Philip Yancey?
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:31 pm
I was given a Philip Yancey book to read. Is it worth my time?
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:47 pm
I would imagine so. I have read a number of Yancey's articles, but none of his books. However, I have only heard positive things about his books. I think Billy Graham said Yancey was his favorite writer.
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:29 pm
Thanks Steve.
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:05 pm
As far as I'm aware, Yancey is a purveyor of a particularly cheap brand of cheap grace. Check out this interview on a Whosever, "An online magazine for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Christians":
http://www.whosoever.org/v8i6/yancey.shtml
http://www.whosoever.org/v8i6/yancey.shtml
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:03 pm
i have listened to a couple of his books on tape; i cant remember which one, but i liked them. he does make you think.
TK
TK
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:16 am
I saw Philip Yancey on a Christian tv program (name of the show, I've forgotten, a popular radio & tv ministry out of Michigan: "Day of Discovery" maybe?). Anyway, they were talking about prayer and it seemed "okay."
From the link Ely gave I think it's pretty clear that Yancey is not a theological conservative. He seems to be somewhere between "the evangelical left" (evangelicals "on the liberal fringes," theologically speaking) and revisionists (of the regular (and current) Liberal Christian tradition, John Shelby Spong, those who have stayed in the ECUSA (Episcopalian Church in the USA), et al).
Yet Yancey "sounds" like a theological conservative at times....
He believes the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith) were "Christians." The only kind of "Christians" these men could have been were "liberal" -- they were involved in the occult! Bill Wilson wrote some AA literature while practicing necromancy (consulting spirits of the dead) which the Bible condemns. While in a trance state, the spirit of a dead Catholic bishop "dictated the words" to Wilson (this is all documented in official AA literature). There is some evidence to suggest Bill Wilson may have became a biblical Christian early in his "sober life." If he did, it didn't last, and, to my knowledge Wilson never repented before he died (I hope he did). Btw, I have been going to AA on & off since 1987. But I gave up on it and got sober through Christ! (when AA didn't fix me, AMEN)! Occasionally I go to AA meetings, mostly to just to see the people (I've come to know fairly well). I don't consider AA "fellowship"...and find opportunities to witness to Christ after meetings from time to time, Amen again!
Anyway....
Yancey believes in the psychology of Carl Jung (which also strongly influenced AA). Jungian psychology is, to a very large degree, what the New Age movement is based on (I'd say almost totally...I used to be into Jung & New Age myself).
Here's a good summary (clickit):
Biblical Discernment Ministries: Philip Yancey, General Teachings, Activities (see "12 Steps to Destruction")
And an article from the Bobgans':
Psychoheresy Awareness Ministries:
Philip Yancey "Addicted" to the Recovery movement
I haven't read any of Yancey's books but his theology is "chameleon"... liberal now and conservative later. I've even heard him on Hank Hanegraaff! He may say some good stuuf but I don't think I would read a book by him; only to be informed of what's happening out there in "theology land, " so to speak....
I hope this might help you, Ben (or anyone else).
Steve:
Thanks for talking about the Bobgans in your "Biblical Counsel for a Change" series. It helped me sort some things out on my past involvement with AA/12 Step Programs, etc.
As an aside: AA is very strongly influenced by Calvinism! (fyi is all)
God bless,
Rick
From the link Ely gave I think it's pretty clear that Yancey is not a theological conservative. He seems to be somewhere between "the evangelical left" (evangelicals "on the liberal fringes," theologically speaking) and revisionists (of the regular (and current) Liberal Christian tradition, John Shelby Spong, those who have stayed in the ECUSA (Episcopalian Church in the USA), et al).
Yet Yancey "sounds" like a theological conservative at times....
He believes the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith) were "Christians." The only kind of "Christians" these men could have been were "liberal" -- they were involved in the occult! Bill Wilson wrote some AA literature while practicing necromancy (consulting spirits of the dead) which the Bible condemns. While in a trance state, the spirit of a dead Catholic bishop "dictated the words" to Wilson (this is all documented in official AA literature). There is some evidence to suggest Bill Wilson may have became a biblical Christian early in his "sober life." If he did, it didn't last, and, to my knowledge Wilson never repented before he died (I hope he did). Btw, I have been going to AA on & off since 1987. But I gave up on it and got sober through Christ! (when AA didn't fix me, AMEN)! Occasionally I go to AA meetings, mostly to just to see the people (I've come to know fairly well). I don't consider AA "fellowship"...and find opportunities to witness to Christ after meetings from time to time, Amen again!
Anyway....
Yancey believes in the psychology of Carl Jung (which also strongly influenced AA). Jungian psychology is, to a very large degree, what the New Age movement is based on (I'd say almost totally...I used to be into Jung & New Age myself).
Here's a good summary (clickit):
Biblical Discernment Ministries: Philip Yancey, General Teachings, Activities (see "12 Steps to Destruction")
And an article from the Bobgans':
Psychoheresy Awareness Ministries:
Philip Yancey "Addicted" to the Recovery movement
I haven't read any of Yancey's books but his theology is "chameleon"... liberal now and conservative later. I've even heard him on Hank Hanegraaff! He may say some good stuuf but I don't think I would read a book by him; only to be informed of what's happening out there in "theology land, " so to speak....
I hope this might help you, Ben (or anyone else).
Steve:
Thanks for talking about the Bobgans in your "Biblical Counsel for a Change" series. It helped me sort some things out on my past involvement with AA/12 Step Programs, etc.
As an aside: AA is very strongly influenced by Calvinism! (fyi is all)
God bless,
Rick
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:49 am
P.S. Ben (nice to meet you) 
Which book was it? if you don't mind my asking. Someone I know reads Yancey and I would like to know (it is an "online friend" who has been kind of "experimenting" with New Age type stuff)....
Which book was it? if you don't mind my asking. Someone I know reads Yancey and I would like to know (it is an "online friend" who has been kind of "experimenting" with New Age type stuff)....
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:04 pm
Nice to meet you too! Thanks for the info. The book was Reaching for the Invisible God…
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:01 pm
I checked out an audio book to listen to on the way to and from work by Yancey from the library the other day. It's called "RUMORS of another world". Seems pretty interesting so far. It's all about how the natural world clues us in to a world beyond that the Bible has promised us of.
However, after looking at that link Ely gave, it certainly will cast a grim shadow over the rest of my listening. So far it's only been information that provokes thought and hopefully I can get something out of it, and spit out the seeds (so to speak).
However, after looking at that link Ely gave, it certainly will cast a grim shadow over the rest of my listening. So far it's only been information that provokes thought and hopefully I can get something out of it, and spit out the seeds (so to speak).