So-called Christian author Philip Yancey admits to years long affair with married woman. Abruptly retires

[Anonymous]

Never heard of this guy, but at least he's fully admitting his sins and being accountable for them. That's a LOT more than most people on DCUM would ever do, regardless of your religion(s).

"My conduct defied everything that I believe about marriage. It was also totally inconsistent with my faith and my writings and caused deep pain for her husband and both of our families," Yancey began in his statement, noting that he would withhold any further details out of respect for the other family impacted.

The author said he had "confessed my sin before God and my wife," and that he is undergoing counseling and an accountability program. He then apologized to his readers, who trusted him and his writing and for dishonoring God and his Christian faith.

"Having disqualified myself from Christian ministry, I am therefore retiring from writing, speaking and social media," Yancey wrote. "Instead, I need to spend my remaining years living up to the words I have already written."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of this guy, but at least he's fully admitting his sins and being accountable for them. That's a LOT more than most people on DCUM would ever do, regardless of your religion(s).

"My conduct defied everything that I believe about marriage. It was also totally inconsistent with my faith and my writings and caused deep pain for her husband and both of our families," Yancey began in his statement, noting that he would withhold any further details out of respect for the other family impacted.

The author said he had "confessed my sin before God and my wife," and that he is undergoing counseling and an accountability program. He then apologized to his readers, who trusted him and his writing and for dishonoring God and his Christian faith.

"Having disqualified myself from Christian ministry, I am therefore retiring from writing, speaking and social media," Yancey wrote. "Instead, I need to spend my remaining years living up to the words I have already written."

Ha!

Is he refunding book purchases?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone ever heard of this man? He’s allegedly really famous?

"So-called" Christian? Christ died for our sins. Sinners who let Christ take the fall are Christian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of this guy, but at least he's fully admitting his sins and being accountable for them. That's a LOT more than most people on DCUM would ever do, regardless of your religion(s).

"My conduct defied everything that I believe about marriage. It was also totally inconsistent with my faith and my writings and caused deep pain for her husband and both of our families," Yancey began in his statement, noting that he would withhold any further details out of respect for the other family impacted.

The author said he had "confessed my sin before God and my wife," and that he is undergoing counseling and an accountability program. He then apologized to his readers, who trusted him and his writing and for dishonoring God and his Christian faith.

"Having disqualified myself from Christian ministry, I am therefore retiring from writing, speaking and social media," Yancey wrote. "Instead, I need to spend my remaining years living up to the words I have already written."

I assume he's only coming forward because he was busted. The jig is up, as they say. Either a woman is shopping around the story, he's been paying her off and she wants more, her spouse is shopping it around, or something along those lines.

[Anonymous]

Pretending to be Christian to make millions off book sales and appearance fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretending to be Christian to make millions off book sales and appearance fees.

See also David Brooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first thing Christianity teaches is that people are inherently sinners, which is true. It's not a surprise that Christians, like all other people, sin.

Christians are inherently sinners. Christians sin. Everyone does. "In Adam's fall, we sinned all."

But it's OK to be appalled that a Christian would wallow in a serious sin (and yes, sins do have degrees) for 8 years. One that, according to his wife's own words, caused her "intense trauma" (betrayal trauma is a real and documented form of complex trauma). There are plenty of people - believers and non-believers - who don't engage in this kind of behavior.

When Christians in the Bible sinned, they still had to accept the consequences. In some case, like Ananias and Sapphira, those consequences were literally being struck dead by God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of this guy, but at least he's fully admitting his sins and being accountable for them. That's a LOT more than most people on DCUM would ever do, regardless of your religion(s).

"My conduct defied everything that I believe about marriage. It was also totally inconsistent with my faith and my writings and caused deep pain for her husband and both of our families," Yancey began in his statement, noting that he would withhold any further details out of respect for the other family impacted.

The author said he had "confessed my sin before God and my wife," and that he is undergoing counseling and an accountability program. He then apologized to his readers, who trusted him and his writing and for dishonoring God and his Christian faith.

"Having disqualified myself from Christian ministry, I am therefore retiring from writing, speaking and social media," Yancey wrote. "Instead, I need to spend my remaining years living up to the words I have already written."

He's definitely doing more than many in the same situation, including stepping down from any ministry. However - that doesn't make him a good guy. To be a good guy after deeply betraying your spouse and your God requires living out the work of making ammends for years afterwards, in quiet drudgery.

Jesus still died for him, but he'll also still be judged for what he's done. Just like the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

Really disappointing. He was one of the most measured and smart theologians of this century. But apparently he was also living in sin for almost a decade.

For the love of everything holy, separate if you want to sleep around or make it an open marriage. Both are things that Christianity would strictly forbid. I grew up in a Christian family but am mostly over all of it.

And his wife is pathetic. Get a freaking backbone.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a CYA. The AP’s husband was probably getting ready to out him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really disappointing. He was one of the most measured and smart theologians of this century. But apparently he was also living in sin for almost a decade.

For the love of everything holy, separate if you want to sleep around or make it an open marriage. Both are things that Christianity would strictly forbid. I grew up in a Christian family but am mostly over all of it.

And his wife is pathetic. Get a freaking backbone.

I wish Christianity gave more space for people to divorce. And have private lives to get through whatever sexual needs they have. I say that as a Christian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a CYA. The AP’s husband was probably getting ready to out him.

Without a doubt it was something along those lines. He’s a con man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of this guy, but at least he's fully admitting his sins and being accountable for them. That's a LOT more than most people on DCUM would ever do, regardless of your religion(s).

"My conduct defied everything that I believe about marriage. It was also totally inconsistent with my faith and my writings and caused deep pain for her husband and both of our families," Yancey began in his statement, noting that he would withhold any further details out of respect for the other family impacted.

The author said he had "confessed my sin before God and my wife," and that he is undergoing counseling and an accountability program. He then apologized to his readers, who trusted him and his writing and for dishonoring God and his Christian faith.

"Having disqualified myself from Christian ministry, I am therefore retiring from writing, speaking and social media," Yancey wrote. "Instead, I need to spend my remaining years living up to the words I have already written."

He's definitely doing more than many in the same situation, including stepping down from any ministry. However - that doesn't make him a good guy. To be a good guy after deeply betraying your spouse and your God requires living out the work of making ammends for years afterwards, in quiet drudgery.

Jesus still died for him, but he'll also still be judged for what he's done. Just like the rest of us.

Key words bolded.

[Anonymous]

I’m a Christian who has read many of Yancey’s books. He’s not your typical evangelical; some would even call him a liberal. His church (when he lived in Chicago) is LGBTQ-affirming, and he’s supported Democratic political candidates and positions. Still, his books and columns resonated with a wide Christian audience and asked hard questions: Where is God When it Hurts, for example.

Whenever I hear of a Christian author or pastor who has a public ministry, and they have a moral failing, I’m disappointed (to borrow from another of Yancey’s titles) because this becomes more ammunition for unbelievers and skeptics to use against us.

I don’t know what Yancey’s health status is now, but I do know he’s been struggling with Parkinson’s recently. I hope his latter days are filled with reflection, repentance, and spiritual healing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My ex is a christian minister who had a long affair and left me and the kids.

It's fine (now). We're doing great. But it does not surprise me. Many of these folks are in it for the adulation.

Truly sorry for you and your kids.

Men are terrible in general. Every day is April Fool's Day when you are attracted to men (myself included).

NP. What a pathetic statement. I'm sorry for you and anyone who actually believes this.

DP. It's not? I am surrounded by wonderful and loving men who I have the utmost respect for because they are amazing people but every single one "chooses the bear" so to speak when it comes to their own wives and children.