I must admit that I was suspicious of what I would find even before I cracked open the book "How Good is Good Enough?" by Andy Stanley. Stanley has made his theology clear, and I would argue that he is wrong on a number of points. Still, I wanted to see what he had to say about the most important topic each of us must consider during this lifetime: our eternal destination, and how to plan for it.
This book claims to address "what it really takes" to get to heaven. This is a powerful claim by the author, and one that has the potential to save or derail many people. Let's take a peek inside.
Stanley claims early, while talking about the common belief that good people go to heaven, "Every major world religion subscribes to the notion that our deeds here on earth determine our destination in the afterlife." (pg 21)
We could debate endlessly what Stanley means by "deeds" or "religion" I suppose, and this brings to the table early the problem with books such as this one: it remains nebulous enough to make it hard to pin anything down. Is Stanley including Biblical Christianity in his survey? Does he not consider Biblical Christianity a religion? There is enough squishy-ness here to make even a long-term politician admire the wiggle room he cuts out for plausible deniability. Unfortunately, Stanley is a pastor who should be clear in his message and take a firm position on the truth. Early on in this book, one wonders if that will be possible.
Stanley next makes the curious claim that the Old Testament is of no help, and specifically claims that "there is no connection between the Ten Commandments and heaven. None. Nada. Zero. It doesn't exist." (pg 40)
How any serious student of the Bible can make such a claim is beyond me, unless he is purposely attempting to redefine God's plan. The Bible is clear that the Ten Commandments are a mirror that reveal our sinful nature. They are a tutor to lead us to Christ. They expose the futility of trying to live a good life, and clearly reveal that there is "none good but God."
Stanley soon dismisses the entirety of the Old Testament as "a system of rules to live by" with "no eternal ramifications to keeping or breaking God's law." (pg 43) He even states that the Old Testament "seemingly ignores the issues of eternity". (pg 43) What of passages such as Isaiah 66:24, which clearly teaches that transgressions (breaking the law of God) will result in eternal torment? Look also to Isaiah 1:28, which warns that sinners will be crushed and those who forsake the Lord are doomed. Look too at Psalm 9:5, "You [God] have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever." Who are the wicked? Those who transgress God's law. What happens to them? They are blotted out forever. These points are repeated and clarified in the New Testament in verses such as Second Thessalonians 1:8-9.
The Bible is not a collection of disassociated books, like Stanley implies here, it is God's revelation to mankind of His redemptive plan of salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
As Stanley begins to get to the heart of his argument, he plays loose and fast again with the truth. In rapid succession he states that "Jesus taught that good people don't go to heaven." (pg 49) and states that this idea "was so unsettling that Jewish religious leaders had the man arrested and crucified" for it. Nonsense. Jewish leaders had Jesus arrested and crucified for claiming to be God, not for teaching that "good people don't go to heaven". Even this claim that "Jesus taught that good people don't go to heaven" is twisting scripture mightily. Christ went well beyond this Kindergarten-level exegesis by teaching there is "none good, not one." He was building upon the Old Testament declaration of Jeremiah that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;" (Jer 17:9, KJV)
We get additional insight into Stanley's mind-set when he proclaims judgment upon God on page 53. After showing that Christ magnified the Ten Commandments prohibition on adultery by stating that God also examines the heart, regardless of the completion of the act (Matt 5:27-28), Stanley dares to state, "Now that's not fair, and certainly not reasonable." Dangerous ground indeed.
This also is where Stanley begins to go completely off-track with his understanding of the gospel. He ends Chapter 7 speaking of how Jesus seemed to contradict Himself when he assured "bad people" that they had a place reserved in heaven while the "best people" did not. In fact, what Christ was pointing out was that unless people recognize their sinfulness, humble themselves, repent and believe the gospel (that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah) they would not be saved.
Stanley's misunderstanding of repentance is evident a number of places following this poor introduction in Chapter 7. Not only through the balance of this little book but also on his church web-site. It is clearly shown, for example, in his discussion of what happened at Calvary with the salvation of one of those crucified alongside Christ. According to Stanley there was "no turning over a new leaf" for the thief who asked Christ for mercy. Yet, it is clear from scripture that the thief did exactly that. Read Luke 23:39-43,
One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" But the other" [criminal] "answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." (NASB)
This is the Biblical model for salvation through repentance and faith. Note that the first criminal was defiant to the truth, even taunting the Lord on the cross, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" His heart was deceitful and wicked, with no humility or sorrow.
The second criminal was completely different. He was sorrowful, "we indeed suffer justly". He was humble, "we are receiving what we deserve". He was repentant, "do you not even fear God?" and realized his lost state without salvation. He then sought expressed his faith in Jesus Christ. "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom." This last statement was an admission of who Christ is, and His power to save. It was an act of faith and a hope for the future.
Stanley sees only part of the picture, and for that his book is to be avoided.
Stanley does point out that most worldviews and religions get this all wrong by believing that good people go to heaven. It is unfortunate that he then scrambles the true message of hope that God offers for those who will repent and believe in the gospel.
In Part II of this book, Stanley focuses in on the forgiveness offered by God, and gets the basic idea right. It is a shame that he neglects to point out that forgiveness is not possible without humility and repentance. Scripture is clear that darkness has no place in light, and that those who continue in sin are of the devil. Stanley ignores these warnings. He apparently hopes he can charm people into agreeing with the easy part of the gospel (accepting unconditional forgiveness) without having to change anything about their sinful lives. The Bible teaches otherwise, and a clear warning for those who follow the easy path (described as "the wide gate" in Matthew 7:13) is given in Matt 7:15-23:
Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'
Stanley clings to the mistaken view that "believing in Him is the only requirement" for salvation, but the Bible teaches otherwise. "Even the demons believe, and shudder." - James 2:19
Given the choice between the entirety of the Bible, and Stanley's interpretation, I will choose the Bible. I hope you do too.
There will be many who die believing they are Christians, who have some level of confidence that they will breeze into heaven on the day of Judgment. But many will be wrong. Please do not be led astray by the ravenous wolves who would lead you off the true path. Recognize your sin, repent (turn from it with a firm commitment to avoid sin with the help of the Holy Spirit) and put your trust in Jesus Christ to save you. He will save you, you cannot save yourself. Trust Him now. Today is the day of true salvation.
