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Book Review - How Good Is Good Enough?
- 09/16/04
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It takes a brave man to write another book geared towards convincing unbelievers that being good simply isn't enough to earn God's favor. There are so many similar books available and most unbelievers have heard the arguments so many times that they simply fall on deaf ears. Andy Stanley, though, wrote How Good Is Good Enough? to cover this topic one more time and he covers it admirably.
The book is based around the premise that every religion other than Christianity is based on the premise that good deeds can earn us a favorable place in the afterlife. This, the world's most popular theory about heaven, falls flat when examined in depth, and Stanley examines it thoroughly. He asks the usual questions ("if you were to stand before God and He were to ask why He should let you get into heaven, what would you say?") and uses the familiar arguments ("Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic or exactly who He said He was") yet somehow avoids making the book fell like it is filled with nothing but clich. Perhaps the fact that it is written conversationally, almost as if Stanley was sitting in a room with you and just sharing his faith, makes it feel different. It is filled with examples from his own life and ministry, giving it a sense of genuineness.
The book is divided into two sections. The first speaks about common understandings of God, the afterlife and how we can secure a place in heaven. The second section presents the Christian alternative to the arguments of other religions. Stanley shows, for example, how a common objection to the reality of heaven and hell is that sending people to hell is not fair. To counter this, he presents God as merciful rather than fair, for fairness would condemn us all to hell.
How Good Is Good Enough? concludes with a prayer and the author is careful to point out that faith, not a prayer, is what saves. The prayer covers sin, the fact that we deserve punishment and the reality of Jesus' substitution.
Theologically this book was solid, and examining it from my Calvinist viewpoint I found no significant shortcomings. Especially noteworthy was that the author used a solid Bible translation throughout and did not "dumb down" the message of the gospel and neither did he rob it of its power by giving only half the story. This is the good ol' fashioned gospel presented honestly and powerfully.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and recommend it as a gift for a friend or family member who does not believe. It is easy to read, short (a mere 92 pages) and covers the topic as well as any similar book I've read.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (2)
Andy Stanley’s book, How Good is Good Enough, leaves the reader with the impression that bad people who believe in Jesus will go to heaven. (The part about “doing works meet for repentance” after one has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to be his Savior is completely absent from this so-called evangelistic book.)
Stanley’s message to his readers is that salvation is about God forgiving bad people…and the strong implication that is reinforced on the next-to-the-last page, is that they will remain bad. This is contrary to the teachings of the entire New Testament.
Bad people (the children of darkness) get saved by grace through faith (it is the gift of God lest any man should boast), but they do not remain bad, or enslaved to Satan in opposition to God’s will. Rather, they choose to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, which is also known in scripture as walking in the light. Those who are led of the Spirit do not continue to be morally bad. Instead, they shine as lights in this world because they now belong to the Father of lights. (Phil. 2:15, James 1:17)
Consider how Andy Stanley contrasts being being good (morally upright) with being forgiven:
“Good people don’t go to heaven. Forgiven people go to heaven.” pg 90
According to Stanely, those with good moral character (good people) do not go to heaven.
“Jesus taught that good people don’t go to heaven.” pg 49
Andy Stanely’s statements are in opposition to Biblical precepts.
Forgiven people become morally upright in practice as they learn what the grace that brings salvation teaches:
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 2:12
Those who are learning what the grace of God teaches become increasingly conformed to the image of God’s dear Son. In no way do truly saved people remain bad (morally corrupt) in their conduct. “The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim. 2:19
To remain in a state of badness is to be overcome by the world, the flesh, and the devil. “For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 Jn. 5:4
Those who enter into the heavenly city are not “bad” or conformed to the world. They are overcomers and keep the works of Jesus until the end.
The church is filled with people who continue to practice iniquity while believing that Jesus is their savior. Jesus will “profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Mat 7:23
Contrary to Andy Stanely’s thesis, bad people (those who are in rebellion to God’s authority over their lives) do NOT go to heaven. Bad people get forgiven (all have sinned and come short of the glory of God) but bad people do not REMAIN in a morally bad state because God is both just and forgiving.
God is JUST, and He is not unjust or unfair when he forgives sinners from the consequences of their sins. Jesus satisfied His Father’s wrath and thus God was able to be merciful while maintaining his perfect justice or fairness.
NO one gets saved by being good, but faith in the blood of Jesus enables the one who lives by that faith to walk in a way that is worthy of the author of their salvation. , “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Heb. 5:9 The grace that justifies is also the grace the purifies.
Stanley pitted being morally upright with going to heaven.
“Good people don’t go to heaven. Forgiven people go to heaven.” pg 90
This statement sends the message that being forgiven is the opposite of being righteous, or right in one’s conduct in the sight of God. The Bible says the righteous are scarcely saved and the opposite of the righteous (the ungodly and the sinner) will not go to heaven: And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1Pe 4:18
Those with an unfeigned faith have a good conscience. (1 Tim. 1:5) Those who remain bad (morally corrupt) have a bad conscience. Those who enter into the gates of the city are not people who are forgiven and continue to practice bad conduct. Those who enter the gates WERE bad people who became forgiven by the grace of God and as a result, walked in the light of God’s word and were changed into the image of God’s dear Son.
Never does Andy Stanely explain that bad people get saved by grace but they may do not remain bad in their conduct. This statement, which is found at the end of his book, cements this false notion into the minds of his readers:
“The word gospel means ‘good news.’ The good news is that good people don’t go to heaven—forgiven people do.” page 92
The unmistakeable message is that being forgiven by God has nothing to do with being morally changed from darkness to light. Rather, his message is that bad people must exercise faith in Jesus to be their savior, and that the life they live as a resuslt of their faith is irrelevant as long as they are enlightened enough to know that Jesus is their savior.
If you die in a filthy (bad) state, you will remain that way for eternity:
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Lisa Rubyhttp://www.libertytothecaptives.net
(If you decide to publish this, please post this copy rather than the first one I submitted. I believe the other post contained typos and spelling errors.)
Andy Stanley’s book, How Good is Good Enough, leaves the reader with the impression that bad people who believe in Jesus will go to heaven—even if they remain bad after they believe. The part about “doing works meet for repentance” after one has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to be his Savior is completely absent from this so-called evangelistic book.
Stanley’s message to his readers is that salvation is about God forgiving bad people…and the strong implication that is reinforced on the next-to-the-last page, is that they will remain bad. This is contrary to the teachings of the entire New Testament.
Bad people (the children of darkness) get saved by grace through faith (it is the gift of God lest any man should boast), but they do not remain bad, or enslaved to Satan in opposition to God’s will. Rather, they choose to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, which is also known in scripture as walking in the light. Those who are led of the Spirit do not continue to be morally bad. Instead, they shine as lights in this world because they now belong to the Father of lights. (Phil. 2:15, James 1:17)
Consider how Andy Stanley contrasts being being good (morally upright) with being forgiven:
“Good people don’t go to heaven. Forgiven people go to heaven.” pg 90
According to Stanley, those with good moral character (good people) do not go to heaven.
“Jesus taught that good people don’t go to heaven.” pg 49
Andy Stanley’s statements are in opposition to Biblical precepts.
Forgiven people become morally upright in practice as they learn what the grace that brings salvation teaches:
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 2:12
Those who are learning what the grace of God teaches become increasingly conformed to the image of God’s dear Son. In no way do truly saved people remain bad (morally corrupt) in their conduct. “The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim. 2:19
To remain in a state of badness is to be overcome by the world, the flesh, and the devil. “For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 Jn. 5:4
Those who enter into the heavenly city are not “bad” or conformed to the world. They are overcomers and keep the works of Jesus until the end.
The church is filled with people who continue to practice iniquity while believing that Jesus is their savior. Jesus will “profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Mat 7:23
Contrary to Andy Stanley’s thesis, bad people (those who are in rebellion to God’s authority over their lives) do NOT go to heaven. Bad people get forgiven (all have sinned and come short of the glory of God) but bad people do not REMAIN in a morally bad state because God is both just and forgiving.
God is JUST; He is not unjust or unfair when he forgives sinners from the consequences of their sins. Jesus satisfied His Father’s wrath and thus God was able to be merciful while maintaining his perfect justice or fairness.
NO one gets saved by being good, but faith in the blood of Jesus enables the one who lives by that faith to walk in a way that is worthy of the author of their salvation:”And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Heb. 5:9 The grace that justifies is also the grace the purifies.
Stanley pitted being morally upright with going to heaven.
“Good people don’t go to heaven. Forgiven people go to heaven.” pg 90
This statement sends the message that being forgiven is the opposite of being righteous, or right in one’s conduct in the sight of God. The Bible says the righteous are scarcely saved and the opposite of the righteous (the ungodly and the sinner) will not go to heaven: And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1Pe 4:18
Those with an unfeigned faith have a good conscience. (1 Tim. 1:5) Those who remain bad (morally corrupt) have a bad conscience. Those who enter into the gates of the city are not people who are forgiven and continue to practice bad conduct. Those who enter the gates WERE bad people who became forgiven by the grace of God and as a result, walked in the light of God’s word and were changed into the image of God’s dear Son.
Never does Andy Stanley explain that bad people get saved by grace but they may do not remain bad in their conduct. This statement, which is found at the end of his book, cements the subliminal message, “bad people go to heaven” into the minds of his readers:
“The word gospel means ‘good news.’ The good news is that good people don’t go to heaven—forgiven people do.” page 92
The unmistakable message is that being forgiven by God has nothing to do with being morally changed from darkness to light. Rather, his message is that bad people must exercise faith in Jesus to be their savior, and that the life they live as a result of their faith is irrelevant as long as they are enlightened enough to know that Jesus is their savior.
If you die in a filthy (bad) state, you will remain that way for eternity:
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Lisa Ruby