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.”
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Hi Philip,
I have a million and one questions, but I will just start from this one. I’ve read almost all your books, and let me start by thanking you for helping me see grace for what or should I say who he really is. Thank you for asking and bringing up the questions that are rarely spoken about, and helping me understand that my occasional doubt is necessary for deeper reaches and experiences with God. I read your book on prayer (Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?) at a time I too was having many struggles with prayer; still am, but hopefully getting better. I noticed you didn’t write anything on Praying (or speaking) in tongues. I’m sure you have an opinion on the matter. I’d like to hear what you think, and no I do not expect you to have all the answers I’m looking for, but probably reading what you have to say would help me see it in a different light. Thank you in advance.
Interesting question. Since I’ve not had that particular gift, and try to focus on “mere Christianity,” I haven’t spoken about it. It’s true, of course, that a huge percentage of Christians worldwide practice that gift.
Hi Philip, I have been looking everywhere to see if there may be a small group study guide that you or someone else may have written as a companion to the book “In the Likeness of God” that you co-wrote with Dr. Paul Brand. Does one exist? I was so inspired by that book and the practical applications to life in the Body of Christ.
No, one does not exist. However! In about a year you’ll see an entirely new edition that combines the two books with Dr. Brand, updating the medicine, cutting duplication, and improving the text. And a person is currently working on a study guide for this new book.
Hello Philip. I have read your books for a good many years now and found enormous comfort and guidance in your writing. Lately I have been reading John Stott’s book “Through the Bible Through the Year” and was finding it quite helpful. Today I read these words: “Although I believe that my readers come from different churches or denominations, at least two things surely unite us. Firstly, we are all committed to the church. At least, I hope we are. I hope that none of my readers is that grotesque anomaly – an unchurched Christian-for the New Testament knows nothing of such a monster!…” This really upset me. I have tried to fit-in with a local church for 9 years, but have recently left because I found no real warmth, or friendship there, even though I was a steward for a number of years and was involved with making coffee on the church rota. I am trying new churches, but I often feel a bit of a ‘loner’. My lovely wife does not attend church with me, or share in regular bible reading, but she does believe in God. She attended the Alpha Course voluntarily a good few years ago and was confirmed in the Church of England, but was put-off when she tried to get involved – especially as secretary with the Church Parish Council. She became disillusioned with some other Christians and the attitude of the church in general. This has left me torn between church and the wife I adore. I cannot feel it’s right to leave her on her own regularly, even though she would never stop me. She is the ‘bread-winner’ and works very hard for us and I feel that, as a Christian, love begins at home. Therefore, my church attendance has been pretty erratic and, at the moment, I find it hard to go at all. I pray and read every day and feel that I have a close relationship with our Heavenly Father, although I know full well that I still have enormous growing to do in my relationship with Him. Am I an “anomaly” and a “monster” because of this? I just need some reassurance. I’ve always trusted your words. I feel pretty lonely at times as a Christian ( and I realise that my erratic church attendance hasn’t helped). I don’t seem to feel much sympathy from other Christians and John Stott’s comments have not helped in this respect – I just feel more alienated. I’ve wanted to talk to my local vicars to discuss my situation, but they never seem to find the time. That’s why, in desperation, I’m contacting you. At least I feel warmth and love in your writing. Thank you in anticipation of your time and attention.
To me, Stott’s comment seems harsh, uncharacteristic of him. I sometimes counsel people to “take a vacation from church” after a wounding episode–and churches seem to specialize in those. I know that in the U.K., where it seems you’re from, it can be very difficult to find a church with a sense of nourishing community, a church that also shows spiritual vitality and opportunities for service (and not just in U.K.!). I would encourage you to keep looking, because in my experience those who stay away from church for long, seldom go back, and the coal removed from the fire loses heat. The problem is finding the right fire! Don’t let the guilt get to you as that’s not usually a good motivator. Rather, keep searching, and try to look at church not just as a place to nourish you, but one where you can nourish others.
Philip,
Thank you so much for your book “Whats So Amazing About Grace?”! I first read it about 8 years ago when something in me began to search for grace after years and years of growing up in a fundamentalist church and attending a very legalistic christian college. Our stories (and many of the details) are eerily similar. You and I even exchanged emails for a time. Even though I couldn’t muster the ability to trust Jesus after reading your book, I had a life changing encounter with him last year, which changed everything. He has healed a lot of my hurt and set the record straight for me in many areas. I have even been able to get involved in a church without throwing up every Sunday (really – a freaking miracle). I felt so inspired by what I have learned from Him (before I even entered the church doors and received influence from imperfect people), I began to journal. My writings have now prompted me to start the journey of writing a book (an art form that I know nothing about!) that helps people that were hurt by the church find Christ outside of the church. I am living proof that church is not necessary to the equation, and I want to share it. Understanding grace, as you know, is a huge part of that.
I was wondering if you did any consulting and, if so, information on your rates. There are some sensitive and controversial aspects to this book that I need help navigating, and “Whats So Amazing…” is just that. Bravo!
Wonderful story, Christina. I’m so glad you filled me in. I’m also glad you’ve started writing. I wish I could offer editorial help, but I’m so far behind on my own deadlines that I have no time for any other projects for the foreseeable future. You might try Writing For Your Life. There are services out there that offer just what you’re asking. –Philip
I understand! The “Writing” area of your site is very helpful as well. I am sorry I didn’t see that before I commented. Good luck on your deadlines! All my best to you.
Dear Philip,
There seems to be an invisible thread that weaves through life, connecting ideas, and making you feel like you’re not alone. For us the writers have included Tim Keller, Ann Voskamp, Leslie Fields, and others. It seems like you’re name keeps popping up as we’ve learned from these folks, so we’ve been reading “What’s so Amazing About Grace”.
Your book has been convicting but freeing. When you reach the dangerous edges of grace, I feel a bit of anger, but I know it’s true. That’s probably how people respond when I do the same thing. And this is where we find ourselves struggling. We get to churches and Bible studies and find ourselves being judged for having no children. We hear all the talk center around homosexuals being the most evil. We here calls to defend Trump (OK, not at our Lutheran and Reformed churches). And I doubt that I am with Christians.
But then, I find myself in a different kind of legalism- I think I’m a better Christian, but no I’m a wretched sinner. We bring up grace at a Bible study and people don’t respond. We bring up the fact that we ALL deserve judgement for our sins, and everyone is quiet. Everyone wants to focus on politics. In Baptist-like circles, everyone wants to focus on end times garbage, or how they were blessed for donating to Jerusalem’s military.
So we find ourselves alone, a lot. When we find churches with decent preaching, we are often judged or find that the church has a strong sub-culture of modern identity and a lack of hospitality and love.
Listening to an online sermon by Chuck Schlie, we heard your “Traverse City Prodigal” story. That’s where I’m from and we moved back here. The story adds to the lovely book by Keller we are using for our book study. I want to thank you for that illustration and for your work, with the Lord’s strength, in saying things that need to be said. Grace and peace.
What a thoughtful, honest expression. May your grace journey never end. –Philip