#52. Andy Stanley
If Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose-Driven Life,” is the Michael Jordan of American Churches, then Andy Stanley is the Scottie Pippen. He’s not flashy or sensational or all that driven to climb the “church ladder to the top.” He’s just an emotionally honest, easy to understand, intelligent minister that delivers some ridiculously good sermons. But the reason we really like him is that he says things most ministers don’t. Here’s an example:
Alpharetta, where Stanley’s church is, happens to be full of really, really, really hot people. This isn’t an exact number, but roughly 87% of the residents of Alpharetta are attractive. And as attractive people are prone to do when the weather gets warm, they dress up a little. They wear a little less clothing, try to look hip and hot and then go to church. Andy started noticing that the audience on Sunday was getting a little “clubbish” so one morning from the stage he addressed the issue. This is a paraphrase but captures the point:
“I know it’s fun to dress up, but I have to warn you, unless people start putting on more clothes when they come to church I’m going to progressively raise the air conditioning until it’s freezing in here.”
I heart a minister that can drop biblical bombs from the book of Galatians and then tell his members, “hey, a little less skank please.” I am a big fan of Andy Stanley and you should be too.
