Not to pile on here, but can someone explain to me how popular ‘Christian’ author Phillip Yancey can be considered a Christian?
This has nothing to do with his recently revealed eight-year affair with a married woman that he just admitted to. Given his theology, that really is no big surprise. It has everything to do with the fact that he has no understanding of the Gospel whatsoever.
How could a guy who has written volumes of allegedly Christian books, and is loved and adored by many claiming to be Christians, still possess no ability to share the Gospel with those he claims to love and care for?
The Gospel is only five words! Christ died for our sins. That means Jesus, who is God in human flesh, died as the perfect sacrifice for our violations of God’s moral law. If you believe and confess these five words, you receive the gift of faith and are far less likely to dilly-dally with other men’s wives. Or cheat on your own. Especially at his age.
Once you receive the gift of faith, there is no lust that cannot be overcome. There is no need for counseling or exorcisms to overcome such sins as adultery or homosexuality; just a simple confession of the Gospel and a reliance on the power of God is all you need.
Yet there is the rub. He dared to call himself a Christian ‘teacher’ even though he was ashamed of the Gospel. That is why it is no surprise that God turned him over to the evil of adultery.
As evidence of my assertion that Yancey is not a Christian, one need only examine his ‘question and answer’ article, copyrighted in 2009, on the subject of homosexuality.
The questioning begins with this:
In your book, What’s so Amazing about Grace? You tell about your friendship with Soulforce leader Mel White. What is your position on gays and lesbians in the church?
Apparently, Mel was a ghost writer for Christians, and, even though he came out as homosexual, remains one of Yancey’s closest friends. This is our first proof that Yancey was never a Christian. There can be no fellowship between righteousness and lawlessness.
It seems that Mel, who was a pastor and professor at Fuller Seminary, hid and repressed his homosexuality. Once he came out, Yancey’s close friend Mel became a prominent gay activist to lead others into the pits of hell. After divorcing his wife to pursue his homosexual desires, he left his family to the tender mercies of Satan.
According to Wikipedia, his son is bisexual.
It is highly doubtful that Yancey ever called Mel to repent. If he did, and Mel refused to repent, then Yancey would be forced to treat Mel like a heathen, which would end their fellowship. So, we can assume that never happened.
Yancey then laments the “hate letters filled with venom” that he received from conservative Christians due to his friendship with Mel. Since we do not have access to these letters, we can only assume these letters were filled with the Gospel that Yancey despised.
He heaps derision on conservative Christians while self-righteously extolling his ‘love and compassion’ for his gay friend. He stood with the man who was in rebellion against God, and, in my opinion, hurled hate and vitriol against those who stood on the Gospel.
Those who seek to replace the Gospel with their phony ‘love and compassion’ are incapable of Christian virtue.
Yancey jettisoned the Gospel and went for the “loving and nonjudgmental” approach to dealing with sin. He offered this same foolishness, while withholding the Gospel, to Mel’s boyfriend.
He apparently learned this innovative new gospel at Fuller Theological Seminary.
He treated both rebels with respect, compassion and love as he escorted them tenderly into God’s holding cell that was created for those awaiting the Lake of Fire.
Yancey then proceeds with the old trope, ‘Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, so it must be OK.’ However, Jesus did not mention bestiality either, but we can be reasonably certain he was not a big fan of buggery.
Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Those who have faith in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross fulfill the law of God.
If Yancey believes that homosexuality is approved by God, why not adultery? There are a limitless number of sins that can be justified under the heading of being ‘loving and nonjudgmental.’
The Holy Spirit of God made it clear that, according to God’s moral law, homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. He also made it clear that those who engage in it will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Yancey was warned by Scripture not to be deceived on this matter.
Yancey concludes that he absolutely believes that gay people can be committed Christians. The problem with this heresy is that God turns people over to the evil of homosexuality as an act of judgment, to defile themselves due to their lack of faith.
Those who do not have faith cannot be called Christians.
When a man sins, he becomes a sinner like the rest of us. When he justifies sin, he becomes an evildoer. He becomes an enemy of the Gospel because he is blocking the path to repentance.
Homosexuals are under God’s judgment, and a true Christian, who truly loves these people, will not withhold the Gospel from them.
Unfortunately, since Yancey is ashamed of the true Gospel, which is why he proclaimed an alien gospel, his eternal destination is bleak.
The Gospel is a simple concept. It is divine wisdom; it does not come from men. Only those whom God has given the gift of faith understand it.
Those ‘Christian authors’ who pervert it have earned eternal damnation.