Charles Stanley Dies / Discernment Ministries Wonder About Impact It Will Have on Andy's Ministry

Charles Stanley’s Death and Ministry Legacy

This is from the dissenter website. Here's an article covering the death of Charles Stanley. The headline says Charles Stanley passes away at age 90. So I'm just gonna read the article. It says dr Charles Stanley a well-known pastor and televangelist passed away on April 18th 2023 at the age of 90 he was the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia and the president of in touch ministries Christian organization that produces radio and television programs publishes books and magazines and host conferences and Seminars, dr. Stanley was born September 25th 1932 in Dry Fork, Virginia.

He grew up in rural poverty, but his mother's faith and prayers had a profound impact on his life. He became a Christian at the age of 12 and felt called to the ministry. He graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in political science and then earned a master of divinity degree from Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary and Fort Worth, Texas.

Dr. Stanley served as pastor at several churches before joining First Baptist Church of Atlanta in 1969. So he became the senior pastor in 1971 and held the position until 2020 when he retired at the age of 88 due to health reasons.

During his tenure the church grew from 1 ,000 members To over 15 ,000 and became one of the largest and most influential churches in the United States. In addition to his pastoral work. Dr. Stanley was a prolific writer and speaker.

He authored more than 30 books including the blessing of brokenness and Quote how to listen to God as well as the gift of forgiveness. He also hosted the television program in touch with Charles Stanley which aired on over 500 stations around the world and reached millions of viewers each week.

Dr. Stanley's message at least Far more more so than his son Andy was centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of a personal relationship with God. He emphasized the power of prayer the authority of the Bible and the need for repentance and Obedience.

His teachings were marked by clarity simplicity and a deep reverence for God. Dr. Stanley's death has been mourned by many in the Christian community and beyond. He was a beloved pastor teacher and friend to countless people around the world.

His legacy will continue through the ministries he founded and the lives he touched. The in touch ministries website states that dr. Stanley's deepest desire Was for everyone to know and experience an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

May his life in ministry inspire us all to seek God with all our hearts and live for him. So that was the statement put out by His ministry and that article was from the dissenter. So that is an article just covering the facts of Charles Stanley's life and ministry.

The Question of Andy Stanley’s Direction After Charles Stanley’s Death

And I would say the article painted him in a very favorable light. And I think most people view him in a favorable light. But you notice there was one statement That maybe was not as favorable, but it was more directed towards his son Andy and and I think this really gets into the issue that we're gonna face from here on out everyone that listened to Charles Stanley who loved Charles Stanley can appreciate his years of ministry and What they learned from him but starting now after the morning Is over now what?

Now what because many would see that Andy Stanley is gonna carry on his father's legacy. But is that the case and this is where I want to read the second article. So This is sort of the other side to the story.

This is also on the same website the dissenter. It says will the death of Charles Stanley open the floodgates of LGBTQ acceptance in evangelicalism. So I'm gonna read this article says today longtime pastor and founder of in touch ministries Charles Stanley Passed away at 90.

Charles who served as senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Atlanta was no theological gatekeeper. And he certainly was not without his problems. We've written about many of them over the years right here at the dissenter however Charles did appear to genuinely love his son Andy and on many occasions vocalized his opposition to many of Andy's Progressive views albeit in a non forceful way so I think if I can just comment on this says that Charles Stanley was not a gatekeeper and I think I can say this for watching Charles Stanley enough over the years that he was he was not a man who really He he I don't think he ever mentioned People by name.

I remember there was one time He referred to the Joe Jehovah's Witnesses and you knew he was talking about the Jehovah's Witnesses. And he was being critical of the Jehovah's Witnesses, but I don't even think he he named that group.

So Charles Stanley wasn't one to name names and he was not really forceful against false teachers. So here's the thing that this article is setting up Charles Stanley was very conservative very biblical.

His son Andy is more progressive and it is not at all Biblical so the article is asking the question now that Charles Stanley is gone well that opened the floodgates of You know acceptance of gay marriage and everything into evangelicalism because I guess what's implied and we'll read the rest of the article.

But it's implied that Charles Stanley acted as some sort of restraint Against his son and now that Charles is gone. Andy is just going to come out full-blown with what he really thinks. So let's continue reading.

Charles Stanley was conservative. The article says his son Andy is Progressive very progressive. If you followed us at all over the past several months, you're likely aware of just how progressive we've exposed him to be.

His church which is North Point Community Church and his ministry that oversaw the many sister churches under the North Point umbrella has become a gathering place for Homosexuals despite the fact that it was not highly Publicized these churches are very friendly and inclusive and affirming to homosexuals and even offered programs and curriculums designed to train parents and others on how to become more affirming of their own children who come out as LGBTQ.

But as stated above none of this was publicly known until the dissenter Protestia and a handful of others exposed all of it. Okay, so that's the statement. Charles was very conservative Andy very progressive.

The article continues it began with a video of Andy Stanley was published on Twitter saying that homosexuals Who love Jesus have more faith? than many straight Christians in his church. That video sparked a deep dive into his ministry and what we Uncovered was nothing short of shocking.

Even for Andy Stanley. Andy Stanley's ministry for years has been under the radar. Affirming homosexual they're doing this under Under the radar people don't realize it that Andy Stanley's ministry has been affirming homosexuals baptizing them allowing them to serve in his church and training others to affirm them and While refusing to call any of them to repentance and faith.

So, how does this and involve Charles Stanley it seems as though Charles Andy's father was the only restraint on Andy keeping him from coming out completely as LGBTQ affirming. Now, obviously that's an opinion I'm not.

I don't know if that's the case or not because the videos that I saw of Charles Stanley. He was very much. He said he was proud of Andy and he seemed to Endorse Andy's ministry and he Stanley spoke at in touch ministry conferences for years.

So whether Charles acted as a restraint the author of this article says yes, and of course time will tell. It continues while Charles was never forceful in his condemnation of Andy's views. He often spoke of how they would have private conversations and though they disagreed on much They would find common ground and now that Charles has passed.

There is likely no longer any restraint on Andy's apostasy. Andy Stanley now has a clear path forward and while it likely won't happen overnight. It is highly probable that over the next few years. We will see Andy's true colors come out.

Andy Stanley who has already or who already rejects the biblical gospel and has written off the scriptures as Having any authority over the lives and beliefs of Christians and he has a huge following.

So this is a big deal. Once Andy Stanley the leader of evangelical apostasy opens this can. His many clones and followers will all follow suit. This would include people like Beth Moore Russell Moore the leadership at First Baptist Church, Orlando.

Who is praised Andy Stanley as one of the greatest theologians of our time and so many others. That's hard. Hard to believe they said that Andy Stanley is one of the greatest theologians of our time, but that's what the article says.

I'm just I'm just reading it. So they end the article by saying keep an eye out and watch what happens over the next several months two years. I'm no prophet, but we all know what happens when God removes his hand of restraint against the wicked.

You only have to read Romans 1 to find out. It's fixing to get interesting. So that's an article written. Both articles I read were on the dissenter website so you can read them for yourself, but that's the prediction first article talking about Charles Stanley in his death and and how he just a faithful ministry, although again, there's There are things you know to say that he had his critics and you know, because he just passed away yesterday I don't want to get into any of that today out of respect for Charles Stanley.

What Happens Next for Andy Stanley and Evangelicalism

But I think the real issue going forward as the second article mentioned is what now what's gonna happen next? What's gonna happen with Andy because Charles? Yes, Charles was very conservative and biblical.

Andy is very progressive and not biblical and I think a lot of people just assume that Charles Stanley must have been just shocked and disappointed in the direction his son took. I Don't really think that's the case because again Andy Stanley spoke at in touch conferences for years and even I think in 2021 there's a sit-down interview with Charles and Andy and there they seem to be supporting one another.

So and I know you said well, it's his son. Of course, he's gonna support his son well, yes, you are going to love your child, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to endorse everything that they say and do and Charles Stanley did seem to at least to some degree endorse Andy Stanley so time will tell I think the direction of evangelical Christianity.

It's very clear. We've talked about this many times even Locally, we've seen this where a church will be considered evangelical or Bible believing. They have a biblical view of morality believe the Ten Commandments and then all of a sudden You know a new pastor comes in and he kind of chips away at that and after a few years.

Or maybe something happens a relative comes out of the closet and then you know. The leadership brings the church in a different direction we're only going to see more of that why because Well, I mean most people they just go along with whatever Society's doing right the average person who's not being led by the Spirit.

They're just conformed to this world. So if the world comes out and says that hey, this is the next big thing. This is now the right thing to do that people just you know, how it is. People just go along with whatever so I expect to see More of that from Andy Stanley will that happen in the next few months where it's obvious that his dad did act as a restraint.

I pray that's not the case and I think we do need to be praying for those in North Point Church those who follow Andy Stanley. I've had people Who normally I would think that they're pretty reliable even other pastors who said Andy Stanley is Amazing.

He's he's solid. He's a solid Bible teacher and It's like well, you must not be listening very very closely then but We need to be praying for people who listen To these kind of popular mainstream pastors because they really are being conformed To this world so time will tell but these are the two articles covering the death of pastor Charles Stanley at age 90.