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.”
Dear Hee-Soo,
I just returned from Korea in November, and I know the Korean church struggles with legalism such as you describe. I like the way you think, and you are asking very important questions. Yes, I would recommend the books by Lewis Smedes, who wrote at least two on forgiveness. I know about being haunted by doubts and even guilt from the past. I don’t want to contradict your teachers, so I hesitate to respond specifically to your questions. The pattern I see in the Gospels, though, is exactly what you describe, especially Jesus’ words to the Pharisees after the woman anointed him.
I love Korean people, but it hurts me because of the pressure to perform, and the perfectionism that can become a huge burden. Your country needs a huge dose of Grace, I think.
Philip
Kerry,
I LOVE what you wrote! I happen to be a very “left-leaning” Christian. I grew up during the 60’s and 70’s, and was very much influenced by the civil rights movement, the peace movement (during Viet Nam), and environmental causes. I worked for Cesar Chavez and the United Farmworkers Union as an organizer, and other things (Grapes of Wrath influenced me here). And I am a vegetarian (actually, the only “animal products” I eat are the eggs that are produced by my own hens)–because of the abominable treatment of factory farmed animals in this country, and because I would never kill an animal for food (never mind “sport”). I support free legal services for the poor and disenfranchised, and generally campaign for “Democrats”. I have gay friends who I love with all my heart (and I know and accept what God says about “homosexuality”), some who are celibate because they are HIV-positive. One of them spends his life looking after the needs of homeless people, the elderly, “undocumented” immigrants, and people living (and dying) with AIDS. I have never known a kinder, more generous, selfless (and, yes “Christ-like”) human being in my life than he is–and yet, at a recent demonstration (in NYC, the Climate Justice March, and “Flooding Wall Street”), where I made signs with verses from Isaiah, Psalms, and other places, about our obligation to defend the poor, to be on the side of the oppressed, etc–and he held them with me–he said, “Christians don’t like me.” Sad but true. I said, of course, “Jesus loves you. He is the only One who defines “christianity”. And Christians need you.” Broke my heart. That same day, on Wall St, so many people said to me that I was the first “Christian” they had ever met a “Christian” who wasn’t “right-wing” and “intolerant”, etc. Too bad. I know there are plenty of Christians who share my point-of-view, even though I know many more who don’t (unfortunately). Wish they were more “present” in the places where Jesus has a stake–and where Jesus really IS. (With the poor and oppressed, and those fighting on their behalf.) I am so glad I was able to “represent” my Saviour, my God, on Wall St that day.
I love Philip Yancey because of his emphasis on Jesus, and how much Jesus loves every human being. My HIV-pos. friend is just should know how much Jesus loves him. Shame on the “Church” for making him feel so unwanted. The “details” of his life are so much less important than him knowing he belongs at the foot of the cross, with everyone Jesus died for. (The “devil is in the details”, after all. So I’ll leave that stuff up to God. Where DID that expression come from?) Jesus can deal with the “details” in his life, just as he deals with the details in all of our lives. Isn’t it more important that he embrace Jesus first? Let Jesus deal with the rest. Not my job. (Didn’t mean to go on and on–just so happy to “meet” another real Christian “Democrat”. And Philip Yancey is one of my two favorite “Christian” writers. C.S. Lewis is the other one.)
God bless you, Kerry!
In Christ,
Brenda Charrier
Dear Philip,
Thank you so much for your writing and for your soul exposing honesty. Like yourself I have been exposed to toxic churches and if I am honest I was left badly wounded. Through the grace of which you write I have been won back and come to the realisation, of which Victor Frankl wrote so ably, that the only choice that cannot be taken from us is that of how we will respond to whatever happens to us. I have chosen to not be bitter, but to endeavour to be a reflection of his grace wherever I might be. Like yourself I read a lot and have come to consider CS Lewis, Victor Frankl, yourself, William Lane Craig and others to be guiding lights (and almost friends unmet) in faith and family.
I have had a desire to write for some time, and have been doing so for over a year, and would like to publish a book. It has been recommended that I have the book professionally edited and I was wondering if I could ask you for a good editorial recommendation. I live in New Zealand but am happy to use a U.S. editor given the wonder of technology. Once again, thank you so much for your writing, and know that it has been instrumental in me “coming home” and knowing that I am not alone.
Kindest regards
Dave Holden
Toxic churches in New Zealand?! You honor and humble me to hear that I helped you back on the path that I found with such struggle myself. Your note shows deep maturity, and I’m sure you have much worth writing about. I’ll send you a private email with any editorial ideas. Welcome home. –Philip
Dear Mr. Yancey
At first, let me introduce my self, Im Mariana from Indonesia, I have heard about you from my friend.
I like your books, ‘where is God when it Hurts’ but I just can read preview because there is no bookstore in my city sell that book again and I need the books to do mid semester exam
Can you help me to send your e book ?
I know this is strange for you, and may be so illogical but I very need that book in this week.
I will pay but I dont have credit card.
I have searched for your book in my city at all bookstrore. But I found nothing.
I’m sure your book can be great source for my journal to do mid semester exam
Can you help me ?
Thanks before
and God bless you Mr Yancey 🙂