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What's So Amazing About Grace?
Original Cover Edition for ISBN 0310245656
In 1987, an IRA bomb buried Gordon Wilson and his twenty-year-old daughter beneath five feet of rubble. Gordon alone survived. And forgave. He said of the bombers, ' I have lost my daughter, but I bear no grudge . . . I shall pray, tonight and every night, that God will forgive them.' His words caught the media's ears and out of one man's grief, the world got a glimpse of grace. Grace is the church's great distinctive. It's the one thing the world cannot duplicate, and the one thing it craves above all else for only grace can bring hope and transformation to a jaded world.
In 1987, an IRA bomb buried Gordon Wilson and his twenty-year-old daughter beneath five feet of rubble. Gordon alone survived. And forgave. He said of the bombers, ' I have lost my daughter, but I bear no grudge . . . I shall pray, tonight and every night, that God will forgive them.' His words caught the media's ears and out of one man's grief, the world got a glimpse of grace. Grace is the church's great distinctive. It's the one thing the world cannot duplicate, and the one thing it craves above all else for only grace can bring hope and transformation to a jaded world.
In What's So Amazing About Grace? award-winning author Philip Yancey explores grace at street level. If grace is God's love for the undeserving, he asks, then what does it look like in action? And if Christians are its sole dispensers, then how are we doing at lavishing grace on a world that knows far more of cruelty and unforgiveness than it does of mercy? Yancey sets grace in the midst of life's stark images, tests its mettle against horrific 'ungrace.' Can grace survive in the midst of such atrocities as the Nazi holocaust? Can it triumph over the brutality of the Ku Klux Klan? Should any grace at all be shown to the likes of Jeffrey Dahmer, who killed and cannibalized seventeen young men? Grace does not excuse sin, says Yancey, but it treasures the sinner. True grace is shocking, scandalous. It shakes our conventions with its insistence on getting close to sinners and touching them with mercy and hope. It forgives the unfaithful spouse, the racist, the child abuser. It loves today's AIDS-ridden addict as much as the tax collector of Jesus' day.
In his most personal and provocative book ever, Yancey offers compelling, true portraits of grace's life-changing power. He searches for its presence in his own life and in the church. He asks, How can Christians contend graciously with moral issues that threaten all they hold dear? And he challenges us to become living answers to a world that desperately wants to know, What's So Amazing About Grace?
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Philip Yancey
265 books2,248 followersA native of Atlanta, Georgia, Philip Yancey earned graduate degrees in Communications and English from Wheaton College Graduate School and the University of Chicago. He joined the staff of Campus Life Magazine in 1971, and worked there as Editor and then Publisher. He looks on those years with gratitude, because teenagers are demanding readers, and writing for them taught him a lasting principle: The reader is in control!
In 1978 Philip Yancey became a full-time writer, initially working as a journalist for such varied publications as Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, National Wildlife, Christian Century and The Reformed Journal. For several years he contributed a monthly column to Christianity Today magazine, where he also served as Editor at Large.
In 2021 Philip released two new books: A Companion in Crisis and his long-awaited memoir, Where the Light Fell. Other favorites included in his more than twenty-five titles are: Where Is God When It Hurts, The Student Bible, and Disappointment with God. Philip's books have won thirteen Gold Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, have sold more than seventeen million copies, and have been published in over 50 languages. Christian bookstore managers selected The Jesus I Never Knew as the 1996 Book of the Year, and in 1998 What’s So Amazing About Grace? won the same award. His other recent books are Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image; Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World; The Question that Never Goes Away; What Good Is God?; Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; Soul Survivor; and Reaching for the Invisible God. In 2009 a daily reader was published, compiled from excerpts of his work: Grace Notes.
The Yanceys lived in downtown Chicago for many years before moving to a very different environment in Colorado. Together they enjoy mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, and all the other delights of the Rocky Mountains.
Visit Philip online:
https://www.philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey
Catch his monthly blog:
https://bit.ly/PhilipYanceyBlog
In 1978 Philip Yancey became a full-time writer, initially working as a journalist for such varied publications as Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, National Wildlife, Christian Century and The Reformed Journal. For several years he contributed a monthly column to Christianity Today magazine, where he also served as Editor at Large.
In 2021 Philip released two new books: A Companion in Crisis and his long-awaited memoir, Where the Light Fell. Other favorites included in his more than twenty-five titles are: Where Is God When It Hurts, The Student Bible, and Disappointment with God. Philip's books have won thirteen Gold Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, have sold more than seventeen million copies, and have been published in over 50 languages. Christian bookstore managers selected The Jesus I Never Knew as the 1996 Book of the Year, and in 1998 What’s So Amazing About Grace? won the same award. His other recent books are Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image; Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World; The Question that Never Goes Away; What Good Is God?; Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; Soul Survivor; and Reaching for the Invisible God. In 2009 a daily reader was published, compiled from excerpts of his work: Grace Notes.
The Yanceys lived in downtown Chicago for many years before moving to a very different environment in Colorado. Together they enjoy mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, and all the other delights of the Rocky Mountains.
Visit Philip online:
https://www.philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey
Catch his monthly blog:
https://bit.ly/PhilipYanceyBlog
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May 14, 2024
CONVERSION FOR ME WAS NOT A DAMASCUS ROAD EXPERIENCE. I SLOWLY MOVED TO AN INTELLECTUAL ACCEPTANCE OF WHAT MY INTUITION HAD ALWAYS KNOWN.
- Madeleine l’Engle
What’s so amazing about grace - really?
Well, for starters, it can pull you out of a desperately Heartless Void into a life of inner abundance and living love.
It can plant a seed that will grow enormously, give you rest and shelter, and nourish your parched soul FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
And that’s saying a lot.
The world is ugly. Grace is not.
The world’ll try to finagle your last penny out of you. Grace gives you inner riches.
The world will insinuate, prevaricate and back you into an impossible corner. But Grace will always free you from each and every trap.
Remember how ancient Hercules raised an army in ancient times? He sowed Dragon’s Teeth in the ground (the Greeks, like us, had a vivid imagination)!
So, what he did, of course, was Plant these teeth in a fertile field - like a crop of potatoes - and by the end of that faraway mythical summer, a group of fully-armed and steely-plated warriors started to sprout. So Hercules, capable and wily hero that he was, used them to get his revenge against the bad guys that were pestering him.
Now, how that relates to us is : if we play fast and loose in our social lives, our nemesis may carefully cultivate a battalion of armed warriors, by sowing the seeds of ill rumour, so we could reap the whirlwind. Virtue is the best road.
If we’re not always on our street-smart toes, as the semi-divine Hercules was, the fates have a way of rising up in a massed battalion against our own personal but picayune dreams and values.
And that’s why there are so many broken, lonely people in our world...
Whereas, a life lived straight, no chaser - as Thelonius Monk played it and tried to live it - yields an abundant harvest of good things in a twisted world.
1977 was a threshold year for me...
It was very good... and very ugly, the way the world is ugly. But first the good stuff: I met my soon-to-be wife that year.
And, the ugly stuff is that I was promoted into a disheartened and greasy backwater of my employer’s department.
I was to look after property records. That part was simple.
But the environment I worked in was a rest haven for cynical, infighting Lotus Eaters - indolent and issuelessly amoral souls whose daily accomplishments primarily amounted to spreading the acrid taste of malicious stories. Dragon’s teeth.
It was suffocating. Its greasy tendrils threatened to choke me, as the snakes choked old Laocoon and his boys. And it was every bit as dangerous to my positive outlook as one of those Greek Boas.
But I endured it, for three long years.
Till, thank Heaven, I was promoted again.
The new office upstairs was a regular beehive of activity. It seemed like I was going from the frying pan to the fire - but in reality I rather liked the pervading work ethic.
It was normal for a change.
And then, I met Robert.
Robert was a country boy, who couldn’t stand working in a tight space in the midst of urban chaos - and he soon quit his job, before three months were out.
But almost as soon as we met, he told me what pure, unvarnished Christianity meant to him - in his heart. He told me Grace is a free gift, and it would get me where I wanted to go. God loves us.
It was Sheer Serendipity. I have never so much needed such a heartening message at any other time in my life.
I was just escaping from a shark-infested swimming pool and I was mighty glad to be free. And NOW there was peace in my life as well.
Because he told me the gospel taught love, in total freedom from the rigidity of the law.
And THAT was how a serendipitous stranger sowed a seed that has never since stopped giving me Life.
Yancey, of course, will tell you a little bit about the stuff Robert talked about back in those glorious Fall Days of 1980.
But he’s addressing a different audience.
Yancey, you see, is addressing the Disenchanted, Disenfranchised, DE-CHURCHED majority who live in the cities, towns, countryside and villages of our grubby little planet.
He tells them how a simple message of just a few words that can pull them FREE of the gloomy and perilous pit into which they’ve fallen and can LIBERATE them forever from the slimy tentacles of the Dark Souls who thrive there upon hapless, fearful minds.
He tells them of ordinary people like them - and me - who accomplished the Miraculous in unnoticed, though life-affirming little ways - even without a mainstream religion.
For they’ve escaped from the Jaws of Despair. They can LIVE again.
What’s so amazing about Grace?
Just that.
For Yancey, it doesn’t necessarily happen within the Stone Walls of a church.
It happens right out in the Open Air of ordinary happenstance... when we MOST need it, and LEAST expect it - the day someone ALTERS YOUR LIFE.
The same fateful way it happened to me when I met Robert, so many years ago.
- Madeleine l’Engle
What’s so amazing about grace - really?
Well, for starters, it can pull you out of a desperately Heartless Void into a life of inner abundance and living love.
It can plant a seed that will grow enormously, give you rest and shelter, and nourish your parched soul FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
And that’s saying a lot.
The world is ugly. Grace is not.
The world’ll try to finagle your last penny out of you. Grace gives you inner riches.
The world will insinuate, prevaricate and back you into an impossible corner. But Grace will always free you from each and every trap.
Remember how ancient Hercules raised an army in ancient times? He sowed Dragon’s Teeth in the ground (the Greeks, like us, had a vivid imagination)!
So, what he did, of course, was Plant these teeth in a fertile field - like a crop of potatoes - and by the end of that faraway mythical summer, a group of fully-armed and steely-plated warriors started to sprout. So Hercules, capable and wily hero that he was, used them to get his revenge against the bad guys that were pestering him.
Now, how that relates to us is : if we play fast and loose in our social lives, our nemesis may carefully cultivate a battalion of armed warriors, by sowing the seeds of ill rumour, so we could reap the whirlwind. Virtue is the best road.
If we’re not always on our street-smart toes, as the semi-divine Hercules was, the fates have a way of rising up in a massed battalion against our own personal but picayune dreams and values.
And that’s why there are so many broken, lonely people in our world...
Whereas, a life lived straight, no chaser - as Thelonius Monk played it and tried to live it - yields an abundant harvest of good things in a twisted world.
1977 was a threshold year for me...
It was very good... and very ugly, the way the world is ugly. But first the good stuff: I met my soon-to-be wife that year.
And, the ugly stuff is that I was promoted into a disheartened and greasy backwater of my employer’s department.
I was to look after property records. That part was simple.
But the environment I worked in was a rest haven for cynical, infighting Lotus Eaters - indolent and issuelessly amoral souls whose daily accomplishments primarily amounted to spreading the acrid taste of malicious stories. Dragon’s teeth.
It was suffocating. Its greasy tendrils threatened to choke me, as the snakes choked old Laocoon and his boys. And it was every bit as dangerous to my positive outlook as one of those Greek Boas.
But I endured it, for three long years.
Till, thank Heaven, I was promoted again.
The new office upstairs was a regular beehive of activity. It seemed like I was going from the frying pan to the fire - but in reality I rather liked the pervading work ethic.
It was normal for a change.
And then, I met Robert.
Robert was a country boy, who couldn’t stand working in a tight space in the midst of urban chaos - and he soon quit his job, before three months were out.
But almost as soon as we met, he told me what pure, unvarnished Christianity meant to him - in his heart. He told me Grace is a free gift, and it would get me where I wanted to go. God loves us.
It was Sheer Serendipity. I have never so much needed such a heartening message at any other time in my life.
I was just escaping from a shark-infested swimming pool and I was mighty glad to be free. And NOW there was peace in my life as well.
Because he told me the gospel taught love, in total freedom from the rigidity of the law.
And THAT was how a serendipitous stranger sowed a seed that has never since stopped giving me Life.
Yancey, of course, will tell you a little bit about the stuff Robert talked about back in those glorious Fall Days of 1980.
But he’s addressing a different audience.
Yancey, you see, is addressing the Disenchanted, Disenfranchised, DE-CHURCHED majority who live in the cities, towns, countryside and villages of our grubby little planet.
He tells them how a simple message of just a few words that can pull them FREE of the gloomy and perilous pit into which they’ve fallen and can LIBERATE them forever from the slimy tentacles of the Dark Souls who thrive there upon hapless, fearful minds.
He tells them of ordinary people like them - and me - who accomplished the Miraculous in unnoticed, though life-affirming little ways - even without a mainstream religion.
For they’ve escaped from the Jaws of Despair. They can LIVE again.
What’s so amazing about Grace?
Just that.
For Yancey, it doesn’t necessarily happen within the Stone Walls of a church.
It happens right out in the Open Air of ordinary happenstance... when we MOST need it, and LEAST expect it - the day someone ALTERS YOUR LIFE.
The same fateful way it happened to me when I met Robert, so many years ago.
September 19, 2017
STILL one of the best books I've ever read, of ANY genre -- also one of the few I've read as many as FIVE times (so far), most recently aloud with my wife, who has long struggled with clinical depression and was deeply encouraged by this work.
I've been a Christian for some forty years and have found much 'religious' writing unbearable, particularly that written over the past century (with certain notable exceptions). In an age glutted with so-called 'Christian' politics, posturing, and propaganda, Yancey looks around with compassionate eyes and quietly, gently, just tells stories -- one after another after another. He draws on his life and travels, on his reading, on his not-always-kind reader responses, on his many conversations with both the famous and the decidedly not, and on history recent or remote. What we SEE through his eyes is the healing grace through which God takes the world into His arms -- not the self-righteous and arrogant, but those weighed down with pain and struggle, shame and regret, weariness and disappointment -- a world of deep longing and near despair.
This is not a book of 'doctrine' in the way that word is so often used, but one of hope and consolation. There can be very few, whatever their experience or persuasion, who read these pages and are not in some measure moved, comforted, and inspired. Grace indeed emerges as what Yancey calls 'the last best word' for us all.
I've been a Christian for some forty years and have found much 'religious' writing unbearable, particularly that written over the past century (with certain notable exceptions). In an age glutted with so-called 'Christian' politics, posturing, and propaganda, Yancey looks around with compassionate eyes and quietly, gently, just tells stories -- one after another after another. He draws on his life and travels, on his reading, on his not-always-kind reader responses, on his many conversations with both the famous and the decidedly not, and on history recent or remote. What we SEE through his eyes is the healing grace through which God takes the world into His arms -- not the self-righteous and arrogant, but those weighed down with pain and struggle, shame and regret, weariness and disappointment -- a world of deep longing and near despair.
This is not a book of 'doctrine' in the way that word is so often used, but one of hope and consolation. There can be very few, whatever their experience or persuasion, who read these pages and are not in some measure moved, comforted, and inspired. Grace indeed emerges as what Yancey calls 'the last best word' for us all.
December 22, 2007
Few books reveal the core of what the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ is in its frightening, glorious, unparalled nature. Yancey comes very close to doing so in using an array of diverse, complex, beautiful, and amazing stories to illustrate the true grace of the gospel. These stories aren't cheesy, long-winded, and annoying--as many Christian books succumb to when authors seek to illustrate spiritual/Christian concepts through stories--but are transparent, beautiful, sometimes shocking, and unbelievable stories of grace. The stories, also, don't all possess one recurring theme concerning grace, but show a great diversity in illustating the multi-faceted, complex nature of all that the grace of God in Jesus Christ is. Read Yancey and this book: he really understands grace and is one of the few clever, creative, gifted Christian authors today.
May 30, 2018
A review of this book from my blog series on grace...
In my discussion earlier in this series of Paul's seminal statement, Ye are not under the law, but under grace I mentioned Philip Yancey's influential book, "What's So Amazing About Grace?" I alluded to the fact that it, along with a few other original works and a whole bunch of copycats, have twisted much of American Christianity's concept of grace into something wholly unrecognizable to our forefathers. In so saying, I am not overstating its influence.
For example, it is praised by religious leaders as diverse as Larry Crabb, Brennan Manning (no surprise there), J. I. Packer, Jill Briscoe, Jim Wallis, Gordon MacDonald, Charles Colson, and the Irish rocker Bono. Tony Campolo said, "There are huge amounts of sermon material here." (No surprise there either.) Robert Seiple said, "This is beyond a doubt the very best book I have read from a Christian author in my life." Robert Jeffress said that it "did a valuable service by rescuing the doctrine of grace from the legalists." It was awarded Book of the Year by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association in 1998, and in 2006 was named as the seventeenth most influential book on Christianity Today's list of works that have shaped evangelicalism the most. Never mind the dizzying array of contradictory theological positions held by those listed in this paragraph, and how ashamed I would be if all of them praised any work of mine, let us simply agree that selling more than 15 million copies of any religious book in ten years, as this book did, qualifies as influential.
If it is so praised why do I assert that it is awful? Let us start with the fact that for a book that purports to bring us back to a scriptural view of grace there is an appalling paucity of Scripture in it. Yancey unabashedly emphasizes this in his own introduction. "I have just read a thirteen-page treatise on grace in the New Catholic Encyclopedia, which has cured me of any desire to dissect grace and display its innards. I do not want the thing to die. For this reason, I will rely more on stories than syllogisms. In sum, I would far rather display grace than explain it."
In choosing this course Yancey does two things. First, he makes his book much more readable and thus popular. Second, and far more importantly, he writes a book almost entirely untethered from the Word of God. Yancey does an emotionally entertaining job of telling us what he wants grace to be, and a spiritually wretched job of telling us what God said grace actually is and does. It takes him forty-two pages to quote the first Bible verse. In the entirety of the book he never takes a verse, let alone a passage, and systematically explores its words, context, and flow of thought to tell us what God says about grace. Needless to say, he does not examine contrasting thoughts either. He examines nothing and reveals less of God's Word on the subject.
Curiously enough, while studiously avoiding the Scriptures, he manages to favorably quote any number of theologically sketchy characters. Roman Catholic theologians such as Romano Guardini and Brennan Manning? Check. Mystics such as John of the Cross and Bernard? Check. Intellectuals such as Mark Twain and Anthony Hecht? Check. Neo-orthodox Europeans such as Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer? Check. To add insult to injury, he purposely chooses to use both Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa as wonderful examples of grace.
The previous paragraph does not mark Yancey as wicked. It does, however, mark him as severely lacking in discernment and seriously doctrinally deficient. Why conservative Christians let alone independent Baptists would look to such a man to explain and expound the Word of God is a mystery to me.
If his book does not come from Scripture where does it come from? I believe it was birthed out of a reaction to his own conservative/fundamentalist Southern upbringing. He mentions it often in the book and makes no bones that he found his home church experience wretched. In some sense Yancey is right to be appalled. The deacons of his home church patrolled the entrances to ensure no African-Americans made their way in. But in reacting against error Yancey makes the same mistake I have seen numerous acquaintances of mine make – he throws the baby out with the bathwater. At a dead run, he heads from the ditch of a harsh, racist religious upbringing to the ditch of license on the other side of the road. In the process he is highly critical of rules of any kind, and especially those of his youth forbidding rock music, alcohol, short skirts, and long hair. Those are, in his words, "pettiness", signs of a religion with no grace.
Do you begin to see his influence? The problem with Yancey, however, is much worse than that, much worse. It is not just about where Yancey was when he wrote the book, and how your friends use its arguments to overthrow their own long-held beliefs, it is even more about where Yancey's concept of grace leads, about what it produces years down the road. For example, the church here in Chicago where he served as an assistant so long believes nothing, is against nothing but taking a stand. But even more egregiously, Yancey's embrace of "grace" toward homosexuality is revelatory indeed.
In the book, now twenty years old, he unabashedly promotes the homosexual Mel White as a wonderful example of Christian grace and love vs the evil, intolerant Christians who insist on shouting about doctrine. An emphasis on doctrine is "hatred" while Mel, on the other hand, evidences "a graceful spirit." Yancey likens preaching against homosexuality to the preaching against social drinking he heard in his youth, preaching that he clearly views as petty, legalistic, and beneath the spirit of Christ.
Remember, though, it is not just about where Yancey is when he writes this book, though that is bad enough. It is about where his concept of grace is going, and where it is going to take you. On his own website today on a page discussing his views of homosexuality he gives us these little gems. "In my relationship with Mel White, I have to remind myself that it’s not my job to present the absolutely proper, balanced viewpoint of the church." Somehow, after reading his book, I do not think Yancey even balances his checkbook. But I digress. Or there is this: "I intentionally don't take sides on this issue." And this: "I feel no need to represent a balanced viewpoint myself. So I don't take an official position. I simply try to love the gay individuals I know and bring a little grace and mercy to a church that puts this particular sin – if indeed it is that – in a special category." And this: "When it gets to particular matters of policy, like ordaining gay and lesbian minsters, I'm confused, like a lot of people."
I could go on in the same vein but I risk you thinking this blog post is about homosexuality. It is not. It is about where the wrong view of grace leads. It leads to repentance eliminated in favor of tolerance and forgiveness cheapened into permission. In a word, it leads to grace no longer being grace but rather being acceptance. Yancey can deny it all he wants, and your now-contemporary-used-to-be-fundamentalist friends can do the same. Their denials fade to the echoes of a whisper when confronted with their actions. What you believe changes how you live, and what you read changes what you believe.
You might want to think long and hard about that before ingesting what passes for classic discussions of grace in our day. No matter how many copies the guy has sold or how many famous religious leaders recommend it.
In my discussion earlier in this series of Paul's seminal statement, Ye are not under the law, but under grace I mentioned Philip Yancey's influential book, "What's So Amazing About Grace?" I alluded to the fact that it, along with a few other original works and a whole bunch of copycats, have twisted much of American Christianity's concept of grace into something wholly unrecognizable to our forefathers. In so saying, I am not overstating its influence.
For example, it is praised by religious leaders as diverse as Larry Crabb, Brennan Manning (no surprise there), J. I. Packer, Jill Briscoe, Jim Wallis, Gordon MacDonald, Charles Colson, and the Irish rocker Bono. Tony Campolo said, "There are huge amounts of sermon material here." (No surprise there either.) Robert Seiple said, "This is beyond a doubt the very best book I have read from a Christian author in my life." Robert Jeffress said that it "did a valuable service by rescuing the doctrine of grace from the legalists." It was awarded Book of the Year by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association in 1998, and in 2006 was named as the seventeenth most influential book on Christianity Today's list of works that have shaped evangelicalism the most. Never mind the dizzying array of contradictory theological positions held by those listed in this paragraph, and how ashamed I would be if all of them praised any work of mine, let us simply agree that selling more than 15 million copies of any religious book in ten years, as this book did, qualifies as influential.
If it is so praised why do I assert that it is awful? Let us start with the fact that for a book that purports to bring us back to a scriptural view of grace there is an appalling paucity of Scripture in it. Yancey unabashedly emphasizes this in his own introduction. "I have just read a thirteen-page treatise on grace in the New Catholic Encyclopedia, which has cured me of any desire to dissect grace and display its innards. I do not want the thing to die. For this reason, I will rely more on stories than syllogisms. In sum, I would far rather display grace than explain it."
In choosing this course Yancey does two things. First, he makes his book much more readable and thus popular. Second, and far more importantly, he writes a book almost entirely untethered from the Word of God. Yancey does an emotionally entertaining job of telling us what he wants grace to be, and a spiritually wretched job of telling us what God said grace actually is and does. It takes him forty-two pages to quote the first Bible verse. In the entirety of the book he never takes a verse, let alone a passage, and systematically explores its words, context, and flow of thought to tell us what God says about grace. Needless to say, he does not examine contrasting thoughts either. He examines nothing and reveals less of God's Word on the subject.
Curiously enough, while studiously avoiding the Scriptures, he manages to favorably quote any number of theologically sketchy characters. Roman Catholic theologians such as Romano Guardini and Brennan Manning? Check. Mystics such as John of the Cross and Bernard? Check. Intellectuals such as Mark Twain and Anthony Hecht? Check. Neo-orthodox Europeans such as Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer? Check. To add insult to injury, he purposely chooses to use both Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa as wonderful examples of grace.
The previous paragraph does not mark Yancey as wicked. It does, however, mark him as severely lacking in discernment and seriously doctrinally deficient. Why conservative Christians let alone independent Baptists would look to such a man to explain and expound the Word of God is a mystery to me.
If his book does not come from Scripture where does it come from? I believe it was birthed out of a reaction to his own conservative/fundamentalist Southern upbringing. He mentions it often in the book and makes no bones that he found his home church experience wretched. In some sense Yancey is right to be appalled. The deacons of his home church patrolled the entrances to ensure no African-Americans made their way in. But in reacting against error Yancey makes the same mistake I have seen numerous acquaintances of mine make – he throws the baby out with the bathwater. At a dead run, he heads from the ditch of a harsh, racist religious upbringing to the ditch of license on the other side of the road. In the process he is highly critical of rules of any kind, and especially those of his youth forbidding rock music, alcohol, short skirts, and long hair. Those are, in his words, "pettiness", signs of a religion with no grace.
Do you begin to see his influence? The problem with Yancey, however, is much worse than that, much worse. It is not just about where Yancey was when he wrote the book, and how your friends use its arguments to overthrow their own long-held beliefs, it is even more about where Yancey's concept of grace leads, about what it produces years down the road. For example, the church here in Chicago where he served as an assistant so long believes nothing, is against nothing but taking a stand. But even more egregiously, Yancey's embrace of "grace" toward homosexuality is revelatory indeed.
In the book, now twenty years old, he unabashedly promotes the homosexual Mel White as a wonderful example of Christian grace and love vs the evil, intolerant Christians who insist on shouting about doctrine. An emphasis on doctrine is "hatred" while Mel, on the other hand, evidences "a graceful spirit." Yancey likens preaching against homosexuality to the preaching against social drinking he heard in his youth, preaching that he clearly views as petty, legalistic, and beneath the spirit of Christ.
Remember, though, it is not just about where Yancey is when he writes this book, though that is bad enough. It is about where his concept of grace is going, and where it is going to take you. On his own website today on a page discussing his views of homosexuality he gives us these little gems. "In my relationship with Mel White, I have to remind myself that it’s not my job to present the absolutely proper, balanced viewpoint of the church." Somehow, after reading his book, I do not think Yancey even balances his checkbook. But I digress. Or there is this: "I intentionally don't take sides on this issue." And this: "I feel no need to represent a balanced viewpoint myself. So I don't take an official position. I simply try to love the gay individuals I know and bring a little grace and mercy to a church that puts this particular sin – if indeed it is that – in a special category." And this: "When it gets to particular matters of policy, like ordaining gay and lesbian minsters, I'm confused, like a lot of people."
I could go on in the same vein but I risk you thinking this blog post is about homosexuality. It is not. It is about where the wrong view of grace leads. It leads to repentance eliminated in favor of tolerance and forgiveness cheapened into permission. In a word, it leads to grace no longer being grace but rather being acceptance. Yancey can deny it all he wants, and your now-contemporary-used-to-be-fundamentalist friends can do the same. Their denials fade to the echoes of a whisper when confronted with their actions. What you believe changes how you live, and what you read changes what you believe.
You might want to think long and hard about that before ingesting what passes for classic discussions of grace in our day. No matter how many copies the guy has sold or how many famous religious leaders recommend it.
February 14, 2008
Yancey is thorough in his examples of grace. He uses his own life experiences, everything from being part of a racist church as a child to interviewing President Clinton to dissect grace. Yancey is clear, grace is the true message of Jesus and today's Christians as a whole are not doing a great job of relaying this message. Grace is the idea that God loves us--all of us--no matter what; no one has to earn God's love. Yancey presents many ways in which the world needs grace. His argument is powerful and thought-provoking.
February 27, 2020
As I remember, he never fully resolves the issue/reason for writing the book.
December 30, 2015
This book contains a good exploration of the concept of grace, not from a heavy theological perspective but a simpler, practical one, by presenting many modern examples of grace in action along side Biblical references. Some of these were very compelling to me and some fell kind of flat for me, just based on the kinds of stories that interest me.
But overall I enjoyed the book and was inspired by it. I would not say it contains anything groundbreaking for someone not new to Christianity, but just plenty of good reminders of how grace and love for God and our fellow man should look, and what they mean for us and for those we share these things with.
I was probably most struck by his description at the very end of the book of what AA meetings are like, compared to the average church gathering; at church we often put on a good face and keep our dark side to ourselves, whereas you only walk into AA because you admit your life is a mess and you need help. This strikes me as how the church is meant to be, nobody faking it, and everybody receiving grace because we are all sympathetic to each other's struggles.
But overall I enjoyed the book and was inspired by it. I would not say it contains anything groundbreaking for someone not new to Christianity, but just plenty of good reminders of how grace and love for God and our fellow man should look, and what they mean for us and for those we share these things with.
I was probably most struck by his description at the very end of the book of what AA meetings are like, compared to the average church gathering; at church we often put on a good face and keep our dark side to ourselves, whereas you only walk into AA because you admit your life is a mess and you need help. This strikes me as how the church is meant to be, nobody faking it, and everybody receiving grace because we are all sympathetic to each other's struggles.
February 9, 2012
This book has honestly changed my perspective on Christianity, religion, politics and my own relationship with Jesus.
All too often Christians are viewed as being critical, judgmental, unforgiving, harsh, condemning and downright mean. Yet everything in Jesus' life showcased grace. If I am supposed to be living as an example of Christ to the rest of the world, why do I so often miss the boat when it comes to grace? There were very few instances in the Bible that Jesus responded to situations the way we would, or think he should have. He lived with, ate with, communicated with, loved, healed, forgave those people that no one else wanted to be around. In Mark 2:17 Jesus said "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." More often than not, as Christians, we get so wrapped up in legalism, the “rules” of Christianity, that we miss the point that Phillip Yancey so wonderful, and beautifully brought to light. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less, and there is nothing we can do to make God love us more!
Now as Christians we have to start showing the rest of the world that fact!
If you get nothing else out of this book I hope you get that God loves you more than you can even imagine! No matter what you have done in the past, no matter what you are doing now and no matter what you will do in the future, God still loves you. He is waiting for you to come to him and ask him to forgive you. It's as simple as that! The “rules” that we “have to follow” don’t seem so daunting when you’re following them because you love, trust and respect the person who is asking you to do, or not do, something.
Christianity is a relationship, not a dictatorship.
All too often Christians are viewed as being critical, judgmental, unforgiving, harsh, condemning and downright mean. Yet everything in Jesus' life showcased grace. If I am supposed to be living as an example of Christ to the rest of the world, why do I so often miss the boat when it comes to grace? There were very few instances in the Bible that Jesus responded to situations the way we would, or think he should have. He lived with, ate with, communicated with, loved, healed, forgave those people that no one else wanted to be around. In Mark 2:17 Jesus said "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." More often than not, as Christians, we get so wrapped up in legalism, the “rules” of Christianity, that we miss the point that Phillip Yancey so wonderful, and beautifully brought to light. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less, and there is nothing we can do to make God love us more!
Now as Christians we have to start showing the rest of the world that fact!
If you get nothing else out of this book I hope you get that God loves you more than you can even imagine! No matter what you have done in the past, no matter what you are doing now and no matter what you will do in the future, God still loves you. He is waiting for you to come to him and ask him to forgive you. It's as simple as that! The “rules” that we “have to follow” don’t seem so daunting when you’re following them because you love, trust and respect the person who is asking you to do, or not do, something.
Christianity is a relationship, not a dictatorship.
August 7, 2016
وقتی شروع به خوندن این کتاب کردم تصوری از محتواش نداشتم. واسه همین وقتی با محتوای پیرامون دین مسیحیت مواجه شدم یکم جا خوردم. ولی هرچی بیشتر پیش رفتم به شباهت های همه ی ادیان الهی، و شباهت های رسولان این ادیان بیشتر پی بردم.
نویسنده تو این کتاب بسیار تاکید کرده که فیض مختص پیروان مسیح هست، در صورتی که به نظرم با نگاه به اصل ماجرا می شه گفت فیض مختص به دین مسیحیت نیست و سایر مخلوقات هم می تونند از فیض بهره مند بشن. به نظرم خدا می تونه هر وقت که دلش خواست بنده ش رو مورد آمرزش و یا لطف خودش قرار بده. چه اون بنده بخواد چه نخواد.
دو ستاره از این کتاب کم کردم. و هر دو ستاره به این دلیل بود که نویسنده چهارصد صفحه به انسان ها این امید رو داد که قراره مورد لطف خدا قرار بگیرند و نگران گناهایی که تاحالا مرتکب شدن نباشند. ولی در مقابل صفحات خیلی کمی رو اختصاص داد به این که فیض نباید چنان مایه ی دلخوشی بشه که انسان خودش رو به هر گناهی آلوده بکنه با این امید که قراره مورد بخشش قرار بگیره در هر صورت. و به نظرم این تاثیر خیلی بدی روی اقشار مختلف جامعه داره و به همین دلیل 2 ستاره کم کردن بی عدالتی نیست . :)
نکته ی دیگه هم این که کتاب خیلی طولانی تر از اون چه که می تونست باشه بود و می تونست خیلی خلاصه تر باشه که نشد. لازم بود که نیم ستاره هم این جا کم کنم ولی به دلیل حس خوبی که از کتاب گرفتم این کار رو نمی کنم. :)
نویسنده تو این کتاب بسیار تاکید کرده که فیض مختص پیروان مسیح هست، در صورتی که به نظرم با نگاه به اصل ماجرا می شه گفت فیض مختص به دین مسیحیت نیست و سایر مخلوقات هم می تونند از فیض بهره مند بشن. به نظرم خدا می تونه هر وقت که دلش خواست بنده ش رو مورد آمرزش و یا لطف خودش قرار بده. چه اون بنده بخواد چه نخواد.
دو ستاره از این کتاب کم کردم. و هر دو ستاره به این دلیل بود که نویسنده چهارصد صفحه به انسان ها این امید رو داد که قراره مورد لطف خدا قرار بگیرند و نگران گناهایی که تاحالا مرتکب شدن نباشند. ولی در مقابل صفحات خیلی کمی رو اختصاص داد به این که فیض نباید چنان مایه ی دلخوشی بشه که انسان خودش رو به هر گناهی آلوده بکنه با این امید که قراره مورد بخشش قرار بگیره در هر صورت. و به نظرم این تاثیر خیلی بدی روی اقشار مختلف جامعه داره و به همین دلیل 2 ستاره کم کردن بی عدالتی نیست . :)
نکته ی دیگه هم این که کتاب خیلی طولانی تر از اون چه که می تونست باشه بود و می تونست خیلی خلاصه تر باشه که نشد. لازم بود که نیم ستاره هم این جا کم کنم ولی به دلیل حس خوبی که از کتاب گرفتم این کار رو نمی کنم. :)
December 7, 2021
Couldn’t put it down. Top 3 book of the year for me. I didn’t realize how badly I was “thirsting for grace.”
January 2, 2015
Amazing. Grace is amazing. More thoughts soon.
***UPDATE***
Also posted in It's A Wonderful Bookworld.
Except for work-related readings, I rarely read non-fiction books, and if I indeed find myself reading one, it would always be Christian literature. The first time I encountered Philip Yancey was through his book, Disappointment with God, and it was during one of the tumultuous moments of my life. That book did not answer the questions I had that time, but it made me feel that I was not alone in my struggles. And that was what I actually needed that time. Fast forward to this year, the year that I declared to be a year of grace. And what book to better start this grace journey than another Philip Yancey?
What’s So Amazing About Grace? was a truly satisfying read. I was in awe – amazed – with every chapter that I got to finish. I relished each page, each paragraph, and I always found myself if not nodding with agreement, then staring blankly for a few moments, trying to digest the truths that I was presented with. Indeed, grace is a word most often used but most often misunderstood. I truly learned a lot and I was confronted by my own self-righteousness and hypocrisy. The good thing about this book, about grace, in fact, was that it talked about forgiveness – one thing that I badly needed.
What made reading this book easy were the references to the parables in the Bible and the real life experiences of the author. Most of all, I enjoyed reading about the references to other books. Babette's Feast by Isak Dinesen, for instance, was used to illustrate a point, and although I had been somewhat spoiled about the story, I still added it to my to-be-read stack. Philip Yancey is a reader and isn’t that awesome? :)
This book is truly a gem. I had the most wonderful reading experience with What’s So Amazing About Grace? It gave me a new perspective — grace-filled eyes, I’d like to think — and gave me an opportunity to intimately know my Creator and His character. The “scandalous mathematics of grace” both scandalized and challenged me, and motivated me to love more, give more, care more, understand more, and forgive more, because God has loved me more, given me more, cared for me more, understood me more, forgiven me more.
I highly recommend this book to all. Because whether we want it or not, whether we’re aware of it or not, we all need grace. The world needs grace.
***UPDATE***
Also posted in It's A Wonderful Bookworld.
Except for work-related readings, I rarely read non-fiction books, and if I indeed find myself reading one, it would always be Christian literature. The first time I encountered Philip Yancey was through his book, Disappointment with God, and it was during one of the tumultuous moments of my life. That book did not answer the questions I had that time, but it made me feel that I was not alone in my struggles. And that was what I actually needed that time. Fast forward to this year, the year that I declared to be a year of grace. And what book to better start this grace journey than another Philip Yancey?
What’s So Amazing About Grace? was a truly satisfying read. I was in awe – amazed – with every chapter that I got to finish. I relished each page, each paragraph, and I always found myself if not nodding with agreement, then staring blankly for a few moments, trying to digest the truths that I was presented with. Indeed, grace is a word most often used but most often misunderstood. I truly learned a lot and I was confronted by my own self-righteousness and hypocrisy. The good thing about this book, about grace, in fact, was that it talked about forgiveness – one thing that I badly needed.
What made reading this book easy were the references to the parables in the Bible and the real life experiences of the author. Most of all, I enjoyed reading about the references to other books. Babette's Feast by Isak Dinesen, for instance, was used to illustrate a point, and although I had been somewhat spoiled about the story, I still added it to my to-be-read stack. Philip Yancey is a reader and isn’t that awesome? :)
This book is truly a gem. I had the most wonderful reading experience with What’s So Amazing About Grace? It gave me a new perspective — grace-filled eyes, I’d like to think — and gave me an opportunity to intimately know my Creator and His character. The “scandalous mathematics of grace” both scandalized and challenged me, and motivated me to love more, give more, care more, understand more, and forgive more, because God has loved me more, given me more, cared for me more, understood me more, forgiven me more.
I highly recommend this book to all. Because whether we want it or not, whether we’re aware of it or not, we all need grace. The world needs grace.
March 22, 2008
I got the "visual" edition of this book from Stephie right after I became a Christian in South Africa. (Later I read the full edition)
So I got to dwell by myself in Africa with a Bible, this book, and an RC Sproul book.
The visual pages of What's So Amazing About Grace unfolded as amazing news! Is this really true? God has pardoned dirty criminals through the death of his Son? It's free? No pre-requisites? It's just... by grace? My death sentence for hating God has been paid for by another... while I was still hating him?
What the book does well is captures the aroma of Grace through stories of grace mixed in with bible teaching.
While Philip Yancey isn't a Calvinist, this book strongly affected my theology towards Calvinism on the issue of undeserved grace*.
*undeserved grace is redundant, all grace is by definition undeserved
So I got to dwell by myself in Africa with a Bible, this book, and an RC Sproul book.
The visual pages of What's So Amazing About Grace unfolded as amazing news! Is this really true? God has pardoned dirty criminals through the death of his Son? It's free? No pre-requisites? It's just... by grace? My death sentence for hating God has been paid for by another... while I was still hating him?
What the book does well is captures the aroma of Grace through stories of grace mixed in with bible teaching.
While Philip Yancey isn't a Calvinist, this book strongly affected my theology towards Calvinism on the issue of undeserved grace*.
*undeserved grace is redundant, all grace is by definition undeserved
March 30, 2021
Nedažnai, bet tekdavo išgirsti žodį „malonė“, tik aš jo pilnai nesupratau, netaikiau malonės praktikos bendraudama su žmonėmis. Manau dažnas krikščionis netaiko. O gaila... Knygos autorius įtaigiai, pasitelkdamas istorinius faktus ir gyvenimiškas istorijas, papasakojo koks gi stebūklas ta malonė! Viliuosi, kad dar ilgai prisiminsiu ką perskaičiusi ir tai keis mane. Kaip svarbu atleisti, priimti, dėl kitų aukotis. „Nekęsk nuodėmės, bet mylėk nusidėjėlį“ principas ypač aktualus man pasirodė žvelgiant į šiandienos Lietuvos aktualijas.
Krikščioniška knyga, kurią drąsiai rekomenduoju VISIEMS.
Krikščioniška knyga, kurią drąsiai rekomenduoju VISIEMS.
July 22, 2017
THE GOOD: Not much.
THE BAD: Does not clearly define grace and it just seemed to me like he was constantly walking around the subject the whole time. Was not very interesting, although occasionally inspirational. Would not particularly recommend.
THE UGLY: Almost did not finish reading this book. Don't waste your time.
December 19, 2023
This is one of my absolute favorite books. I have studied it with many people. I love the wave after wave approach of Philip Yancey’s writing. He is raw, real, and restorative. Everybody should read this book at least once. This was my 7th or 8th time.
July 25, 2023
What is grace but unmerited love in action?
The modern Western Christian church is long on judgment and short on grace. As grace is the very virtue that is to set us apart from the rest of the world, this is a huge issue. In this book, Yancey shines a light on our collective failures in this regard, while also highlighting some smaller scale successes in the demonstration of grace and love to the world at large. We have so much room fro improvement, but we’re not without hope.
I was very moved by this book. It encouraged and convicted and challenged in fairly equal measures. And I found Yancey to be a very compelling storyteller. This is the kind of nonfiction I appreciate the most, where I feel like I’m being taught through stories instead of being preached at for close to 300 pages. Because Yancey is a journalist who has interviewed people from all over the world and from all walks of life, this felt very balanced. I didn’t feel like there was a particular political agenda, and Christianity was presented very honestly, with both warts and beauty marks on display. While I got just a tad bogged down in the middle of the book, I really appreciated the care with with Yancey presented hot-button issues like race and homosexuality and abortion, as well as the fact that he made sure that readers knew that the failings of Christians weren’t the failings of Christ. He’s flawless, even though His followers are far from perfect.
The modern Western Christian church is long on judgment and short on grace. As grace is the very virtue that is to set us apart from the rest of the world, this is a huge issue. In this book, Yancey shines a light on our collective failures in this regard, while also highlighting some smaller scale successes in the demonstration of grace and love to the world at large. We have so much room fro improvement, but we’re not without hope.
I was very moved by this book. It encouraged and convicted and challenged in fairly equal measures. And I found Yancey to be a very compelling storyteller. This is the kind of nonfiction I appreciate the most, where I feel like I’m being taught through stories instead of being preached at for close to 300 pages. Because Yancey is a journalist who has interviewed people from all over the world and from all walks of life, this felt very balanced. I didn’t feel like there was a particular political agenda, and Christianity was presented very honestly, with both warts and beauty marks on display. While I got just a tad bogged down in the middle of the book, I really appreciated the care with with Yancey presented hot-button issues like race and homosexuality and abortion, as well as the fact that he made sure that readers knew that the failings of Christians weren’t the failings of Christ. He’s flawless, even though His followers are far from perfect.
June 6, 2017
An easy to read book about one of my favorite words in the English language. It only took so long to read because I hid my Kindle from the GKid then forgot where. But it's the kind of book you can pick up anytime and jump back in. Yancey is a natural story teller and I felt encouraged and enlightened by his examples of grace. Four and a half stars
October 21, 2022
Heartrending and convicting read. Mostly it tells stories of grace from all over the world and throughout history, with some thoughts on the church at the end. Highly recommend.
"For a 'cure' the AA program demands of its members radical dependence on a Higher Power and on fellow strugglers.... They openly ask God for forgiveness and strength, and ask their friends around them for support. They come to AA because they believe that there, grace flows 'on tap'.
"Sometimes as I went up and down the stairs connecting our church sanctuary to the basement [where the AA meetings were held], I thought of the upstairs/downstairs contrast between Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings. Only a few of those who met on Tuesday evenings returned on Sundays. Though they appreciated the church's generosity in opening its basement to them, the AA members I talked with said they would not feel at ease in church. Upstairs people seemed to have it together, while they were just barely hanging on. They felt more comfortable in the swirl of blue smoke, slouched in metal chairs in jeans and a T-shirt, using swear words if they felt like it. That's where they belonged, not in a stained-glass sanctuary with straight-backed pews.
"If only they realized, if only the church could realize, that in some of the most important lessons of spirituality, members of the basement group were our masters. They began with radical honesty and ended with radical dependence. Athirst, they came as 'jolly beggars' every week because AA was the one place that offered grace on tap."
I want to be the type of Christian who begs for and dispenses grace on tap.
"For a 'cure' the AA program demands of its members radical dependence on a Higher Power and on fellow strugglers.... They openly ask God for forgiveness and strength, and ask their friends around them for support. They come to AA because they believe that there, grace flows 'on tap'.
"Sometimes as I went up and down the stairs connecting our church sanctuary to the basement [where the AA meetings were held], I thought of the upstairs/downstairs contrast between Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings. Only a few of those who met on Tuesday evenings returned on Sundays. Though they appreciated the church's generosity in opening its basement to them, the AA members I talked with said they would not feel at ease in church. Upstairs people seemed to have it together, while they were just barely hanging on. They felt more comfortable in the swirl of blue smoke, slouched in metal chairs in jeans and a T-shirt, using swear words if they felt like it. That's where they belonged, not in a stained-glass sanctuary with straight-backed pews.
"If only they realized, if only the church could realize, that in some of the most important lessons of spirituality, members of the basement group were our masters. They began with radical honesty and ended with radical dependence. Athirst, they came as 'jolly beggars' every week because AA was the one place that offered grace on tap."
I want to be the type of Christian who begs for and dispenses grace on tap.
June 3, 2011
As Yancy usually does, he tackles the hard issues, especially "ungrace" among Christians. He quotes a prostitute about church, "Church! Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They'd just make me feel worse." The first section is a beautiful exposition of grace. Yancy uses "Babette's Feast" as a model of grace. C.S. Lewis overheard a debate about Christianity's unique contribution to the world and he responded, "That's easy: Grace." This book establishes the uniqueness of the Christian teaching of grace and the need of the world for this message. Philip Yancy has had the experience of being the target of hate mail from Christians. He makes the point that grace should be the strongest witness of our behavior -- he urges us to imagine feminists who, while disagreeing with the Scriptural teaching of the roles of men and women, would have to grudgingly admit that Christian men love their wives like no one else, or gays who reject Christian teaching regarding homosexuality would concede that the best AIDS-HIV care was lovingly provided by Christians. This book also contains an on-target assessment of why law can never do what the gospel can -- the law can close stores, but not make you worship; it can make divorce difficult but cannot make a husband love his wife, etc.
I also enjoyed the analogy in Chapter 19, "Patches of Green," where after a forest fire, the first patches of new growth were seen where an elk / moose died. Where Christians once thrived there will be elements of grace that show themselves. Another interesting observation was on Matthew 7 where Jesus says, "I never knew you," on the Last Day, we would expect Him to tell unbelievers, "You never knew Me." But their hearts were closed to Him -- they never admitted their evil thoughts and sins. Yancy uses Romans 6-7 to deal with the objection "Why be good, if you get forgiven?" (pages 183-191)
A good book to reread regularly, so we grow in grace!
I also enjoyed the analogy in Chapter 19, "Patches of Green," where after a forest fire, the first patches of new growth were seen where an elk / moose died. Where Christians once thrived there will be elements of grace that show themselves. Another interesting observation was on Matthew 7 where Jesus says, "I never knew you," on the Last Day, we would expect Him to tell unbelievers, "You never knew Me." But their hearts were closed to Him -- they never admitted their evil thoughts and sins. Yancy uses Romans 6-7 to deal with the objection "Why be good, if you get forgiven?" (pages 183-191)
A good book to reread regularly, so we grow in grace!
December 21, 2020
I believe this is my third time reading this book. I read it when it first came out in 1997. At that time, it totally rocked me. Caused me to look at my faith and grace in a much different way. Soon thereafter, I read it again, desiring to internalize these truths. This must be the first time I have read it in over a decade and I am glad to say, all it did now was confirm and solidify my beliefs and understanding of Christ.
So, so much I could say about how this book, written from a very intellectual perspective, challenges us to see ourselves and others the way Jesus sees us. And it call us to love and embrace those that society and the church often shun. It is both a challenging and encouraging book. Highly recommend it and hope to read it again myself someday, to be sure I keep on track loving rather than judging others.
Fourth time reading it, beginning of 2017. Only echo what is above.
I didn't realize that 2020 was my fifth time reading this book. I am not a re-reader (can only think of a few books I have read more than once but none more than twice), but apparently, this keeps pulling me back. And every time, I mine more and learn more and hopefully apply more. This time, however, was my first time reading it with a group and processing two chapters a week. Therefore, I learned more, had a wider perspective, and gleaned so much from the others in this group. Highly, highly recommend this book.
So, so much I could say about how this book, written from a very intellectual perspective, challenges us to see ourselves and others the way Jesus sees us. And it call us to love and embrace those that society and the church often shun. It is both a challenging and encouraging book. Highly recommend it and hope to read it again myself someday, to be sure I keep on track loving rather than judging others.
Fourth time reading it, beginning of 2017. Only echo what is above.
I didn't realize that 2020 was my fifth time reading this book. I am not a re-reader (can only think of a few books I have read more than once but none more than twice), but apparently, this keeps pulling me back. And every time, I mine more and learn more and hopefully apply more. This time, however, was my first time reading it with a group and processing two chapters a week. Therefore, I learned more, had a wider perspective, and gleaned so much from the others in this group. Highly, highly recommend this book.
July 12, 2015
Grace is something that is incredibly simple in theory, deeply personal and very difficult to implement in our everyday lives. Grace is the defining element of Christianity and it is beautiful. Yet, the idea that we are loved and there is nothing that we can do that will change that love is met with skepticism at best and usually suspicion. Yancey makes it clear how very beautiful and simple Grace is. But he also covers "Grace Abuse" and forgiveness. All of this was thought provoking and inspired many conversations in our house. Throughout the book Yancey makes clear how very powerful Grace can be... it's just not easy.
In a world marred by ungrace I was drawn to this book to see where we had gone wrong in Western society. Yancey's book really helps with working through that thought process. Yancey discusses "legalism" as an enemy of grace and he focuses particularly on the involvement of the church in politics. In the end I came away with the message that it is up to each of us as individuals to live a life of grace and carry that message out into the world. If the world you see reflected back is not one with grace, it is up to us to act differently to change that. I could write more about the intertwining of grace and politics but in the end such discussions seem pointless when grace is just absent. Perhaps we should all just start with the end in mind, and that may be as simple as a recognition of the fact that Grace can change the world.
In a world marred by ungrace I was drawn to this book to see where we had gone wrong in Western society. Yancey's book really helps with working through that thought process. Yancey discusses "legalism" as an enemy of grace and he focuses particularly on the involvement of the church in politics. In the end I came away with the message that it is up to each of us as individuals to live a life of grace and carry that message out into the world. If the world you see reflected back is not one with grace, it is up to us to act differently to change that. I could write more about the intertwining of grace and politics but in the end such discussions seem pointless when grace is just absent. Perhaps we should all just start with the end in mind, and that may be as simple as a recognition of the fact that Grace can change the world.
February 10, 2012
The author is, I gather, popular in evangelical Christian circles. He has some really profound things to say. He starts out by discussing the grace of God and he selects certain parables and examples to make his point that God's grace is boundless, and his forgiveness beyond anything we can imagine. Then he devotes the rest of the book to talking about how much grace--or lack of grace--Christians actually exemplify in their doctrines and lives. He grew up in the southern part of the United States--very racist, as he was taught at home and in church. Only as an adult did he realize the hypocrisy of this position. He also discusses the intolerance of Christians toward homosexuals and many other people and points out that while we are freely given the grace of God we are pretty selfish about being "grace-full" ourselves, and that makes us less than Christian His book begins and ends with a story about a woman who was living a very sinful life, and when she was asked if she had gone to the church for help she responded, "Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They'd just make me feel worse." And he asks if it is possible for us as Christians to extend the same love and forgiveness to our fellow beings that we receive so freely from God? Excellent Book!!
March 11, 2017
I read this book for a book club and strongly disliked it. To me, it was a testimony as to why a journalist should not write theology. I found his thinking to be sloppy, uninformed, and lacking Biblical basis. All of this said, I cannot deny that it fostered a great deal of conversation, and that some of his thoughts were challenging. Just make sure you read a good dose of your Bible before you read Yancy's anecdotes.
Oftentimes, when I write a review like this, the post modern challenge is: "Do you have a lock on what the Bible says?" or "How do you know you are right and the author is wrong?" To give some answers to these recurring questions, I am posting additional resources below for those who would like to explore the Biblical teachings embraced by Christians for, literally, hundreds of years. For those who want to hear, there are plenty of strong, researched voices to whom you can listen.
Tim Challies
http://www.challies.com/general-news/...
Greg Gilbert
https://9marks.org/review/whats-so-am...
Oftentimes, when I write a review like this, the post modern challenge is: "Do you have a lock on what the Bible says?" or "How do you know you are right and the author is wrong?" To give some answers to these recurring questions, I am posting additional resources below for those who would like to explore the Biblical teachings embraced by Christians for, literally, hundreds of years. For those who want to hear, there are plenty of strong, researched voices to whom you can listen.
Tim Challies
http://www.challies.com/general-news/...
Greg Gilbert
https://9marks.org/review/whats-so-am...
December 19, 2009
This is one of the books that I both like and hate. I agree to how Philip Yancey portrays the "Christians" he has encountered. Many of those who call themselves Christians seem to have an attitude of hate rather than love; who are bent on making rules and making sure everybody follows it, an "modern day pharisee". Then again I disagree with the general definition of grace in the book. Instead of the true essence of grace, it was defined as license, a point exemplified with the story of when the author was asked by a friend if God would forgive him if he left his wife for a younger woman.
We already live in a world "baptized by grace". A world who uses the grace of God for the occasion of the flesh, a world who prefers to trample the blood of Christ underfoot, does not need a book that might further encourage such attitude.
This was an interesting read but a book I would not recommend to anybody.
We already live in a world "baptized by grace". A world who uses the grace of God for the occasion of the flesh, a world who prefers to trample the blood of Christ underfoot, does not need a book that might further encourage such attitude.
This was an interesting read but a book I would not recommend to anybody.
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August 21, 2020Arlington Group: Many members selected this book as the best of the year. Members from all three faith traditions felt strongly that it brought a lot to our understanding and stimulated an excellent discussion. It helped provide a springboard to explore concepts related to forgiveness, universal love, ultimate judgment and sin.
One measure of a good DoA book might be the frequency with which it comes up in future discussions and by that measure, this book is a success. Yancey uses many personal stories to exemplify both the meaning of grace and its absence from some Christian practice and preaching today.
While the book covers a heady topic that could be seen as dry or academic, Yancey really puts it firmly on the ground in our lives and the lives of people who might be feeling guilt, shame or a failure to live up to perceived standards of the divine eternal. Yancey really does help to answer the question posed in the title and it has enriched our group.
April 3, 2022
In a world of ‘ungrace’, Phillip Yancey challenges all believers to be advocates of grace. He shows how Jesus sets the perfect example of grace, eating with tax collectors, prostitutes and murderers. I was particularly challenged to show love and grace to those who’s actions or morals I disagree with, just as Christ so undeservingly shows love and grace to me. The world we live in is being destroyed by a lack of grace. As believers we should be showing the world that there is another way. A quote I loved from chapter 5 is “Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more, and grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.” As Christ has showed grace to me, why should I not show grace to others?
June 7, 2011
Philip Yancey is one of my very favorite Christian authors. I loved his book "Prayer" and now this one. I can't wait to read the rest. This book has so many great things to say - such as:
God dispenses gifts, not wages.
In the realm of grace, the word DESERVE does no even apply.
The only thing harder than forgiveness is the alternative.
Believers who are most desperate about themselves are the ones who express most forcefully their confidence in grace.
And so on. Oh, read it. It's just wonderful!
God dispenses gifts, not wages.
In the realm of grace, the word DESERVE does no even apply.
The only thing harder than forgiveness is the alternative.
Believers who are most desperate about themselves are the ones who express most forcefully their confidence in grace.
And so on. Oh, read it. It's just wonderful!
August 27, 2023
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book by Yancy was his references to works of art, music, film, and literature. His effective use of these elements as examples or as suggestions for additional reading made this book a valuable resource.
Reading this text on grace and forgiveness helped me to understand how infinite God’s grace is. Forgiveness is something me must employ and be open to in our own lives. To make one’s self vulnerable to participate in either forgiving someone or seeking forgiveness takes courage. I learned a lot about these necessary tasks from reading this book.
Reading this text on grace and forgiveness helped me to understand how infinite God’s grace is. Forgiveness is something me must employ and be open to in our own lives. To make one’s self vulnerable to participate in either forgiving someone or seeking forgiveness takes courage. I learned a lot about these necessary tasks from reading this book.
April 22, 2020
I enjoyed his exposition of grace as much as the many examples. Particularly, the example when Mother Theresa was present at the Prayer Breakfast with President Clinton and shamed everyone about the abortion in the US, saying that she would take all those babies, and no one dared to question her.
The true story about the repugnant serial killer was definite one I had to think about. Would I be able to accept the repentance of such a man and offer grace? Not many can, to this day.
The true story about the repugnant serial killer was definite one I had to think about. Would I be able to accept the repentance of such a man and offer grace? Not many can, to this day.
July 12, 2018
Timeless in message, and ought to be dated in anecdotes, but surprisingly remains extraordinarily contemporary in his overview of the gracelessness of the evangelical right.
Yet the real value of this powerful book remains in his examples of those who practice graceful living rather than those who sadly choose a graceless life.
Yet the real value of this powerful book remains in his examples of those who practice graceful living rather than those who sadly choose a graceless life.
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