What's So Amazing About Grace?

Rating:
Summary: Now I know what "Grace" is!
Review: Yancey tells the story of an old, Irish priest who comes upon a peasant praying by the side of the road. "You must be very close to God", the priest exclaimed to the man. "Yes", the peasant said, "He is very fond of me." Thank you, Philip, for convincing me that God is also "very fond of me."

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Summary: The Most Christian Book I Have Ever Read!
Review: I have seen many faults in the Christian church in my life, and much of it involves Grace. Some seem to have forgotten that it is the very reason we are alive right now. The reason for Jesus Christ. Philip Yancey hits dead on what Grace is, and exactly why the world needs it. Every church in the world should read this book. Every PERSON in the world should read this book! The last best word needs to be a permanant fixture in all our minds and actions.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing book about an even more amazing subject
Review: The world is desperately in need of the grace of God, who condemns the selfishness and self-righteousness which afflict all of us, but only in order to forgive us and fill us with his love. This is Yancey's thesis, argued persuasively, articulately, with humility and heart. He doesn't shrink from the "hot-button" issues like the Holocaust, racial discrimination and homosexuality, making clear where he believes the Bible stands on such issues yet making it very clear that he condemns the wrong, not the wrong-doer, letting the chips fall where they may (including frequently onto Christians and the church!) steering carefully between the Scylla of "legalism" and the Charybdis of "cheap grace." A deeply challenging and deeply comforting book which all should read.

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Summary: This book will touch everyone at the core of their soul.
Review: Philip says it best when he describes "grace" as the one unique word that distinguishes authentic Christianity throughout the ages. It's what I need every day; it's likely what you desire every day. Philip's book will prod us all to receive grace and dispense it. The results will surprise and delight us.

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Summary: Outstanding! Right On!!! Right ON!!! Right On!!! Read this!!
Review: I just finished "What's so Amazing about Grace?" last night. I've contacted three people so far to suggest this book. As I've heard one minister say, "This may be the best book of the decade, if not the best in the last 50 years." For so long, as a christian, I have struggled with these issues of how little the "christian" community (including myself at times) as a whole demonstrates the Good News. I've have also struggled with calling myself "christian" for what it implies to so many people-- due to much of the "ungrace" demonstrated by many christians and churches. This book tells me I'm not crazing. EVERY christian should read this book, EVERY, especially those involved in church leadership! I believe Phillip Yancey challenges the "church", much like Jesus Christ challenged the people of his time to love, and love boldly. It's refreshing to know that people who may have been wounded by the church, just may be healed after reading this book-- quite possibly that may be everyone in some capacity. Upon finishing the book and wiping the tears from my eyes, all I could think was, "RIGHT ON! RIGHT ON,RIGHT ON! OUTSTANDING!!!"

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Summary: Apropos to my life and times
Review: Warm, readable, even a page-turner is how I describe this book, which was written in a simple but compelling manner--the book inspired me to great thought. I've started a discussion group to tackle some of these issues, using this book and others of Mr. Yancey's as guides.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Since receiving this book for Christmas last year, I have bought copies for friends and family...This book is very insightful - not preachy - but gives real life examples of "grace" - what it is and what it is not. I for one know I could use a lot more grace in my life - it is what holds families and friendships together -- and I believe it more now than ever.

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Summary: This was the best book I have read in a long time.
Review: Let me say I am not a christian, I was raised as in a Lutheren Chruch , married a Christian women but still resist the "call". I was throughly impressed with Mr. Yancey's book. Not only was it entertaining and well written but it disscussed topics that are a big stubling block for nonchristians. i.e. legalism, inflexibility,judgement and on and on. If all christians read this book and took a good look at them self they may discover why people are turned off when people hear the word christian. I would say it is a must read and have already lent it out to friends with excellent reviews back.

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Summary: Why I'm suprised at the reception book has gotten.
Review: Yancey's response to getting the ECPA "Book of the Year" award:

ECPA Acceptance Comments from Philip Yancey

If I were a betting man, and you had asked me to place odds on me receiving this award tonight, I would guess something like a million to one. In the first place, long ago I learned an important principle: Never bet against Billy Graham. I thought his biography was a shoo-in for this award; in fact, if I had a vote, I probably would vote for it. It staggers me, and humbles me, that bookstore owners would judge my own book even in the same category. And I would like to say publicly that if ever there has been a leader who embodies in every way what I know about Grace, it is Billy Graham. For many years, we evangelicals have been blessed, because if we want to know what Grace looks like in action, all we have to do is look at Billy Graham. I honor him tonight, and the legacy he gives us.

The second reason I'm shocked by this award has to do with what I wrote in What's So Amazing About Grace? I remember telling my wife the day I mailed off the manuscript, "Well, honey, this may well be the end of my career in CBA circles." I wrote a complete chapter in the book on Mel White, a man who used to attend this conference and now is known as a leading activist in the homosexual movement. I had a couple of chapters that talked about my contacts with President Bill Clinton, not exactly a heroic figure among evangelicals. I decided to hold nothing back in this book and that's why I thought it might mark the end of my career.

Tonight, it looks like I underestimated the power of Grace. I didn't make up that word, and I didn't invent a single new concept in my book. I sought to rediscover the power of the original Gospel that Jesus brought, a Gospel powerful enough to knock down walls between Jew and Gentile, man and woman, slave and free.

I'll tell you a secret. My original title for the book was What's So Amazing About Grace and Why Don't Christians Show More of It? My editors eventually persuaded me that that title was a little long, and a little in-your-face. But, frankly, that's why I wrote this book: Because I was concerned that we in the church have lost our way. In our concern about important public issues, in our concern about alarming trends in our society, we were neglecting the most important message of all: that God loves sinners. That Jesus came not to people who deserve it, but to people who don't deserve it. Whatever we do, we dare not lose that core message of the Gospel, for if we do, we're all doomed.

My career did not end with the publication of What's So Amazing About Grace?, I'm happy to say. I cannot tell you how it humbles me and encourages me to receive this affirmation, to receive such overwhelming support from my publisher, from bookstore managers, and from the thousands of readers I've heard from. It gives me great hope that there's a future for Grace after all and if there's future for Grace, there's a future for the Kingdom of God, and there's a future for the sinful likes of you and me. That's what's so amazing about Grace.

Rating:
Summary: The best comtemporary Christian book out there
Review: A convicting yet gentle reminder to all who have been Christians for a long time to remember to extend the grace of God to others. Yancey is convicting without laying on a guilt trip in this well-written book. He uses stories that too many of us can relate to, some of the kept me pondering them for days afterwards. If you have ever felt slighted, judged or bitter at "the Church" for or if you have been tempted to exclude people who don't "fit in", I highly recommend this book. Refreshing and full of what we could all use a little more of and give a lot more of - grace.