About Philip
Growing up in a strict, fundamentalist church in the southern USA, a young Philip Yancey tended to view God as “a scowling Supercop, searching for anyone who might be having a good time—in order to squash them.” Yancey jokes today about being in recovery from a toxic church. “Of course, there were good qualities too. If a neighbor’s house burned down, the congregation would rally around and show charity—if, that is, the house belonged to a white person. I grew up confused by the contradictions. We heard about love and grace, but I didn’t experience much. And we were taught that God answers prayers, miraculously, but my father died of polio just after my first birthday, despite many prayers for his healing.”
For Yancey, reading offered a window to a different world. So, he devoured books that opened his mind, challenged his upbringing, and went against what he had been taught. A sense of betrayal engulfed him. “I felt I had been lied to. For instance, what I learned from a book like To Kill a Mockingbird or Black Like Me contradicted the racism I encountered in church. I went through a period of reacting against everything I was taught, and even discarding my faith. I began my journey back mainly by encountering a world very different than I had been taught, an expansive world of beauty and goodness. Along the way I realized that God had been misrepresented to me. Cautiously, warily, I returned, circling around the faith to see if it might be true.”
Ever since, Yancey has explored the most basic questions and deepest mysteries of the Christian faith, guiding millions of readers with him. Early on he crafted best-selling books such as Disappointment with God and Where is God When it Hurts? while also editing The Student Bible. He coauthored three books with the renowned surgeon Dr. Paul Brand. “No one has influenced me more,” he says. “We had quite a trade: I gave words to his faith, and in the process he gave faith to my words.” In time, he has explored central matters of the Christian faith, penning award-winning titles such as The Jesus I Never Knew, What’s So Amazing About Grace? and Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? His books have garnered 13 Gold Medallion Awards from Christian publishers and booksellers. He currently has more than 17 million books in print, published in over 50 languages worldwide. In his memoir, Where the Light Fell, Yancey recalls his lifelong journey from strict fundamentalism to a life dedicated to a search for grace and meaning, thus providing a type of prequel to all his other books.
Yancey worked as a journalist in Chicago for some twenty years, editing the youth magazine Campus Life while also writing for a wide variety of magazines. In the process he interviewed diverse people enriched by their personal faith, such as President Jimmy Carter, Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller, and Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement. In 1992 he and his wife Janet, a social worker and hospice chaplain, moved to the foothills of Colorado, and his writing took a more personal, introspective turn.
“I write books for myself,” he says. “I’m a pilgrim, recovering from a bad church upbringing, searching for a faith that makes its followers larger and not smaller. Writing became for me a way of deconstructing and reconstructing faith. I feel overwhelming gratitude that I can make a living exploring the issues that most interest me.
“I tend to go back to the Bible as a model, because I don’t know a more honest book. I can’t think of any argument against God that isn’t already included in the Bible. To those who struggle with my books, I reply, ‘Then maybe you shouldn’t be reading them.’ Yet some people do need the kinds of books I write. They’ve been burned by the church, or they’re upset about certain aspects of Christianity. I understand that feeling of disappointment, even betrayal. I feel called to speak to those living in the borderlands of faith.”
Judge righteous judgement.
Thanks for the idea. After 45 years of marriage I have learned a few things and maybe it’s time to collect them!
Philip
Hi Philip,
It’s one of my favorite times of the year: Christianaudio.com does their $7.49 sale. One of the places I start off is to see what you’ve been up to lately, and expand my search from there. I often get sentimental thinking how you’ve affected my journey, which we have shared for about 20 years now. You helped to put me squarely on a path to liberation. To understand “freedom in Christ” over canned answers, cliche and religiosity. You have helped me understand how to breathe. To examine and live in the presence of God, in countless ways that I never would have considered. To be honest (or “TBH, Dad…” as my girls now say to me). I have danced through phases and seasons, and been dragged through others, but my faith is intact, and even maybe even grown, in the process. Thank you for being part of that process.
I’ve always told people that one day I would have lunch with you and David Robinson. Together or individually, it doesn’t matter. The Admiral, of course, is the linchpin of the San Antonio Spurs (I’m a 40 year fan) dynasty, and an outstanding example of God’s grace and character. You are, besides the Spurs part, the same. Again, thank you. If you are ever floating through Phoenix, AZ, where we now live, you are welcome to shoot me an email and I’ll set up our lunch, as I’m sure I’ve been on your list, as well. 😉 God bless you and Patty. Thank you for being my friend these many years.
Greg Bennett
What a grace-filled note, Greg. Surely that’s the only time I’ve been linked with David Robinson. I’m a lot easier lunch date than the Admiral. I’ve only been to Phoenix once, for some golf, but I have some good friends there, so don’t be surprised if you can check that one off someday. Sometimes I wish I did have simpler, more formulaic answers. Your letter reminds me why I don’t. You affirm and encourage me.
Re: When Mourning and Dancing touch each other
Dear Philip,
My life was so complicated.
Mid-year last year the doctor identified my daughter -12 years old – autoimmune, and advised us to undergo steroid and medical treatment for two years. We found out that her sickness did not allow her to go out and being exposed under the sun, as it would trigger her immune system to attack her skin and her mussle. She was so mature when facing this, despite of her limitation on movement last year. Her mussle was tickened-stiff and blocked the joint, so she could not move the way normal people move. At the lowest point of her illness, she sometimes falled down when walking, because her weak mussle could not withstand the weight of her body.
Few months after my daughter was identified autoimmune, my Mother-in-law at the same time was diagnosed cancer. The shocking part was that the cancer was carsinoma, a fast-growing cancer cell ever amongst other type of cancer. The cancer was on her womb and was suspected to have spread out outside womb.
Earlier in June 2013, My Dad was sentenced 3.5 years by the judge and they made him locked in prison, because the District Attorney suspected him to work with his company’s partner on corruption at Government airport project in East Indonesia. All evidences and proof led to denial of corruption exist in the project was presented; expert from prominent University in Indonesia were brougt to the Court for their expert opinion. Despite of possitive result from the defense, the Judge decided that “indicated-corruption statement” was sufficient to derive conclusion of guilty as charged.
My Dad was a devoted Christian and he never committed the crime he was accused. When the verdict was brought forward, I could not stand and stayed silent with tears. Even days after that final judgement, I was not able to focus on my work – life seemed too heavy to face.
My wife and I had the same feeling on this situation: On the one hand, we wanted to trust God and know that He has beautiful plan for us; on the other hand, it seemed too difficult to understand why all of these happened at the same time. Why God let His children to face prison, critical illness, and the autoimmune disease that none was sure on the cure.
Your book and writing made me see that beyond this pain, we could still see joy surounding. And when God did not answer our pray the way we wanted, it did not mean He leave us alone in our struggle.
When Dad was on trial, many friends at Churh sent encouraging messages for him regularly, to be strong and to trust God. Hundreds of church members formed a prayer rallies for him. A small tact team, form Legal Ministry – mostly lawyers, voluntarily supported Dad for legal advice. They directed us to work with four senior Lawyers to defend his case, flew regularly to the city where Dad was being charged.
During his years in prison, many church members, pastors and prominent law expert in the country paid a visit. Local church and Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship organized prayer circle and support for Dad. Lately when he was given permit to go out from prison to serve in community, Dad went regularly to student fellowships to lead bible study and English course. He began to gain back his life and ministry, in the midst of an uncomfortable and unpleasant “life”.
His remission status came several times in a year and it served as deduction for his sentenced. This week my Dad went home.
My daughter gradually showed progress. During last visit this week the Doctor was happy to see her progress, as she was able to join normal activities like the other teens: ballet, choir and school organization.
This week is special. A week before Christmas, and we got our double presents: My Dad’s remission and my daughter’s good progress.
Few months before, my mother-in-law illness finally was cured. Miracle during her surgery – the doctor could not find the cancer spread as per their prediction. The doctor declared her status free from cancer, post operation and surgery.
When God closed one door, and He seemed did not open the other doors, my wife and I were very thankful, because we could see the windows were wide open for us to see His miracle and unfailing love through friends, church and families.
It was you and your book that reminded me that mourning and dancing could touch each other; and they actually embraced each other in my life. Your books were the one who told me to believe, it was God’s plan that eventually revealed in my family’s life.
Lastly, these months we felt that God brought us so many people who are in needs – autoimmune, cancer, and one of my office member of the Board who was also imprisoned – similar case to my Dad. Those whom we are able to support them with our presence, care and thoughts for them to go through their pain. That was because my wife and I once went through that similar situation.
Thank you for your books (Prayer does it make a difference, and Reaching for the invisible God). Thank you that you are able to help us see God’s love through our journey, and also His plan for us along the way. Thank you for letting us know that when lives seemed so complicated, we have our simplest mode in coming to God – through trust and prayer. It was your book who made me look and understand that through pain, God revealed His plan for us.
May our great God grant you wisdom to write more so that you can continue become a blessing for others in pain and those in great agony.
Brother and sister in Christ,
Thomas & Joyce