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"Take
Heed" Ministries
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Cecil Andrews, PO BOX 13, Ballynahinch, BT24 8AL, Northern Ireland. Telephone/Fax 028 9756 5511. E-MAIL - takeheed@aol.com WEBSITE - http://www.takeheed.net |
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PHILIP YANCEY “turning the grace of God into lasciviousness” Jude 4 |
When you go into any modern ‘Christian’ bookstore it
will be virtually impossible not to be confronted at some point by books
written by Philip Yancey. He is without doubt one of the best selling
‘Christian’ authors of this age and some of his best known works include ‘What’s
So amazing About Grace’, ‘Where Is God When It Hurts’ and
‘Soul Survivor’. In March 2002 he was the Banquet Speaker at
the Christian Booksellers Convention held in
As a freelance ‘Christian’ writer he serves as ‘Editor
at Large’ for the pseudo-evangelical publication ‘Christianity Today’.
His writings have [rightly] attracted criticism and controversy from
‘conservative’ Christians despite a claim by Yancey in an article
published on
One of the areas where his ‘faithfulness to God’ has
been challenged has been in how he views homosexuality and lesbianism and its
compatibility with the professed Christianity of those who pursue such
life-styles. In relation to his book ‘What’s So Amazing About Grace’ I
have on file some comments made about it by two Christians.
One report was sent to me by an ‘ordinary’ Christian
lady called Mona and in it Mona wrote ‘This writer [Yancey]
gives a long, involved portion of his book reasoning in favour of
homosexuality based on his strong friendship with this “Christian” [Mel
White] who left his wife to resume a homosexual lifestyle which he could not
resist. At the same time Christian “hate” attitudes are reviled, and while
these may not be endorsed, neither is there justification for what God calls an
abomination, nor is there any Biblical injunction to “pour grace on it” [homosexuality]’.
Mona told of how Yancey accompanied his ‘gay
Christian’ friend Mel White on the ‘gay’ march in
In the other report written by Pastor Gary Gilley
of Southern View Chapel, Pastor Gilley wrote ‘Yancey has a
fundamental flaw that runs throughout all of his writings – he doesn’t always
draw his thoughts and principles from Scripture…this serious flaw of not basing
his concepts squarely upon the Scriptures eventually leads Yancey astray.
Yancey does not know the difference between tolerance and arrogance; between grace
and license; between boldness and harshness. By Yancey’s definitions John the
Baptist and Elijah would be men of “ungrace” but God did not seem to think
so…Certainly Jesus loved and spent time with prostitutes, but He did so to call
them to repentance, not to accept their way of living. Yancey’s method of
dealing with a homosexual, who is also a church leader, may seem like “grace”
to him, it may seem like what Jesus would do, but it is clearly out of sync
with the teachings and examples of Scripture’.
In recent days I was sent the transcript of an
interview with Philip Yancey that is posted on the website of a
‘ministry’ called ‘WHOSOEVER’ [http://www.whosoever.org/index.shtml].
‘WHOSOEVER’ is subtitled ‘An online magazine for Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and transgender Christians’.
From the ‘What We Believe’ section of the website much can be learned of how this ‘Ministry’ views the teaching, authority and relevance of the Word of God and as you read some extracts of their statement [with my own comments added] perhaps, like me, you will be reminded of how Peter warned of people who being “unlearned and unstable, wrest [twist] as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” [2 Peter 3:16].
Point 3 states ‘we are called by God to never
return evil for evil, and to turn the other cheek. We can expect persecution as
gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered Christians. But we are warned not to
stoop to the level of our persecutors’ Luke
Comments The
Scriptures quoted here are the Lord’s instructions to true disciples as to how
they should behave when they suffer for living a Holy, Faithful, Godly, and
Christian life. Paul states that “all
that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” [2 Timothy
Point 4 of the statement declares ‘We believe
that salvation is between God and the individual and is not open to criticism,
question or judgment by others. We believe faith in Jesus Christ is the only
justification needed’. Philippians 2:12 - "Wherefore,
my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"; Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."; Galatians 2:21 - "I do
not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain"
.
Comments It is
true that ‘salvation’ is not based on ‘human works’ but the ‘human works’ of
those professing to be Christians will evidence true ‘salvation’. God’s word
encourages Christians to “test the spirits whether they are of God” [1 John
4:1]. The validity of someone’s
profession of being a Christian can be tested by “their fruits” [Matthew
7:20] so God’s Word not only sanctions ‘criticism, question and
judgment’ but commends it “Brethren, if any one of you do err from
the truth and one convert him, Let him know that he who converteth the sinner
from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a
multitude of sins’ [James 5:19-20]. Paul didn’t hold back from telling
professing Christians in Ephesus how they should live in the light of their
claimed conversion as we read in Ephesians 4:17-24. In verses 17
& 19 he says “walk not as other gentiles walk…who being past feeling
[having no conscience] have given themselves over unto lasciviousness and
in verse 24 he says “put on the new man, which after God is created
in righteousness and true holiness” – Paul expected to see the “fruits” of
genuine conversion to Christ in the lives of these professing Christians.
Point 5 states ‘We believe that we are all
equal in the eyes of God, regardless of sexual orientation’. Galatians
Comments Galatians
3:28 teaches the ‘equal standing’ before God of all true believers,
irrespective of their racial background, their social background or their
God-given gender. It does not teach an ‘equal standing’ before God for all,
irrespective of their moral life style. The Apostle Paul, writing to the
Point 6 states ‘We believe God made us as
gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons and has opened God's realm
to us without reservation’. John 15:16-17 - "You
did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and
bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the
Father (Heavenly Parent) in my name, God may give it to you. This I command
you, to love one another".’
Point 7 states ‘We believe the Bible is the
inspired word of God that must be read in the context it was written. Many of
its truths are universal and can be directly applied to modern times. But a
majority of canonical scripture is situation and time specific to the culture
of its time. Therefore, one must use exegesis and prayerful communion with the
Holy Spirit before applying canonical scripture to today's culture’. 1 Corinthians
2:10-13 –
"God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the
Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what person knows
another person's thoughts except the spirit of the person which is in them? So
also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the spirit of God. Now we
have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God, that we might
understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we impart this in words not
taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths
to those who possess the Spirit."
Comments The
ongoing authority and application of God’s Word is taught in the Scriptures
themselves. The Apostle Paul wrote in his last letter before being martyred for
the Gospel “All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works” [2 Timothy
Point 8 states ‘We believe God is alive and is
speaking to God's children even today. God's words are found in the Bible but
God continues to reveal truths not found in scripture through the Holy Spirit’.
Hebrews
Comments The Word of God teaches that Christians are
not to seek ‘truths not found in scripture’. The Apostle Paul
instructed believers “not to think above that which is written” [1
Corinthians 4:6] and there is another clear warning to God’s people that
teaches “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee and thou be found
a liar” [Proverbs 30:6]. The same book of Hebrews quoted in this
point 8 of the statement also teaches how God spoke in Old Testament times but
how He has now finally spoken to the world through His Son – “God, who at sundry times and in divers
manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son” [Hebrews 1:1-2]. Bible
commentator, F B Hole wrote ‘We are at once brought face to face with
the tremendous fact that God, who had spoken to the fathers of
Moving on from the ‘What We Believe’ section of the
website I want to comment upon the interviewer who is referred to on the
website as the ‘Rev.’ Candace Chellew-Hodge. Her personal
details, beside her photo [in clerical robes] include -
Candace is the
last of five kids of a Southern Baptist minister, and is herself ordained
through Gentle Spirit Christian Church of
At the conclusion of the
interview posted to the website we read the following –
Candace Chellew–Hodge is a
recovering Southern Baptist and founder/editor of Whosoever: An
Online Magazine for GLBT Christians. She is an ordained minister and
holds a master's in theological studies from the Candler School of Theology at
The
fact that this lady styles herself as ‘Rev’ shows her
disobedience to the prohibitions of the Bible concerning women and teaching
[see 1 Timothy
The
problem of “lasciviousness” amongst professing believers is something
that the Scriptures pay much attention to. We must first understand what “lasciviousness”
is and Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines the word on page 353 as
denoting ‘excess, licentiousness, absence of restraint, indecency, wantonness…one
of the evils that proceed from the heart [Mark 7:22]; one of the evils of which
some in the church at Corinth had been guilty of [2 Corinthians 12:21]; classed
among the works of the flesh [Galatians 5:19]; among the sins of the
unregenerate who are “past feeling” [Ephesians 4:19]; one of the sins against
which believers are warned [Romans 13:13]’. Vine also links the “pernicious
ways” of 2 Peter 2:2 to ‘lasciviousness’ and to the “filthy
manner of life of the wicked” in Sodom and Gomorrah from which Lot
was “delivered” [2 Peter 2:6-7]. Vine concludes ‘The prominent
idea is shameless conduct’.
In
the light of this website’s ‘What We Believe’ section, I believe it is
clear that those involved in and sympathetic to this ‘ministry’ are seeking to
justify a life style that the Bible condemns as ‘lasciviousness’. What I
want now to address is the interview given by Philip Yancey to the ‘Rev.’
Candace Chellew-Hodge and to consider whether Mr Yancey is
likewise guilty of “turning the grace of God into lasciviousness”. The
preamble to the interview, written by ‘Rev.’ Candace Chellew-Hodge is
itself quite enlightening as it reveals how she changed her initial perception
of Mr Yancey as a result of reading some of his books. In the preamble Candace
Chellew-Hodge wrote –
‘I first heard of
Philip Yancey when his book "What's So Amazing About Grace?" came out
in 1997. Even though many people whom I respected raved about the book, I was
not interested in reading the book. Why would I? It was written by a man who
regularly wrote for Christianity Today - a magazine that was less than gay
friendly. I'm not one to spend my precious reading time on authors who bash
gays and lesbians - or authors that I perceive might do that. I know their
positions and their arguments. Reading their books seemed like a waste of time.
I must now confess that I unfairly judged Yancey. I let a silly
"guilt-by-association" taint my opinion of him even before giving his
books a chance. I regret that, but perhaps God knows best. If I had read Yancey
in 1997 I might not have appreciated his gentleness, his grace or his mercy
quite as much as I do now. I finally gave in and read Yancey's work only after
I had subscribed to the audio book service Audible… Audible has a great
selection of Christian and spiritual books and I've consumed most of their
catalogue. It was during a dry spell, when I had exhausted much of the
collection that interested me that I turned to Yancey's new book, Rumours of
Another World. I had been in spiritual crisis and was looking for someone to
explain to me how to reach that supernatural world that we know exists, but
somehow cannot relate to or forget about in our daily rush. The description of
the book sounded intriguing so I put my preconceived notions of Yancey aside
and downloaded the book. What a blessing! The book was just what I needed. I
did, however, cringe through the chapter on "Designer Sex," waiting
for that bash against gays and lesbians. It never came. I was deeply shocked -
an evangelical who didn't use a chapter on sex to take a pot shot at
homosexuals? It was hard to imagine. The tone of the book led me to make
another selection by Yancey. Reaching for the Invisible God was another book I
listened to with an eager hunger. Finally, an author offered an intelligent
treatment of faith, doubt and how we relate to a God we cannot see. I was
beginning to see why so many people loved Yancey - and why others would not
like him at all - especially if they clung to a fundamentalist, black and white
faith. Finally, I decided to read "Grace". This book left me
speechless and utterly blessed. I want to start a church based solely on the
teachings of this book - of God's "grace on tap" for every person who
walks through the door. I think it should be required reading for every single
church member on the face of the earth… It was Yancey's description of his
friendship with Mel White in "Grace" that touched me most deeply.
White's story, documented in his own book Stranger at the Gate, has been well
documented in the gay and lesbian community… Shunned by his former employees,
White went on to found ‘Soulforce’, a social action group dedicated to the
spiritual equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender believers.
Yancey's steadfast support for his friend Mel, and *his own struggle with
the sinfulness of homosexuality* is documented in the book and is one of
the most honest accounts of grace in the face of struggle that I believe I have
ever read. It was this chapter that led me to write to Yancey and tell him how
much his books had moved me. He was kind enough to send me a reply that
emboldened me to ask for an interview. He agreed to an email interview, given
his busy schedule. I was amazed that he would lend his name to a publication
like ‘Whosoever’ - and eternally grateful. I cannot recommend his work strongly
enough. If you thirst for grace, peace and joy, read Yancey's works. You will
not be disappointed.
I can confirm [as the result of email exchanges
with Candace Chellew-Hodge] that the phrase in this preamble ‘his own struggle with the sinfulness of homosexuality’ does refer to Philip Yancey’s ‘struggle’ and not to any ‘struggle’ by his homosexual friend, Mel White. It is not my intention to publish
and analyze in full the interview given, but rather to quote extracts and to
make comments. The full interview, detailing all the questions posed by Candace
Chellew-Hodge of Whosoever and setting out, in full, the answers
given by Philip Yancey can be viewed by following
this link http://www.whosoever.org/v8i6/yancey.shtml
Question by Whosoever: In your
book "What's so Amazing about Grace?" you tell about your friendship
with ‘Soulforce’ leader Mel White and your support of him at the [‘gay’] March
on
Answer by Yancey:…Mel was one of my
closest friends for years before he revealed to me his sexual orientation. (He
still is, by the way.) He had repressed and hidden his homosexuality, and in
fact was married and was making a fine career in Christian publishing and
ministry…. I get hate letters full of equal venom from both sides: from
conservative Christians appalled that I would maintain a friendship with Mel
and write compassionately about gays and lesbians, and from the other side
wishing I would go further with a full endorsement…I'm sure of what my
own attitude should be toward gays and lesbians: I should show love and grace.
As one person told me, "Christians get very angry
toward other Christians who sin differently than they do." When
people ask me how I can possibly stay friends with a sinner like Mel, I respond
by asking how Mel can possibly stay friends with a sinner like me. Even
if I conclude that all homosexual behaviour is wrong, as many
conservative Christians do, I'm still compelled to respond with love. As
I've attended gay and lesbian churches, I'm also saddened that
the evangelical church by and large finds no place for homosexuals. I've met
wonderful, committed Christians who attend **MCC churches, and I wish
that the larger church had the benefit of their faith. And at the same
time, I think it's unhealthy to have an entire denomination formed around this
one particular issue--those people need exposure to and inclusion in the
wider Body of Christ. When it gets to particular matters of
policy, like ordaining gay and lesbian ministers, I'm confused, like a
lot of people. There are a few--not many, but a few passages of
Scripture that give me pause. Frankly, I don't know the answer to those
questions. My church in
**MCC refers to what is know as the Metropolitan
Community Church and from the website of the MCC in West Hollywood,
California we read the following – ‘The first Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC)
was founded by Rev Troy D. Perry in 1968 in Los Angeles, CA (USA). This
Fellowship of Churches plays a vital role in addressing the spiritual needs of
the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community around the world. For
those of us who were raised in a religious atmosphere, homosexuality was
usually associated with shame and guilt. As a result, many of us were cut off
from the spiritual dimension of our lives. Metropolitan Community Churches
provide an opportunity to explore a spiritual experience that affirms who we
are’.
Comments: From the answer given by Mr Yancey the
following conclusions can be drawn: -
1.
Mr Yancey asserts that sexually active professing ‘gay
Christians’ are to be shown ‘love and grace’ and not to be
challenged about their sexual activity and are to be viewed simply as
Christians who MAY BE SINNING in a different manner to other Christians. Mr
Yancey is clearly uncertain about whether homosexuality etc is sinful in
the light of his phraseology such as ‘Even if’, ‘I’m confused’, ‘there
are a few passages of scripture that give me pause’ and ‘I don’t
have a magic answer’.
2. The concept of ‘gay
and lesbian CHURCHES’ appears to pose no theological problem for Mr
Yancey. He views the
3. Despite being a hugely
successful ‘Christian’ writer Mr Yancey appears not to understand the
term ‘unmarried practising heterosexuals’. Someone in his
position and with his influence should surely know that the Bible identifies
such people as “fornicators” [Fornication: In its more
restricted sense fornication denotes voluntary sexual communion between an
unmarried person and one of the opposite sex – Marshall Pickering Evangelical
Dictionary of Theology page 422].
4. Mr Yancey reduces
the MANY PASSAGES of Scripture that identify sexual activity outside the
confines of the God-ordained marriage relationship of one man and one woman
[Genesis
Question by
Whosoever: How can other Evangelical Christians develop an attitude of
grace (if not acceptance) toward gay and lesbian Christians?
Answer by Yancey: The only way
is through personal exposure. It's amazing how feelings change when
suddenly it's your daughter or your brother who comes out of the closet. In my
case, it was my friend Mel. The issues I had read about suddenly had a face, a
person with a story. When that happened, everything changed. That's one reason
why I think it's sad that the churches have so little contact. I have
attended gay and lesbian churches whose fervency and commitment would put most
evangelical churches to shame. Disapproving conservatives should have
contact with those people, and vice versa.
Comments: From the answer given by Mr Yancey the following
conclusions can be drawn: -
Question by
Whosoever: When my [lesbian] partner and I moved
to a new state, we began searching for a church home. I wrote a letter to the
local Episcopal rector explaining who we were and asked if we would be welcome
in his church. His response, in a nutshell, was that we would be very welcome,
if only we gave up our "sinful lifestyle" and sought out good,
Christian (presumably Episcopalian) men to marry. This is the reaction of many
Christian churches to gays and lesbians. We must give up our sexual orientation
to be accepted. What do you say to churches like this?
Answer by Yancey: I'm probably not
the best person to address a church like that--you are. Obviously, if a church
is saying you need to give up sexual orientation, that church needs some
education. I know of some ministries who try to change sexual behaviour, but
none that try to change sexual orientation… I would probably approach that
rector differently. I would point to how Jesus dealt with people who were moral
failures--I'm starting where the rector is, who sees you as a moral failure.
Jesus chose one such woman, a woman who had had five failed marriages, as his
first missionary. I would also ask if he requires all who attend his church to
leave their "sins" at the door.
Comments: From the answer given
by Mr Yancey the following conclusions can be drawn: -
Much more could
be written, not only on this topic of homosexuality and lesbianism but also
about other worrying aspects of Mr Yancey’s thinking when he makes
statements like “I also find a lot of spiritual nourishment in Catholic
writers across the centuries. They understand the mystery, and many of them
spent their entire lives exploring that mystery” and when
the interviewer makes comments like “Your books convey an obvious
intelligence and depth about your faith. You incorporate the thoughts of many
serious theologians including Soren Kirkegaard, Simone Weil and Thomas
Merton”.
Leaving these additional concerns aside and
returning to Mr Yancey’s comments on this whole issue of ‘gay and
lesbian Christians’ I firmly believe that there is only one conclusion
that can be arrived at. Measuring Mr Yancey’s comments against the
teaching of the Word of God Mr Yancey is guilty of what Jude
warned against in verse 4, namely of “turning the grace of God into
lasciviousness”. Mr Yancey is either not equipped or simply
unwilling to articulate God’s clear views on this moral issue and as a result
he is giving false spiritual hope and comfort to those who are in danger of
suffering the same judgment as their ‘sexually orientated ancestors’ as
we read in Jude 7 of “Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about
them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication and going after
strange flesh, are set forth, for an example, suffering the
vengeance of eternal fire”.
Cecil Andrews – ‘Take Heed’
Ministries –