Did Andy Stanley Really Mean Obama Is 'Pastor in Chief'?
I'm sitting there on my couch watching this, thinking,How is he doing this? I would be exhausted after a single interaction with a family. All these classrooms. And he sits through all that, and then he gives his speech. I turned to Sandra, and said, "Tonight he is the Pastor in Chief, isn't he?"
[At the pre-inaugural service,] I knew that I didn't want to get up and just launch into a sermon. When you're in an environment where you have no personal connection with anyone in the room—and I certainly didn't—as a speaker, you want to find a personal connection. I thought,Well, here is something that I felt deeply and here we have all these clergy on this stage.
So I said something like, "Mr. President, I don't know the first thing about being President, but I know a bit about being a pastor. And during the Newtown vigil on December 16th after we heard what you did—I just want to say on behalf of all of us as clergy, thank you." And I added, "I turned to Sandra that night and said, 'Tonight he's the Pastor in Chief.'"
So that's the context. I wasn't making a declaration that he's our Pastor in Chief. But I can understand how that got reported.
Some of your critics assume that by preaching on such an occasion, you are associating yourself with the President's policies, that you are onboard with his views of gay marriage, abortion, and health policies.
I think the President should be more concerned about being associated with my policies! I've been preaching for 17 years every single Sunday; he's only been President for 4! I'm kidding, of course. The whole idea of fear by association [is a problem].
If Jesus had felt that way, he would have never come to earth—right? He would have never left heaven to become a human. So I do not make decisions based on guilt by association. I grew up in a culture that was all about that.
One time another friend of mine was asked to pray with President Obama, and he asked Billy Graham, "Dr. Graham, should I pray for the President?" And Dr. Graham looked at him and said, "You're a pastor. That's what you do; you pray for people. Yes, you can pray for the President.'"
So I felt like, Okay, they asked me to preach. That's what I do. Why wouldn't I go preach to the President?
Your friend Louie Giglio got caught in the firestorm precisely because someone in the administration was embarrassed to be associated with him. Did that affect your participation?
It impacted me in this way: Louie and I are, as you mentioned, the best of friends. We talked about this extensively, but I didn't counsel him. He did not need counsel. He's so wise, and he has great people around him. But we talked about it. I believe he made the right decision by choosing not to go. It's like if you invite me to your wedding, and suddenly I become known for something that is a concern to the guests. The right thing for me to do is to call and say, "It's your wedding. If my presence is going to be a distraction, out of respect for you, I'm choosing not to attend."
Star Trek Into Darkness
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audrey ruth
Lillian, if Obama is our "pastor-in-chief", then it is his duty to call sin what it really is. Abortion really is murder and same-gender "marriage" really is an abomination in God's sight. However, Obama has been outspoken in supporting these sins, even advocating the death of babies after they are born (the Born Alive act). This is one reason it was so abominable for Andy Stanley to call Obama our "pastor-in-chief". God's purpose for those whom He has called to lead His church has always been for them to call the nations' leaders to repentance -- as Samuel did King Saul, as Nathan did King David, as Elijah did King Ahab, among others. BUT Andy Stanley did not take his calling seriously. Instead, he chose to flatter an unGodly leader who has chosen to defy God time and time again in his stands on important issues. It is disappointing that Stanley supported Obama in his rebellion against God instead of calling for repentance. As you said, he (and Obama) will answer to God.
Robert McKenzie
Lillian, I think the point many of us made is Andy did not preach the Gospel. He basically challenged the audience to use their power to do good. Noble and maybe it will even make some worldly difference. But it's not the Gospel. I'm not a Bible scholar, but I can't think of any examples of Christ or the apostles deferring deliverning the Gospel so they could "build bridges" first . But that's what Andy and the Purpose Driven pastors believe and teach. Even if they are correct, Andy still missed it here. He was invited there TO PREACH. The bridge was already built. He got the invitation. He decided a real sermon was too risky. There is a difference in preaching things that are true and preaching The Truth. The PDC leadership is very skilled at lectures and life coach presentations on true principles. They are woefully shallow on presenting The Truth. Jesus Christ, Him being crucified and resurrected and our only access to God. Andy got no where near that sermon.
Lillian Logan
Pastor Andy Stanley is a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He preaches to all people regardless of what they think or believe about certain issues. God didn't say just preach, pray or teach to certain people. He says go into all the world and preach the gospel. There are people in all the world who believe and do any and everything which entail ungodly and godly things. I think it is an honor to be asked by the President to speak at his gathering. God bless Pastor Stanley. God hates all sins. He doesn't hate some and love others. Sin is sin whether it be murder, sex immorality, lying, hate or whatever. He is the Judge who will deal with all sin in the end. Each individual need to be certain his/her own life is pleasing to God.