An evangelical Christian megachurch located in the suburbs of Atlanta is home to the latest Biblical interpretation controversy. The Senior Pastor of North Point Community Church, Andy Stanley finished up a three-part sermon series called “Aftermath” where he concluded that Christians should detach their faith from the Old Testament.
Stanley’s argument was based on Acts 15, the chapter in the Bible that tells of the early churches debate over whether they needed to follow Jewish laws. Stanley notes that some believers today start their faith journey wanting to follow the law, but soon come to find that they can’t and must depend on the grace of God.
“[First century] Church leaders unhitched the church from the worldview, value system, and regulations of the Jewish scriptures,” said Stanley.
The pastors reasoning behind this was that the early church wanted to be more inclusive of gentiles.
“Peter, James, Paul elected to unhitch the Christian faith from their Jewish scriptures, and my friends, we must as well.”
“Jesus’ new covenant, His covenant with the nations, His covenant with you, His covenant with us, can stand on its own two nail-scarred resurrection feet. It does not need propping up by the Jewish scriptures,” Stanley said.
“The Bible did not create Christianity. The resurrection of Jesus created and launched Christianity. Your whole house of Old Testament cards can come tumbling down. The question is did Jesus rise from the dead? And the eyewitnesses said he did.”
Our faith should be solely in Jesus Christ, but there are various places in the New Testament where Jesus himself clearly references scriptures in the Old Testament; therefore we should never discount the value of any of Gods word. Would Stanley have us throw out the ten commandments as well?
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39 [no second NT ref])
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5, cf. Leviticus 19:18)
Jesus showed us that the Old Testament holds prophecy.
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'” (Matthew 21:42, cf. Mark 12:10, 11, Luke 20:17)
The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:22, 23)
Jesus expanded already powerful scriptures from the Old Testament.
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13, cf. Matthew 12:7)
For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)
Given that Jesus directly quoted Old Testament, it’s hard to see what Stanley means by calling a vital part of the Holy Bible a “house of Old Testament cards” that will come tumbling down.
In Matthew 5:18 Jesus said, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
Works Cited
Andy Stanley. “Aftermath, Part 3: Not Difficult // Andy Stanley.” YouTube. . (2018): . . http://bit.ly/2Ifa7vF
I think the people being so critical of the message need to listen to the whole sermon to understand what was actually said. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Andy is not telling anyone to disregard the Old Testament, that’s totally absurd.
It’s sad we Christians are so eager to criticize each other. I think the fruit of Andys ministry stands as testimony to his faith in our Lord, and the Bible. I like the title, Megachurch Pastor, as if he should be ashamed, it could have just said Pastor Andy.
If your a Christian or a non believer, it’s the same, become successful in what your doing and someone is ready to throw rocks. Everyone needs a savior. Me too.
I personally think, he is talking about the misuse of the Old Testament, rather than learning from it, how to apply God’s truth, all of it, in the light of the New Testament. The “religious” leaders of their day, totally misused the OT, and refused to relinquish their “authority” to the One to Whom it belonged all along; and decided to crucify the Son of God instead!
I’m not sure that I would say it quite that strongly, but little progress has been made, outside of someone being labeled a heretic; i.e. John Wesley, Martin Luther, and the like. Mankind has a universal flaw; the desire for power, and control. What they cannot control, they must, of necessity, discredit at any cost, to maintain their position of “authority”. “Try the Spirits”, clearly shows the main distinction of: whether, or not, someone believes that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, to redeem ALL of us. We demonstrate all too well, that we are divided by petty differences, when Father God desires that we are committed to UNITY, and not the superficial “agreement”, but the “Commitment” to one another’s well being!
So is he eliminating Malachi 3:1? And The book of Revelation? Malachi…No tithes or offerings in his church? I doubt it. Many people think they can pick and choose what they want of the Bible But God says in Revelation And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:19 KJV. Not to mention that God has torn down the wall btween Jew & Gentile making us one new man and graftIng us together. Silly man.
The New Tedtament is the sequel that brings the Old Testsment to life and meshes the TOTALITY of the Word of God!! Is like saying that my birth and childhood has no bearing or importance on my adulthood!! This is another teaching to become SO INCLUSIVE that you actually bring more division!!