Philip Yancey Confesses Eight-Year Affair, Steps Away from Ministry

[mike]

Very sad.

[R7ehr]

I don't remember ever hearing about him.

Edit: I looked him up, and did recognize his book What's So Amazing About Grace?.

[mike]

It's a name I had forgotten about. His books were popular decades ago. I am not sure, but I may have read #2 and #3 on his list of best-sellers below.

His two most acclaimed and widely recognized bestsellers, both winners of the ECPA Christian Book of the Year award, are:

1. What's So Amazing About Grace? (1997) — Often cited as his most famous and influential book; it sold exceptionally well (contributing significantly to his overall sales) and is frequently described as a landmark modern Christian title.
2. The Jesus I Never Knew (1995) — A close second in prominence; it won the same major awards earlier and is consistently listed among his top works.

Other highly popular titles, based on reader engagement, reviews, and frequent mentions in "most popular" lists:

3. Where Is God When It Hurts? (1977, updated editions) — His earliest major success, with strong long-term readership.
4. Disappointment with God (1988)
5. Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? (2006)
6. The Gift of Pain (co-authored as Fearfully and Wonderfully Made or similar)
7. Soul Survivor (2001)
8. Where the Light Fell (2021 memoir) — More recent, with high ratings but fewer years to accumulate sales.
9. Reaching for the Invisible God (2000)
10. Vanishing Grace (2014)

[Bootstrap]

Very sad indeed. I enjoyed his "What's So Amazing About Grace" and some of his talks.

Sadly, we hear these kinds of announcements regularly. A good reminder not to put our trust in man.

[JoyE]

A death row inmate whom I write claims he came to the Lord through the reading of one of Yancey's books; so I read it, and was not impressed. The same with another he wrote, tinged with scorn toward those who were over him. He seems to have a problem with authority, especially Christian leadership.

[R7ehr]

10. Vanishing Grace (2014)

This title hits a little different in light of recent information.

[Ernie]

Yancey's books and perspectives have been hugely influential in my life, even though I didn't always like where his conclusions led him.

This news is indeed very sad.

[Ernie]

If aborting a child is murder, God will forgive sins, so won't asking forgiveness after aborting still allow one to be saved?

Philip Yancey was onced asked, "If I divorce my wife and marry another woman, can God forgive me?"
Yancey answered something like this, "God can forgive any sin. But the bigger question is whether you will have sufficient desire and motivation to repent of your sin and seek forgiveness, if you willingly commit sin."

And now Yancey himself is in a position where the question applies to him.

Very true. I wonder if Yancey remembers this story and what his response was.

[JohnL]

A death row inmate whom I write claims he came to the Lord through the reading of one of Yancey's books; so I read it, and was not impressed. The same with another he wrote, tinged with scorn toward those who were over him. He seems to have a problem with authority, especially Christian leadership.

Actually that makes sense. A lot of people in prison have problems with authority - that’s why they’re in prison. That’s probably the reason the book made a connection with the inmate. God uses any means to reach the unreachable I’m thinking.
I think it’s sad that this author has fallen into this too common sin. I hope he repents.