What to do with Philip Yancey?

This is a short note on Philip Yancey disclosing his years of sin and the impact this has on the Christian world.

I have a small library of Philip Yancey books sitting on my shelf. I am not one who is quick to throw books away based on newly discovered actions of their authors, otherwise there are a number of historical Christian books I would need to re-home. But when someone with a big impact on my own walk of faith messes up, I have to reflect on what happens next.

I am no longer surprised by such announcements. This is part of realizing we should not put people on pedestals so high they destroy our faith when they fall. That is not an excuse for what he did, but it is a reminder for all of us in how we hold one another. 

I grew up knowing that people mess up, and expecting any less was foolish. To consider someone without fault or having fully ‘arrived’ just did not make sense, and we saw plenty of examples of it. Today we live in a strange space of perfect ideologies and plenty of pointing out the imperfect of the ‘other’. This is a set-up for the honest person who may be trying to find the real world value of living with conviction, but knowing that they are also in a safe place to fail. 

Now, Philip Yancey maintained an 8 year affair with another woman, and chose now to share this information with the world. His wife had already committed to taking care of him as his Parkinson’s continues to progress. His actions were not a one time misstep or a loss of control which needed correction through help from others. He chose to maintain an affair. What do you do with that?

Well, it isn’t really up to me or you. What I can do is remember that I am capable of stupidity and hurting others in the process. Everyone can. That means I also remember that I cannot expect people to be good in a way that is a linear achievement, like finishing a diploma or mastering a skill. There is experience, wisdom, and insight still made available from these people even from a place of incredible brokenness. So I keep them off the pedestal, but I am grateful for what they contribute to our walk of life at whatever stage we may be. That can sound a bit idealistic and maybe next to impossible to actually do in real life, but I do my best.

An announcement like his, which has rocked a lot of people to their core, especially those who found a refreshed faith by reading his work over the years, should force us to do something even deeper than remember. It makes me reflect on why it hurt, what caused the hurt in my life, and what does this say about how I see my own failings. That might be the best takeaway from this whole affair, learning more about what I expect from others and what I expect of myself. 

“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)