I went to this church once because my girlfriend k...

I went to this church once because my girlfriend kept encouraging me to go, but I didn't appreciate what Andy Stanley had to say....

When Mr. Stanley first came on stage, he talked about a class they were having and encouraged people to check it out and register at the information table in the lobby. He said, "If you're nervous or afraid, just give them a fake name or tell them you're there for someone else," and then he laughed. On the one hand, you could say he was joking, but on the other hand, I think he was sort-of serious. Either way, I didn't think it was funny that the Head Minister of this church was encouraging people to lie - even if he was half-joking.

The experience gave me the impression that Mr. Stanley was revealing an aspect of his personality by telling the congregation, "It's ok to lie if you're nervous and it makes things easier." Personally, I think that lying is wimpy and it's a sign of poor character. A lot of people in our society think it's ok to lie if it suits your needs, but I disagree! People with good character tell the truth, even when they're feeling uncomfortable. Sorry, but I'm not going to be a member of a church who's leader is a wimp!