Should we unhitch Christianity from the Old Testament? Andy Stanley vs Jeff Durbin

Key takeaways

Andy Stanley argues that the foundation of Christian faith should be the events of the New Testament, specifically Jesus' resurrection, rather than the authority of the Bible as a whole.
Jeff Durbin emphasizes the need to uphold the inerrancy and authority of both the Old and New Testaments for effective apologetics and evangelism.
The podcast discusses contrasting methods in presenting the Christian faith, weighing the importance of historical events against the continuity and relevance of Old Testament law.
The New Covenant calls Christians to love one another as Christ loved us, shifting the focus from merely following laws to embodying God's love in action.
Both contributors agree on the importance of Scripture but differ on how to integrate the Old Testament into contemporary faith practices.

Summary

Introduction to the Debate

In this episode, Justin Briley hosts a thought-provoking debate between Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point Ministries, and Jeff Durbin from Apologia Studios. They delve into whether Christianity should be unhitch from the Old Testament, a topic that has stirred controversy since Andy's new book 'Irresistible: Reclaiming the New That Jesus Unleashed for the World' was released. This book claims that the events documented in the New Testament about Jesus should be the foundation of Christian faith, rather than the Bible as a whole.

Understanding the Old Testament's Role

Andy argues that to reach a post-Christian audience effectively, Christians do not need to defend the Old Testament. Instead, they can point directly to the New Testament's accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. However, Jeff counters this by stressing the importance of both Testaments as a cohesive narrative that is foundational for faith and apologetics. He believes that the early church did not separate the Old from the New Testament but saw them both as integral to understanding Christ.

Apologetics Methodology

The discussion highlights contrasting methodologies in apologetics. Andy emphasizes a sequential approach focusing on the resurrection of Jesus as sufficient proof for faith in Him, while Jeff advocates for a presuppositional approach that holds the inerrancy of the entire Bible as crucial. Jeff believes that the shortcomings of the secular world stem from a rejection of God's Word, insisting that believers must uphold the authority of Scripture in evangelization.

Loving God and Neighbor: A New Covenant Perspective

Andy discusses that, under the New Covenant, believers are called to love one another as Christ loved us, implying that the emphasis should not strictly be on adhering to the Old Testament laws. He argues for a simplified approach that prioritizes love over legalism. In contrast, Jeff reinforces that Jesus' teachings, including the moral directives that find their roots in Old Testament law, should still inform how Christians live out their faith today.

Final Thoughts on the Debate

The conversation culminated in a deeper reflection on how the Old Testament laws reflect God's character and His desire for justice and righteousness. Andy reiterates that the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the Apostles provide a clearer, fuller picture of what it means to live faithfully today, emphasizing the invitation into a loving relationship with God as the primary focus of Christian life.

Show notes

Andy Stanley is lead pastor of North Point Ministries, one of the largest churches in the USA. His preaching and new book ‘Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World’ has caused controversy by stating that the Bible should not be the foundation of Christian faith.

To make faith irresistible once more to sceptics in a post-Christian world, believers are not required to defend the Old Testament, but point to the events documented by the New Testament about Jesus - his life, death and resurrection.

Jeff Durbin of Apologia Studios responds to Andy, saying that Christians need to stand on the inerrancy of the whole Bible - Old and New Testament - when evangelising non-Christians.

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For ‘Irresistible' by Andy Stanley: https://andystanley.com/resources/

For Jeff Durbin: https://apologiastudios.com

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