I have always loved Charles Stanley.
I have written in other articles how Dr. Stanley provided spiritual nourishment to me as a young Christian. I was not being fed at churches I was attending in those early years. Watching Dr. Stanley’s sermons on TV provided me with sound teaching from the Word.
Andy Stanley
Dr. Stanley has gone through very difficult years since his wife divorced him. For a while there was much tension between Charles and his son Andy. At times, the tension would be better described as heated anger and even rage.
When Dr. Stanley’s wife, Anna, proceeded with the divorce, Andy told his father to send in a letter of resignation and then to leave it to the congregation as to whether they wanted him to remain. Charles would not do it.
There were years of anger and frustration between Dr. Stanley and his son Andy. Eventually, the two reconciled their relationship, but by this time Andy was head pastor of Northpoint Community Church – a Mega Church.
Funny thing about “Mega churches” – most of them have watered down the Word of God and some begin preaching outright heresy. These churches make their congregations “comfortable.” Think Rick Warren, Joel Osteen and the late Robert Schuller.
The Errant teachings of Andy Stanley
Born again believers with spiritual discernment cannot miss the errant and sometimes shocking teachings of Andy Stanley. I’ve written two articles about him:
The Apostate Teachings of Andy Stanley
Andy Stanley: “The Virgin Birth is of No Importance”
I wrote to Dr. Stanley
One day, a couple of weeks ago, I felt I needed to write an email to Dr. Stanley’s ministry. I actually asked if it would be possible to speak with Charles Stanley. I did not delude myself with high hopes of speaking voice to voice with him.
I first received a generic type response, saying that Dr. Stanley’s schedule would not allow him the time to speak with people on the phone.
I responded to that email by asking if Dr. Stanley speaks with his son Andy about some of his errant teachings. I included my articles about Northpoint Community church and Andy Stanley.
I want to share their response to me here:
“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. (Emphasis added)
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.”
The Words of Jesus about families:
“Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law” (Luke 12:51-53).
Now granted, this passage of Scripture is mostly speaking about believers and unbelievers in a household being against one another. I am NOT judging Andy Stanley’s salvation. God knows his heart. But more importantly, I want the reader to see what the Word says about false teachers:
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:28-30).
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18).
We are to avoid those teaching false doctrine
And here is the very reason for which I write this piece. I fully understand the love that Dr. Stanley has for his son, Andy. But when the love we have for our family blinds us to the truth of God’s Word – that is a big problem.
Watchmen on the Wall
Andy Stanley is teaching such things as:
- The Old Testament is irrelevant
- The Virgin Birth is of no importance
- We must stop teaching the “fables” of the OT to our children
- Not all of Scripture is infallible
The slippery slope syndrome is in full swing at Northpoint Community church. What heresy will Andy Stanley come up with next? I cringe when I read about this man, wondering if one day he will say that all roads lead to God. Isn’t Charles Stanley called to be a Watchman on the wall?
As I said in the beginning of this article, I love Dr. Charles Stanley. I know that most Christians with whom I speak feel the same.
We much PRAY for both Charles and his Son Andy. And I mean REALLY pray – daily. Pray that God would open the eyes of Andy Stanley to the truth of the ENTIRE Word of God.
PRAY for Charles Stanley to put aside his emotional attachment for Andy and to love him enough to tell him TRUTH.
I know about losing family members. As a Jewish believer in Christ, I have lost so many.
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANATHA
This will disappoint you sister, it did me when I saw it. But Dr Stanley’ name has been added to the lists of false preaches. I mean Charles not Andy.
Reblogged this on Truth2Freedom's Blog.
If Charles is on the list now, then Geri’s post is all the more relevant – misplaced love for family can become a slippery slope. It’s weird that Andy would demand his dad resign if he doesn’t even believe the scripture canon anymore. We have no idea why the wife / mother divorced, but tho Andy is off track on many things, I think that Charles should’ve done as requested. I believe Paul told Timothy that a prime requirement for bishops, pastors, etc was to be the husband of one wife and to have his own household in order so as to be an example to those he ministers to. I wonder if Charles even brought it before Yeshua to find out what His will in the matter was, or whether he didn’t want to give up something that he may have not realised he’d made another god before YHVH.
Dear Sis Geri: I decided not to reblog this post, but instead to write one of my own, throwing out some thoughts I was mulling over. You may not agree due to your esteem for Charles but I trust you’ll understand that I’m trying to address the matter from a different angle so to speak
thank you Geri for your article, i agree with you from the beginning of time satan has had his churches and false teachers, and he will to the end of time, to deceive people with his false doctrine… remember Jesus chrism own words…when he spoke to the Pharisees, He said YOUR SYNAGOGUES, not my…then said they were of their father satan., NOT OF GOD IN HEAVEN, from the Pharisees came the catholic church the seat of satan in Rome. that has devoured many souls, raped children, many churches are of satan, but remember in time of Jesus, there was the one temple where was Gods mercy seat and at the death of Jesus that temple curtain was ripped apart…Jesus became the mercy seat our mediator
a true Christian knows and hears the true voice of his shepherd ,as the shepherd knows who are his sheep, there is one church, one way and Jesus is the way the truth the life, only thur Jesus will we be saved, not by any paid pastor and church, for salvation is offered to us FREE.
GOD BLESS ALL,
SINCERELY
BRENDA N TEXAS
I was never a big promoter of “Dr” Stanley…..the TBN crowd is a ruination of Christianity
I loved him back in the 90s when God used him to reach me and teach me about Himself. Thus far, I have not seen anything from Dr. Stanley that I would consider heresy or apostate. Several people in my mother’s church, First Baptist of Dallas, have worked with Dr. Stanley and say he can be very difficult. I’ve also had people say the same about him to me on Facebook. However, I can be “very difficult” too as anyone in my family can attest to but that doesn’t make me any less a believer in Christ or called to my purpose in Him. All believers have sin and a worldly personality to overcome. I believe Dr. Stanley is faithful to Christ and his ministry. I also think that the “very difficult” part in him comes from abuse in his past and that affected his marriage. I have read and heard him say things to this effect. Mine too is caused from abuse so I can greatly sympathize with him.
God says in his word, in Deuteronomy 4:2
“You shall not add to the word that I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you.”
Yeshua quoted from the book of Deuteronomy the most!
We are living in the last days ,so we should not be surprised at seeing apostasy, from a second generation preacher , who has decided that the fame and riches of this world are more important than his eternal rewards or condition!