What's So Amazing About Grace?

Rating:
Summary: How sweet the sound
Review: Philip Yancey is unarguably one of the most popular modern christian writers. But does that mean he is any good? Yes it does. Yancey pulls no punches with his portrayal of the lack of grace so often found in the church. He honestly shares his own search for real grace.

As ever he uses compelling illustrations from art, literature, cinema and his own experience. He never loses touch with his theme - grace is illogical, scandalous - amazing. It is encouraging and challenging. This is a landmark book.

Rating:
Summary: Repetitive and somewhat shallow
Review: I read this book for a class and with recommendations from other people saying "Oh that is a great book." The book contains a bunch of examples about 'grace' and then proceeds to elaborate on the subject further. Near the end, it turns into Yancey's own thoughts and views. After I finished this book, I wondered what I actually learned, and it really wasn't anything.

This book contains a lot of human stories, and only a limited amount of biblical theological references. The human stories about grace almost seem to be put on a high platform comparable to the grace of God by allowing Jesus Christ to be put on the cross. It is almost like Yancey relates human grace to the same level of God's grace through story after story. Toward the end I felt that the word 'grace' has been cheapened in comparison to the events surrounding the cross. When the book progresses, and Yancey starts to elaborate on his ideas, issues like accountability and responsibility seem to diminish in light of his views of grace. With such an emphasis on human grace, Yancey's vision would turn out to be a free-for-all for everyone. Much of the biblical commands are left out in terms of calling out what is wrong in worldly circumstances, instead the book basically says "just show grace, no other qualities are needed."

Whats So Amazing About Grace? does not benefit the reader who is looking for biblical knowledge and is trying to develop their own intellect. Instead it is written in a way that makes the reader feel temporarily all warm and fuzzy inside but does nothing to develop the mind. We will never be able to understand the extent of God's grace on this earth, and the message of this book leaves out one important side of God's character, that God is a God of Justice.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing in every way!
Review: The perfect counterbalance to his Church: Why Bother?, this Yancey work ranks up there with his Disappointment with God. It challenges us to be like God in gentle compassion, humility, generosity, and vulnerability, and is full of useful anecdotes and quotes in this regard.
If read with an open mind, it could change one's life towards missions, evangelism, and simply Christian living. The usual caveats about Yancey's openness to Roman Catholicism and liberal theology apply. Take it for what it's worth!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Grace...how good this book!
Review: You will certainly benefit from reading Yancey's book about grace. Chapters of beauty and clarity open your soul to God and the grace of God.

Very helpful read for an upcoming bible study on Grace.

Rating:
Summary: Reality Check!
Review: I just finished reading this book and I am dumbfounded. Too often we think that the successful Christian life is dependent on what we do to please God. Yancey demonstrates that the Grace of God is a gift to us that is misunderstood and undeserved but completely lavished upon us. What freedom we are given to revel in the Grace and Love that God has for us and allowing those Gifts to change how we live. The Christian life is truly a life full of the unmerited favor of God.

The intelligent and reasonable approach that Yancey uses in this book draws you in. He does not point fingers at the actions of others. He encourages us to allow the Grace of God to illuminate our hearts to reveal the desires and motivations that affect how we love our neighbors.

I encourage anyone who feels that their Christian walk has become stagnant to pick up this book and allow God to speak to them.

Rating:
Summary: "What's So Amazing About Grace?"--one AMAZING book!!
Review: My mother gave me a copy of this book one year for Christmas, but it wasn't until this summer that I actually decided to read, "What's So Amazing About Grace?" I have to say that once I picked it up, I was unable to put it down. I told my husband about it, and he picked it up and read it as I was. The only problem with the book was that my husband and I were fighting over who got to read the book on GRACE first! :-) After reading it, my husband and I suggested that we use it for our small group Bible study this fall, along with the workbook.

In my personal reading of the book, I was reminded of the Grace that God and others have shown me, and yet convicted that I am still so lacking in this same area. Yancey gently reminds the reader of what grace is, as well as how it is missing in the American church today. He uses touchy examples like homosexuality and abortion to exhibit the ungrace that Christians are able of showing.

Though there were a couple of things that I didn't completely agree with, this was overall a thought provoking book with invaluable lessons for today's Christian community. Yancey has done an incredible job pointing out areas that we need to work on, while still showing grace to the reader. I would not only HIGHLY suggest that Christians read this book, but I think that it is a good book to give to unsaved friends who have been burned by the "church" due to a lack of grace. A+A+A+A+...I can not say enough good things about this book! I can't wait to read it again!

Rating:
Summary: Taking the Amazing Out of Grace
Review: "Grace [is] the only unsullied theological word remaining in our language." (p.232) So writes Philip Yancey. Other words, like love, have lost their original theological meaning, but grace has managed to retain its profound meaning. What is that meaning? Grace, writes Yancey, means . . . well, I looked through the book in vain, really, for some succinct definition of the word. Yancey gives none. "In sum," he explains, "I would far rather convey grace than explain it." (p.16) Yancey's book is a collection of stories that illustrate what Yancey means by "grace," interspersed here and there with some political commentary and light scriptural exegesis. Part One is a description of our world as a place full of what Yancey calls "ungrace," the cure for which is grace. Part Two is a plea for the world to forgive. Part Three is essentially Yancey's manifesto on homosexuality, legalism, the Clinton presidency, and the work of Christian political action groups.

Yancey's indictment of the Christian church is that it should be less judgmental, more loving. I should admit here that it is exceedingly dangerous to say anything against a book that makes an argument like that. One cross word about it, and the reviewer has unwittingly condemned himself as a judgmental, unloving negativist. So I suppose we must begin with the premise that pointing out error is not necessarily a bad thing. Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and even Philip Yancey all do it quite frequently.

The extent of Yancey's definition (read, description) of grace seems to be that which may be described as "nice" or "kind" or "pleasant," though he doesn't use those precise words. For example, on page 13 of the book, Yancey says: "The Berlin Wall falls . . . ; Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat shake hands . . . -for a moment grace descends." These are all wonderful events, but would the Bible really define grace by them? Yancey also laments that in our world, "Test papers come back with errors-not correct answers-highlighted." (p.36) Unacceptable "ungrace," to Yancey. One wonders how Yancey can write such sentences and still exult that "grace" is "one grand theological word that has not spoiled." (p.12)

It is interesting to read the book and pinpoint whom exactly Yancey considers "ungrace," and whom he praises and defends as "grace." It seems that everyone whom Yancey would define as kind or nice is gracious, and everyone who is mean and unkind is "ungrace." Sometimes he gets it right. Nazis and racists are condemned; Martin Luther King, Jr. and those who minister to Nazis and racists are praised. Now, there are some profound reasons for saying thanks to a man like Martin Luther King, Jr. and for condemning the likes of Adolf Hitler. Those reasons have to do with sin and righteousness. But Yancey's judgments turn out to pivot not at all on sin, but rather on pleasantness and niceness: Abortion protestors, people who call homosexuality a sin, and anyone who writes a negative review of a Yancey book are all "angry," "vicious," and "vituperative." (p.227-228) By contrast, Bill Clinton, homosexuals, and even divorcees are lauded and pitied as people who have been the targets of Christian "hatred" (p.226) and "judgment." (p.11 and 31). The closest thing to a definition Yancey gives is on p.231 when he defines his word "ungrace" as "meanness and inflexibility." It may sound less than profound, but that is precisely the dividing line between the "grace" and the "ungrace" in Yancey's mind.

This emphasis on niceness also leads Yancey to discount the importance of conviction of sin. There are many examples, but perhaps the most illuminating is his discussion of homosexuality. Yancey steadfastly refuses to call it a sin. Homosexuals are just "different" people, he says. (p.163). Yancey is impressed by the "poignant" chant of the marchers at a gay-rights rally: "Jesus loves us, this we know . . ." (p.166) The scene is ironic. Here are people in flagrant violation of the Scriptures, and Yancey is more impressed that they can say the words "Jesus loves me" than he is disturbed by their sin. Grace is not simply an acceptance of everyone for the sake of harmony. There is something in the world called sin. Homosexuals are not merely "different." They are sinners, but instead of cowering under the judgment of God, as Christians do, and repenting of it, those marchers celebrate their sin and presumptuously sing "Jesus loves me." And Yancey can hardly find words to express his admiration for them.

Yancey tells the story of a prostitute whom he invited to church. (p.11) Her response was, "Church! Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They'd just make me feel worse." Of course, the church is to love sinners and tell them the gospel of Christ, but consider this-maybe the church is supposed to make that prostitute feel bad. Maybe it is actually loving to make someone feel uncomfortable about their sin. Jesus says that it is the very work of the Holy Spirit to "convict the world of guilt in regard to sin." (John 16:8) Imagine that! "The Holy Spirit! Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. He'd just make me feel worse!"

In the end, Yancey's conception of grace is inadequate. It evacuates the word of any meaning other than "niceness," which will eventually evacuate the gospel itself of any meaning. If grace is defined by "niceness" and evil by "meanness," then it is not surprising that Yancey might seem confused about whether Christians or homosexual militants are more "grace-full." So what's so amazing about grace? What is so amazing about grace is that this righteous God, who has sworn that He will punish sin, has nevertheless seen fit to extend it to a sinner like me.

Rating:
Summary: What's so Amazing about Yancey? Read and Find Out !
Review: Phillip Yancey, one of the best selling Christian writers, concludes his introductory chapter of this well written book by stating: "In sum, I would far rather convey grace than explain it." Fortunately for readers, he succeeds at doing both.

Yancey uses multiple stories to convey examples of grace in action, demonstrating why "Grace is Christianity's best gift to the world, a spiritual nova in our midst exerting a force stronger than vengeance, stronger than racism, stronger than hate." Yet, in his typical style, Yancey calls the "church" to task: "Sadly, to a world desparate for this grace, the church sometimes presents one more form of ungrace." This is often done, according to Yancey, "through a spirit of moral superiority or a fierce attitude toward opponents in the 'culture wars.'"

So many people today are hungry for the grace that God brought to this earth through Christ Jesus, His Son. Christians should strive to convey that grace to those who hunger and thirst for it. But too often those in the "church" show the exact opposite of grace - condemnation.

Yancey does not, however, fall in to the mistake of seeking to offer "cheap grace." Yancey does not accept the relativistic philospohy of many contemporary, postmodern liberal theologians who argue that there is no sin. Indeed, if there were no sin, there would be no need for grace. Yancey quotes the Christian principle that we must "Hate the sin but love the sinner, " acknowldging that this practice is "more easily preached than practiced. If Christians could simply recover that practice, modeled so exquisitely by Jesus, we would go a long way toward fulfilling our calling as dispensers of God's grace."

We've all sinned and fallen short - but fortunately, our Heavenly Father offers us His grace. We should respond to the gift of Grace by sharing that gift with the world, including with those who do not believe the same things we do. Christians especially should be known for their love - for the grace they convey to others - most especially to the last and to the least.

Read this book to discover an important writer's thoughts about the Amazing Grace that can be found and shared each and every day.

Rating:
Summary: Why is Philip Yancey so popular?
Review: Why is this book so popular and Philip Yancey the world's best selling Christian author(according to his website he has sold over 5 million books).
This book is exciting to read and brings peace to me as he explains grace from the perspective of himself and many other writers. He quotes C.S. Lewis as answering the question,"What makes Christianity different from other religions?" His answer is "grace". This book is unique in it's enlightening explaination of grace.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Great
Review: I got this book from a friend, i have never read any of Philip Yancey's books and the first thing that attracted me was the title. At first i wasn't finding it interesting, just because i wasn't used to his style of writing but later found it to be very lovely. I came to understand more about the word Grace - Gods grace to us and how it ought to reflect in our lives to those that do not deserve it at all. Not a theoretical issue but a very practical one that was demonstrated by Christ himself. It is simply great.
After reading the book, i just wanted more of it, his style of writing to me is unique. I hope to read "The Jesus I never knew" next.