F4F | Stacie Wood Twists Joshua Chapter 3

The Rise of Andy Wood and Saddleback’s Women Pastor Controversy

Welcome to another installment of fighting for the faith. My name is Chris Roseboro. I am your servant in Jesus Christ. This is the channel that compares what people are saying in the name of God to the Word of God.

Well, have you heard that Rick Warren has resigned? He is he's decided it's time for him to retire. And so he's passed the baton to a fellow by the name of Andy Wood. Back in the days when we did a daily podcast of fighting for the faith. We reviewed Several of the sermons by Andy Wood and I would note he couldn't handle a biblical text properly to save his life.

If he you know, even if I were to like write the sermon for him All I had to do was read it. He'd still find a way to twist up the scriptures. And so Andy Wood is a scripture twister. It's also there are allegations that he's very abusive and narcissistic in his leadership style but all of that being said now with the baton being passed to Andy Wood Andy Wood has decided that he's going to Take things a little further than the SPC is prepared for because the Southern Baptist Convention will note is Primarily made up of people who desire to follow God's Word and as a result of it women Pastors are not permitted by SPC policy.

But Saddleback Church is an SPC Church. And so we're gonna take a look at a recent news story. And then we're gonna let take a look at a recent sermon preached by Andy Wood's wife Stacey Wood and She is put forward as a pastor there so let's just say that in the in the convention coming up in the summer of 2023 which I think is gonna be in Louisiana there's gonna be a fight and Andy Wood is is Going to be kind of the center of that particular controversy and Albert Muller has already kind of drawn up the battle lines.

In fact.

I actually was able to have a conversation with Albert Muller privately about this back in June of this of this year. Albert Muller and I were speaking at the same conference and we were talking about Rick Warren's shenanigans as it relates to ordaining women and things like this in the SPC and Albert Muller basically said this thing ain't gonna fly and So we'll kind of let you in on what's going on.

So let's whirl up the desktop and let's start by opening up our web browser here. And this was a News story that was released on October 24th of 2022 From the Associated Press. New Saddleback pastor sees women clergy in churches future.

Now I would note something here. Why has the church gone for 2 ,000 years without having women pastors into like really recently.

Why?

Because the Bible doesn't permit women to hold the pastoral office now, that's not the focus of our video today. So I'm gonna refer you to a video that I did a while ago now. It's it's three three years ago.

I can't believe it was three years already. And the name of the video is living proof Beth Moore is an Autonomian. Living proof that Beth Moore is an Autonomian and I walk through all the biblical texts as it relates to who can and cannot be a pastor and Note that women are forbidden to hold the pastoral office.

Now. That doesn't mean that women can't teach. Oh they can. Just not in church. I would note I was trained by a very very famous Christian apologist a woman by the name of Gretchen Pasentino. She was one of my mentors and she has she taught the church all kinds of great doctrines and Taught the church how to defend itself against false teachers and heretics and the occult and things like this.

In fact.

She was oftentimes the ghostwriter for Walter Martin and was very instrumental in helping him put the books out that he published. All of that being said she was a woman but never once did Gretchen Pasentino teach preach a sermon.

She Recognized the scriptural prohibitions along those lines. So again the video will put a link to it down below living proof that Beth Moore is an autonomian. Walk through the biblical text there, but let's come back to our AP news story here.

Lake Forest, California. On a recent Sunday morning in the sanctuary of Saddleback Church Lead pastor Andy Wood opened with a shout-out to the congregation's newest female teaching pastor. In other words, you know Fights coming in the SPC and it was Rick Warren who legitimately paved the way for this fight.

He wants it to happen. All right, and so he Andy would introduce the newest female teaching pastor his wife Stacy Wood and. And you'll note this is this is a bad development. It's been about a month since Andy Wood 41 succeeded pastor Rick Warren author of the blockbuster seller bestseller.

The purpose-driven life and one of the most renowned figures in the evangelical Christianity who founded Saddleback in California's Orange County nearly 43 years ago before wood was born today. It's a multi-site ministry reaching about 40 ,000 people worldwide.

Despite the difference in age and experience what Warren and would have in common is their commitment to a global church and nurturing female Pastors and that's the that's the thing. Will the SPC hold the line.

We'll have to see but the Bible clearly forbids women from holding the pastoral office.

All right.

So let's see here. Woods has also had to deal with allegations of authoritarian leadership and hostile church mergers in the San Francisco Bay Area where he led echo church a 3 ,000 strong multi-site congregation for the past 14 years.

He has denied those allegations and was cleared by the search firm that that Saddleback retained for the hiring process. The SPC was one of echo churches supporters and now adds. That which now adds the awkwardness of Saddleback's position on female pastors.

In 2021 Warren ordained three women as pastors. Prompting the denomination to consider expelling the megachurch and that's still a possibility. The second largest in its fold. Warren made an emotional speech in June at the Southern Baptist Annual Convention in Anaheim.

Standing by his ordination of women. He told delegates who debated the issue. We have to decide if we'll treat each other as allies or as adversaries. But the thing is is that he is the one who's disobeying what scripture says.

Wood told the AP that the Bible teachers teaches that men and women were given spiritual gifts by God. That's True but women are not permitted to hold the pastoral office. The quote the church should be a place where both men and women can exercise those spiritual gifts.

This by the way is an unsequitur. The question is what does the Bible say regarding who's qualified to hold the pastoral office? And you'll note that women are not are not permitted to hold that office.

All right.

So he said my wife has the spiritual gift of teaching and she's really good and People often tell me she's better than me when it comes to preaching and I'm really glad to hear that. So what's whole argument is that his wife has a spiritual gift the spiritual gift of teaching and She's even better than he is.

And so now Saddleback has Stacy Wood listed on their YouTube channel as pastor Stacy Wood and she preached the sermon and this was back about a month ago and We're gonna test to see whether or not she really has a teaching gift because scripture is really clear in this regard.

Let's see here second Timothy chapter 4 chapter 2 verse 14. Remind them of these things. Charge them before God not to quarrel about words. Which do not which does no good but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved a worker who has no need to be ashamed rightly handling the word of truth.

You see in order to be a pastor in Christ Church, you must rightly handle a biblical text and we'll note here Titus chapter 1. This is what Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes to Titus when it comes to choosing people.

For the pastoral office. This is why I left you in Crete so that you might put what remained in order. Appoint elders in every town as I directed you if anyone is above reproach. Husband. Husband of one wife.

No, no the masculine things here husband of one wife. His his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery and insubordination. For an overseer as God's steward must be above reproach.

He he he he. Not the the masculine pronouns. Hmm, he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or drunkard or violent or greedy for gain but hospitable a lover of good. Self-controlled upright holy and disciplined.

He again masculine pronoun must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught so that he Might be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. So what are the qualifications for a pastor aside from all the masculine pronouns is.

That he must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught. He must be able to rightly handle the word of truth or rightly divide the word of truth. Okay, and give instruction in sound doctrine and to rebuke those who?

Contradicted. Okay. This is this is just a couple of the text as it relates to who's qualified to holding the pastoral office. But you're gonna note duties of the pastoral office. You must be able to rightly handle God's Word.

So Andy Wood claims that his wife has a teaching gifting and God wants her gift to be Exercised in the church despite all the biblical prohibitions that would say otherwise we're gonna test to see whether or not Stacy would legitimately has a Teaching gift and if she is studied and shown herself approved and she can rightly handle Biblical texts so with that we're gonna listen to a portion of the sermon the courage to slow down.

From just about a month ago at the Saddleback Church in in El Toro, California. Let's let's take a listen.

Joshua 3 and the Claim That Courage Means Slowing Down

So the last few weeks we've been looking at the story of Joshua in the Bible and There have been so many moments where courage was needed in this story. Like for example, Joshua is taking over leadership for this legendary leader Moses and that's a call for courage.

And then last week we talked about how the priest had to pick up the Ark of the Covenant and walk straight out in the Jordan River at flood stage and that was a call for courage.

Call for courage. Because the priests were ordered to step out into the Jordan River at flood stage. That's a call for courage. I know a thing or two about that biblical text.

But we'll let her spin this out a little bit more and then the Israelites are all gonna have to cross over into the promised Lands and they've got war in front of them and there's enemies and obstacles and that's a call for courage.

So many calls for people to step out into courage, but you know, sometimes courage looks different than stepping out. Sometimes courage can be waiting in the present moment. Andy said it this way. He said that sometimes courage looks like working but sometimes it looks like waiting and sometimes God gives us the courage to get going.

But sometimes we need to have courage to start slowing. Slowing our life down a little bit so that we can pick up all the faithfulness of God so that we can notice What God is doing around us and that in itself builds the courage within us.

So today we're gonna pick up that story again, and those priests are standing in the Jordan River with the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders.

Okay, so this is from Joshua chapter 3. In fact, let's do this. Let's take a look at the actual biblical text first and See if we can figure out what's happening by applying the three rules for sound biblical exegesis, which are context Context and context.

All right, so Joshua chapter 3. Here's the account. Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. They came to the Jordan and he and all the people of Israel and lodged there before they passed over at the end of three days.

The officers went through the camp and Commanded the people as soon as you see the Ark of the Covenant of Yahweh your God being carried by the Levitical priests. Then you shall set out from your place and follow it yet.

There shall be a distance between you and end it about 2 ,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it in order that you may know the way that you should go for you have not passed this way before. Then Joshua said to the people consecrate yourselves for tomorrow Yahweh will do wonders among you.

And Joshua said to the priests take up the Ark of the Covenant Pass on before the people. So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went before the people. Yahweh said to Joshua today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all of Israel that they may know what that as I was with Moses.

So I will be with you and as for you command the priests who bear the Ark of the Covenant when you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan you shall stand still in the Jordan. And Joshua said to the people of Israel come here and listen to the words of Yahweh your God.

And Joshua said here is how you shall know that the Living God is among you and that he will without fail drive you out from before from before you the Canaanites the Hittites the Thivites the Perizzites the Girgashites the Amorites and the Jebusites.

Behold the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all of the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan now therefore take 12 men from the tribes of Israel from each tribe a man. And When the souls of the feet of the priests bearing the Ark of Yahweh the Lord of all of the earth shall rest in the waters of the Jordan the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from Flowing and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.

So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant before the people and as soon as those bearing the Ark had come as far as the Jordan and the feet of the priests bearing the Ark Were dipped in the brink of the water.

Now the Jordan overflows all its bank throughout the time of the harvest. The waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away at Adam the city that is beside Zarathon and Those flowing down toward the sea of the Arab are the salt sea were completely cut off and the people passed over opposite Jericho.

Now the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant of Yahweh stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan and All of Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Okay, so I don't see anything here calling for courage and the reason I say that is because God made it very clear ahead of time. What he was going to do he set their expectations and explained very clearly.

When the feet of the priests touch the Jordan River, it's going to stop Flowing and he was going to perform a miracle. All of this was communicated in detail prior to that the children of Israel striking camp and then moving into the Jordan and they crossed on dry ground and at no point.

Do you see any hesitation any wondering what's going on here? Or anybody saying well take courage folks. No, this is this is Israel acting on faith Trusting the Word of God that God had given to Joshua and then Joshua communicated to the people.

Okay, so already we've got a pretty big problem and I would note here. This is the beginning portion of the teaching part of her sermon. This is the first biblical text that she is touching or trying to handle in the very first sermon After she has been presented as one of the new teaching pastors of Saddleback Church.

First text and I can tell you already. She's setting this up for a twist. Let's continue. They have been standing there all week long.

We left them there last weekend and they are tired of standing in the same place. So we're gonna get them out of the Jordan today. So in case you have missed the last couple weeks, let me just give you a quick recap.

The.

Israelites have been wandering around in the desert for like 40 years and they have finally reached that moment in time where they are gonna Cross over into the promised land, but in order to get there there is this huge obstacle in front of them.

They've got this Jordan River and there is no boat and there are no bridges and it is at flood stage. And so they've got to figure out how are we gonna get from here to there? So no they don't.

God explained to them very clearly what wonder he was going to do among them. To bring them across the Jordan. They didn't have to wonder at all. God said he was going to perform a sign in a wonder for them.

Of course, Joshua goes to God and he says, okay God.

What's the plan? And God says, okay, here's the plan. I want you to have the priests pick up the Ark of the Covenant and they're just gonna walk straight out into the river.

And Joshua's like, um that river. When did Joshua ask God that river? She's adding to the biblical text.

Hmm.

Yahweh said to Joshua today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all of Israel so that they may know that as I was with Moses I will be with you as for you. Command the priest who bear the Ark of the Covenant.

When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan you shall stand. You shall stand still in the Jordan. And Joshua said to the people come here. Listen to the words of Yahweh your God. She just added to the biblical text.

She's added to it by having Joshua say God which one? You you want me to want us to cross that river there? Let's listen, let me back this up just a little bit and listen again and God says, okay, here's the plan.

I want you to have the priests pick up the Ark of the Covenant and they're just gonna walk straight out into the river. And Joshua's like, um that river.

No, he wasn't he didn't do that at all. God's like yeah that river. God didn't say that either.

Do you have no fear of God? He's like the one that's at flood stage right now.

No, Joshua didn't say that either. Yeah, that's that's the one Joshua. Nope. God didn't say that either. In fact, I would note that as horrible as the passion translation is and it's an abysmal Horrible wreck of an anything that even calls itself a Bible translation.

Even it doesn't add this this dialogue to Joshua chapter 3 and it sounds so crazy. No, it doesn't. Notice she didn't read the text out ahead of time and there's a reason for that. Had she read the text in context, she wouldn't be able to say the things that she's saying right now.

She is trying to put her own message forward and make it appear that the Bible is Teaching it but believe me when I tell you this text cannot be used this way because once you read it in context you see What's really happening and you can see that she's adding to the text the whole narrative that she's weaving around it to understand What Joshua chapter 3 is saying and teaching?

Her whole narrative is false. It's fabricated. I thought you said Andy What I thought Andy would said that she has a teaching gift. Hmm. Okay.

Cuz you guys we know the end of the story. We know that God is gonna perform this miracle and that the water is gonna stop flowing and that they're gonna get through on Dry ground and it's gonna be one of the coolest miracles in all of the Old Testament.

Right, and they knew the end of the story too. Cuz Joshua told them the end of the story before they even got started because God told him what was gonna happen. Again, if you had just read the text you would have known that.

But they don't know that in this. Yeah, actually they do. Let me back this goes. This. I mean we just read the text the people of Israel knew. Exactly how this was going to go down.

Oh that God is gonna perform this miracle and that the water is gonna stop flowing and that they're gonna get through on dry ground. And it's gonna be one of the coolest miracles in all of the Old Testament, but they don't know that in this moment.

They just got yes, they do. Did you read Joshua chapter 3?

They knew exactly what was gonna happen. Two million people standing on one side of this rushing river and God says just start walking.

No, he didn't. God didn't. Just say start walking. That is not what this text says. God told him exactly what he was going to do. That feels crazy.

Don't you know that there were some people in the crowd that were just kind of like is there a.

Option B. Like I would no mention of anybody in the crowd going. Option B.

Please very interested in learning more about that one. But you know what Joshua has going for him in this moment is that he has a whole history of the faithfulness of God.

He has the clear direction of God explaining to him what God's going to do in detail. Right there regarding the Jordan River. He yes, he has the hall. The backstory to Joshua just happened to be there when the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea.

He saw all of that but in this account in Joshua chapter 3 God said here's what's gonna happen. It's gonna go this way do this this and this and then this is gonna happen. And then that he knew exactly what was gonna Go down.

He didn't even have to guess.

He has seen God up close and personal. He had a front-row seat to all the miracles that God has performed on behalf of Israel the last 40 years. See, he was Moses's assistant. And so he was right there side-by-side with Moses.

He walked across the Red Sea on dry ground. He ate the manna that fell from heaven miraculously. He saw God send fire from heaven and then take it back at his command. So he his history had prepared him for this moment.

Joshua had seen no God's words Prepared him for that moment. It's right here in the beginning part of Joshua chapter 3 Yahweh said to Joshua today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of Israel so that they may know that as I was with Moses.

So I will be with you as for you. Command the priests who bear the Ark of the Covenant when you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan. You shall stand still in the Jordan. And Joshua said to the people come here listen to the words of Yahweh your God.

And Joshua said here is how you shall know that the Living God is among you and He will without fail drive out from before you all of the the different ites. Right. Behold the Ark of the Covenant of Yahweh your God of the all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan now.

Therefore take 12 men from the tribes of Israel from each a tribe a man. And when the souls of his feet of the priests bearing the Ark of Yahweh the Lord of all the earth shall rest in the waters of the Jordan.

The waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing and The waters coming down from above shall stand in one heat. God laid this out in detail ahead of time. Why is she acting like Joshua had no information like this in the faithfulness of God?

And it gave him a Faith to build upon. And I think this is such a critical point for us in our own lives as we're thinking about this concept. Of courage and building the faith inside of us. The concept of courage.

Why are you have twisting this text. And it's that God's faithfulness is our foundation for courage. That's faithfulness is our foundation for courage. It's not wishful thinking. We're not just hoping that some cosmic power out there comes through for us.

No, we serve a God with a track record. This is most certainly true. And his past faithfulness is a sturdy foundation for which we can build our faith upon.

Yeah, our faith is in the God who fulfills his promises and never lies. That's for sure. Why did you have to twist his word in order to make this point? That doesn't make any sense.

So the priest they pick up this Ark of the Covenant and they go first and they just start Walking. And I want you to get this image in your head with me what the scene would have been like as it unfolds.

Just imagine that you're one of those two million people standing on this side of the Jordan and you're just watching these priests to walk.

So we're not engaging in exegesis now, we're just engaging in imagination and. The thing is is that you you can legitimately fill some data in in scripture that isn't there using a little bit of imagination, but you have to stay within the bounds of the text itself and.

You cannot go beyond or twist up the entire narrative. She is completely evacuated this text of what it actually says. Created a narrative and dialogue that isn't there and has overtly avoided What the Bible what that text actually says?

You can't do this and nothing is changing. Like they're just walking and they're getting closer and closer to the edge of the Jordan and and nothing has changed.

That's not in the text either. They knew exactly what was gonna happen.

You know in their hearts, they're saying, okay, let's have faith. He's done it before God.

No, they already had a clear word from God. They knew what God was going to do and do it again.

But they're there at a crisis moment. They're at that moment that if God doesn't come through that all where was the crisis moment again?

In Joshua 3, can you point it out to me in the actual biblical text?

We lost. But you know, what happens is as soon as they step foot into the Jordan God comes through and the water stops flowing. And can you imagine?

The way you tell the story They just presumptuously thought that God was going to do something Whereas the actual biblical text Says that they knew exactly what God was going to do because God told them ahead of time through Joshua.

I didn't being there on that shore and like realizing what just happened and the shouts of praise that must have happened and say oh My gosh, he did it. God did it. He did it again. The water stopped flowing.

We're going across on dry ground. Can you believe that we are a part of this moment?

What I can't believe is that you have created your own version of Joshua chapter 3 and.

You are.

Painstakingly avoiding reading the actual passage itself because the actual passage if you would just read it. Wouldn't agree with anything that you're saying here.

That.

Shows that you are a Bible twister that you are interested in teaching your doctrines your theology your speculations your opinions. Rather than actually preaching the Word of God, you know, your husband said that.

Let's see. How did he say my wife has the spiritual gift of teaching?

No.

If she had a true spiritual gift of teaching that she wouldn't be twisting God's Word. No. And she's really good. No, she's really good at twisting and adding to God's Word. That's what I saw people often tell me she's better than me.

She's. Is she a better Bible twister than you are Andy. And I would note if you would like to hear the sermon reviews I've done in the past of Andy Wood's sermons. We'll put a link down below too. You can search listen to the archives of fighting for the faith and the sermons I've reviewed of his but I can legitimately say Stacy would she doesn't have a spiritual gift of teaching.

Unless she has a spiritual gift of twisting God's Word, but the Holy Spirit doesn't give a gift like that. She hasn't studied and showed herself approved as a workman who need not blush with embarrassment who can rightly handle the Word of Truth the first biblical text she Handled in the very first sermon she preached as a pastor of Saddleback Church.

She twisted it and added to it and made it say things it doesn't say. Spiritual gift of teaching. Nah. Nah, not even close. There's no Visible evidence that that's true at all. So hopefully you found this helpful.

If so.

All the information on how you can share the video is down below in the district. Description. And until next time may God richly bless you and the grace and mercy won by Jesus Christ His vicarious death on the cross for all of your sins. Amen.