Philip Yancy

I have read a lot of books that I've enjoyed. Often if I enjoy a book by an author I'll generally like most if not all of his or her other writings. Writing style and the ability to draw true insight are elements that seem to go beyond one book. Of the writers who I enjoy most, Malcolm Gladwell, Erwin McManus, CS Lewis, Marcus Buckingham, there's one who really stands out, Philip Yancy. Yancy's written quite a few books and I've read most of them. I still have a few to catch up on. All of his books have maintained his edgy questioning while ending at a place of contentment, stronger and more at peace for the picking at the edges of faith and life.

I've been reminded of this past few weeks of the importance and superiority of 3 of Yancy's books, What's So Amazing about Grace?, The Jesus I Never Knew and Reaching for the Invisible God. I consider all 3 to be masterpieces. What's So Amazing about Grace? is without question my favorite book. It opened my eyes to the centrepiece concept of the gospel story. It poked a lot of holes in some traditional thinking not in a way to create controversy, but by clarifying the better way. I recommend that book to anybody and everybody, both those of faith in Jesus and those who wouldn't consider it.

In The Jesus I Never Knew, Yancy does a great job of revealing the figure of Jesus Christ as a misunderstood character. The ultimate victim of being portrayed in the light of the one doing the portraying. We like to fancy God to be in our own image and we like to use Jesus as backup to our preconceived ideas. Yancy addresses that head-on. Really, I like any story that reveals the true Christ as the hero.

Finally, Reaching for the Invisible God is the least well known of the 3, but I think it stands up to the other 2. I spoke to a good friend this week about having doubts in faith and much of what Yancy spelled out in this book fit into the conversation. "God's invisibility guarantees I will experience times of doubt". "God appears far less threatened by doubt than does His church". Yancy hits the nail on the head for honest believers and addresses our pronness to seek more assurance than God has provided.

In one section touching on our need to treat God as we would a trusted friend he speaks of mature faith:

"I am learning that mature faith, which encompasses both simple faith and fidelity, works the opposite of paranoia. It reassemples all the events of life around trust in a loving God. When good things happen, I accept them as gifts from God, worthy of thankgiving. When bad things happen, I do not take them as necessarily sent by God - I see evidence in the Bible to the contrary - and I find in them no reason to divorce God. Rather, I trust that God can use even those bad things for my benefit. That, at least, is the goal toward which I strive."

I appreciate honesty. Philip Yancy writes honestly and pushes me further than I was when I picked up his books. I recommend you give one a read.