrative,” he wrote.
When a local church becomes preoccupied with “saving America at the expense of saving Americans, it has forsaken its mission,” Stanley wrote.
June 30, 2022: Eternity News: SAD DECLINE OF CHRISTIANITY IN CENSUS: A CALL TO UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
For comfort, I immediately picked up megachurch Pastor Andy Stanley’s new book Not in it to Win it: Why choosing sides sidelines the church.
Andy poses the question to the US church – is it possible to disagree politically and love unconditionally? He is especially critical of using Bible and faith claims in a relentless drive to win. Think of the US Supreme Court appointments and political power under Trump.
I found his assertion that we are not in it to win it personally calming and a reminder of my own motivations. A reminder that even if Australians are checking out of my faith – which deeply disappoints me – they must be respected and loved unconditionally.
For comfort, I immediately picked up megachurch Pastor Andy Stanley’s new book Not in it to Win it: Why choosing sides sidelines the church.
Andy poses the question to the US church – is it possible to disagree politically and love unconditionally? He is especially critical of using Bible and faith claims in a relentless drive to win. Think of the US Supreme Court appointments and political power under Trump.
I found his assertion that we are not in it to win it personally calming and a reminder of my own motivations. A reminder that even if Australians are checking out of my faith – which deeply disappoints me – they must be respected and loved unconditionally.
it's just disappointing to me that so many Christians in their bios, their little Twitter, I mean their avatar say, Jesus-loving, coffee-loving, Reformed Baptist. I love my wife and my kids and my church. And then they, you know, they say all these un-Christ-like things. It's, it's remarkable. And the best one ones that I, the best ones, I have a little folder on my phone that says, Andy haters, and I save the best ones. And I read them to my kids. So maybe somebody out there is part of the Greatest Hits, because it's crazy what people who have never met me say about me. And not just me, everybody. So yeah, that's, that's just disappointing that there's that many people that are part of the body of Christ that feel there's nothing in their conscience that kind of rings and, you know, warns them that, hey, maybe you shouldn't do this, so anyway. -Andy Stanley; World; 5.14.22
In Part 1 of Not In It To Win It, "One Nation Under God," Andy Stanley discusses that when it comes to potentially polarizing topics, our posture, tone, and approach will tell others all they need to know about what’s most important to us.
In Part 2 of Not In It To Win It, "Shine," Andy Stanley discusses why disagreement is unavoidable, but division is a choice. We can disagree politically and love unconditionally.
In Part 2 of Not In It To Win It, "Shine," Andy Stanley discusses why disagreement is unavoidable, but division is a choice. We can disagree politically and love unconditionally.
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Andy Stanley
“Let’s love, live, and lead in such a way that we, the ekklesia of Jesus, regain the moral high ground and can serve as the conscience of our nation.....The moment we step into a ring that requires someone to lose in order for us to win, we are no longer followers of Jesus.” --Andy Stanley
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I'm very conservative, politically, very conservative, conservative person. But to watch Republicans in particular, demonize, demonize Democrats, not just Democrat political leaders, just everybody's a Democrat to say, you know, we want to do evangelism and discipleship, but we're going to demonize half the country. And at the same time, so many Republicans pitch the Democrats as godless, they're against church against family. In other words, they need Jesus. So let's talk about them in such a way that they will never listen to us again, and never step foot inside our church. I'm like, wait, if the Democrats are as bad as you say they are, which I disagree with that bifurcation and with, you know, that kind of stereotyping. But let's, assuming for a minute that that message was true, well, then, shouldn't you be building bridges? Shouldn't we be thinking like missionaries? But instead, we ran to our political corners, and we discovered in this season what's been true for a long time, that what's most important to many of the evangelicals, many conservative Christians is what's important to everybody else, and that is winning. We got to win, win win. And then you open the New Testament and realize, Jesus decided to lose, lose, lose, on purpose with a purpose, with us in mind. And we are, we are commanded to follow him. And I just, oh. And when I want to say one other thing to be clear. It sounds like I'm, you know, wagging my finger, you know, pointing fingers. Early on in the book, I say, no, this is not a you versus me problem, this is a we problem because we're of the same body. And if you slap me with your hand, I'm not mad at your hand, I'm mad at your entire body. And so we have a problem. And I think 2020, you know, everything that happened in 2020, culturally, politically, you know, in terms of the health crisis, it revealed something dark and ugly about the current state of evangelicalism, and we need to look at it, be embarrassed by it and fix it. So this is my, you know, my attempt to add to other things that have been said to, to basically say, let's not do this again. -Andy Stanley
In case the legislators think a pastor couldn’t possibly understand the political realities of the day, (Pastor Andy) Stanley reminded them that one location of his congregation meets in heavily conservative Forsyth County and another meets in the more liberal Atlanta suburb of Decatur.“I understand this,” he said. “It’s like two different countries.”
Yet success — making Georgia “amazing” — will only happen in the middle, Stanley emphasized.
“Do you love the state of Georgia more than you love your party? If not, maybe you should do something else.”
“I understand, but not as well as you do, it is hard to raise money in the middle. It’s hard to get people angry enough to vote in the middle. It’s hard to get people to turn out and vote if you’ve not made them afraid of their enemy. … It’s hard to do what you do if you don’t play this silly game, and I just wish we would stop with, ‘Oh no, we’re losing, we’re losing, we’re losing.’”
In politics, Stanley said, “the goal is to always appear as if you’re losing but not to actually lose. What a terrible way to lead. What if we just stop with all that and when we catch each other doing that, we call each other out.
Sitting in political rallies where such divisive rhetoric is used, he challenged partisans to say, “Even though I’m in your party, even though I’ll probably vote for you, I’m not buying it and I’m not going to respect it by clapping for it.”
Taking such a stand “requires a lot of personal maturity and personal security. To lead from the middle, it will require you to love our state more than you love your party. Do you love the state of Georgia more than you love your party? If not, maybe you should do something else.” -Baptist News Global
Yet success — making Georgia “amazing” — will only happen in the middle, Stanley emphasized.
“Do you love the state of Georgia more than you love your party? If not, maybe you should do something else.”
“I understand, but not as well as you do, it is hard to raise money in the middle. It’s hard to get people angry enough to vote in the middle. It’s hard to get people to turn out and vote if you’ve not made them afraid of their enemy. … It’s hard to do what you do if you don’t play this silly game, and I just wish we would stop with, ‘Oh no, we’re losing, we’re losing, we’re losing.’”
In politics, Stanley said, “the goal is to always appear as if you’re losing but not to actually lose. What a terrible way to lead. What if we just stop with all that and when we catch each other doing that, we call each other out.
Sitting in political rallies where such divisive rhetoric is used, he challenged partisans to say, “Even though I’m in your party, even though I’ll probably vote for you, I’m not buying it and I’m not going to respect it by clapping for it.”
Taking such a stand “requires a lot of personal maturity and personal security. To lead from the middle, it will require you to love our state more than you love your party. Do you love the state of Georgia more than you love your party? If not, maybe you should do something else.” -Baptist News Global
“From a distance, an excuse looks like an actual reason,” he said. “Excuses get passed off as reasons, and excuses easily become, in the real world, ‘becauses,’ because all of us have some ‘becauses’ that we habitually hide behind when certain things come up. What if we just quit disguising our excuses as reasons?” he asked. “What if we acknowledge, ‘This isn’t real. I’ve just made this up.'Is it possible you have created a paper wall or an excuse for why you procrastinate about certain things, why you neglect certain things, why you avoid certain things? Is it possible you created a paper wall for why you avoid certain kinds of people, certain people, events, circumstances, opportunities?”
--Andy Stanley; North Point Ministries
--Andy Stanley; North Point Ministries
Jan 10, 2022: Christian Post: Andy Stanley says shutting down 'the excuse factory' essential to living God-glorifying life
Andy Stanley, the pastor of North Point Ministries, urged Christians to stop making excuses, explaining that many professing believers construct a “paper wall”— often fueled by fear or insecurity — that holds them back from living a God-glorifying life.
Andy Stanley, the pastor of North Point Ministries, urged Christians to stop making excuses, explaining that many professing believers construct a “paper wall”— often fueled by fear or insecurity — that holds them back from living a God-glorifying life.
2020
Nov 15, 2020: The Atlantic: The Evangelical Reckoning Begins
Andy Stanley, the pastor of one of the largest megachurches in the country, ponders the future of an influential corner of American Christianity.
Andy Stanley, the pastor of one of the largest megachurches in the country, ponders the future of an influential corner of American Christianity.
Aug 23, 2020: Christian Post: Pastor Andy Stanley explains why North Point is suspending services until 2021
Responding to some members who accused him of “bowing to Caesar,” Pastor Andy Stanley of Atlanta’s North Point Community Church explained why his church decided to suspend services until 2021. The decision, he said, is not “left-wing, Marxist agenda,” but based on what’s central to the Christian faith.
Responding to some members who accused him of “bowing to Caesar,” Pastor Andy Stanley of Atlanta’s North Point Community Church explained why his church decided to suspend services until 2021. The decision, he said, is not “left-wing, Marxist agenda,” but based on what’s central to the Christian faith.
“Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.” -Andy Stanley
April 15, 2020: Pirate Christian: "Unhitching" Jesus?: Did Andy Stanley's Easter 2020 Message "Unhitch" Jesus From Scripture?
Andy Stanley's Easter 2020 message said we don't know about the resurrection because of the Bible. What if he is creating unnecessary and unhelpful distinctions that weaken the foundation of our faith instead of strengthening it?
Andy Stanley's Easter 2020 message said we don't know about the resurrection because of the Bible. What if he is creating unnecessary and unhelpful distinctions that weaken the foundation of our faith instead of strengthening it?
2018
May 2, 2018: Christianity Today: Tim Keller, John Piper, and Andy Stanley Among the 12 ‘Most Effective’ Preachers
This week, Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary released its 2018 ranking of the ministers who set the standard for contemporary sermons. It lists a cross-denominational mix of evangelical heavyweights ranging from Reformed leaders such as John Piper and Tim Keller, to classic preachers such as Chuck Swindoll and the late Haddon Robinson, to fresher voices such as Andy Stanley and Ralph Douglas West.
This week, Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary released its 2018 ranking of the ministers who set the standard for contemporary sermons. It lists a cross-denominational mix of evangelical heavyweights ranging from Reformed leaders such as John Piper and Tim Keller, to classic preachers such as Chuck Swindoll and the late Haddon Robinson, to fresher voices such as Andy Stanley and Ralph Douglas West.
2016
Aug 30, 2016: Pulpit & Pen: Superstar Mega-church Son of A (Hopefully Ashamed) Preacher Man Andy Stanley: Scripture Can’t Be Defended
Andy Stanley’s “sermon” – actually he called it a “conversation” – this past Sunday morning at his megachurch, Northpoint Community Church in Atlanta, comes on the heels of the outrageous commentary he offered merely a few days earlier at a Southern Baptist Conference hosted by Russell Moore and the Ethics And Religious Liberty Commission.
Andy Stanley’s “sermon” – actually he called it a “conversation” – this past Sunday morning at his megachurch, Northpoint Community Church in Atlanta, comes on the heels of the outrageous commentary he offered merely a few days earlier at a Southern Baptist Conference hosted by Russell Moore and the Ethics And Religious Liberty Commission.
Mar 8, 2016: Christianity Today: Andy Stanley Explains His ‘Stinking Selfish’ Parents Comment
Atlanta-area megachurch pastor Andy Stanley has come under fire for remarks he made about small churches in a recent sermon.
Atlanta-area megachurch pastor Andy Stanley has come under fire for remarks he made about small churches in a recent sermon.
2015
May 8, 2015: Raw Story: Megachurch pastor rejects his father’s bigotry: Jesus would want you to bake a gay wedding cake
Andy Stanley, who has turned North Point Ministries into one the nation’s largest churches, said Christians must stop driving gay teens away from the church – saying that politics should not overrule biblical teachings, reported Project Q.
Andy Stanley, who has turned North Point Ministries into one the nation’s largest churches, said Christians must stop driving gay teens away from the church – saying that politics should not overrule biblical teachings, reported Project Q.
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2012
Nov 19, 2012: CNN: Two preaching giants and the 'betrayal' that tore them apart
Andy Stanley walked into his pastor's office, filled with dread.
Andy Stanley walked into his pastor's office, filled with dread.
Books by Andy Stanley:
- Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets. Zondervan, 2020 (ISBN-13 : 978-0310537083)
- Irresistible. Zondervan, 2018. ISBN 978-0-310-53699-4.
- The New Rules For Love, Sex & Dating. Zondervan, 2014. ISBN 978-0-310-34219-9.
- How To Be Rich. Zondervan, 2013. ISBN 1624909469.
- Deep & Wide. Zondervan, 2012. ISBN 0310494842.
- When Work & Family Collide. Multnomah, 2012. ISBN 1601423799.
- Enemies of the Heart. Multnomah, 2011. ISBN 1-60142-145-1.
- The Grace of God. Thomas Nelson, 2010. ISBN 0-8499-4814-2.
- The Principle of the Path. Thomas Nelson, 2009. ISBN 0-8499-2060-4.
- Communicating For a Change. Multnomah, 2006. ISBN 1-59052-514-0.
- Next Generation Leader. Multnomah, 2006. ISBN 1-59052-539-6.
- It Came From Within!. Multnomah, 2006. ISBN 1-59052-510-8.
- Fields of Gold. Tyndale, 2006. ISBN 1414311966.
- The Best Question Ever. Multnomah, 2004. ISBN 1-59052-390-3.
- Seven Practices of Effective Ministry. Multnomah, 2004. ISBN 1-59052-373-3.
- Creating Community. Multnomah, 2004. ISBN 1-59052-396-2.
- Louder Than Words. Multnomah, 2004. ISBN 1-59052-346-6.
- Can We Do That? Innovative Practices that will Change the Way You Do Church (With Ed Young Jr.). Howard Books, 2004. ISBN 1582294577.
- How Good Is Good Enough?. Multnomah, 2003. ISBN 1-59052-401-2.
- Choosing To Cheat. Multnomah, 2002. ISBN 1-59052-329-6.
- The Seven Checkpoints: Student Journal. Howard Books 2001. ISBN 1-58229-178-0.
- Visioneering. Multnomah, 1998. ISBN 1-57673-787-X.
- Like a Rock. Thomas Nelson, 1997. ISBN 0-7852-7612-2.