Andy Wood Is Compromised On Homosexuality

The announcement of Rick Warren’s replacement invited scrutiny on both Andy Wood and Echo Church. The first thing that discernment bloggers appeared to have uncovered was his compromised stance on homosexuality. In a sermon titled, “What Does the Bible Say About LGBTQ+? | You Asked For It (Pt. 4)” delivered in April 2018, Andy Wood teaches side b theology. Side b theology teaches that only homosexual behavior is sinful as opposed to the desire and identity. 

Andy Wood begins by talking about how this is a complicated issue and how he did so much research and preparation for this sermon, more than any other he’s ever given. Yet on a sermon on what the Bible says about homosexuality and transgenderism, he doesn’t talk about transgenderism hardly at all. Additionally, the verses about homosexuality he draws exclusively from the New Testament, focusing the nigh entirety on 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. But answering what the Bible says about homosexuality is exceedingly simple, just unpopular. In any case, the research did not show.

Ironically, in part of the sermon where Andy Wood defines sin, he uses the Billy Graham definition which specifies thoughts and actions. How homosexual desires do not fall under thoughts which separate a man from God, is a logical disconnect in one self-contained sermon.

⁹ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NASB1995

On this passage of focus, Andy Wood makes the argument that Paul is exclusively condemning homosexual acts, not desires. But the verse clearly uses identities to juxtapose people’s old selves with their new selves in Christ. Moreover, “nor the covetous” refers to a sin of desire, thus debunking Wood’s entire point.

When Christians are washed and sanctified by Christ (verse 11), we gain a new identity in Him. Andy Wood continues to label these people according to their sinful identity (in large part because of the language our culture uses). The homosexual and transvestite identity is wholly incompatible with the Christian identity.

Conclusions

Andy Wood is teaching side b theology which denies the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, and, in Wood’s case, denies the implications of Original Sin. Additionally, he has adopted many underlying premises in his lecture which were not of the Bible. Lastly, the sermon amounts to clickbait as there are many questions left unanswered.