Philip Yancey’s Soul Survivor

I just finished reading Philip Yancey’s Soul Survivor — How My Faith Survived The Church earlier today, and as with his previous books, it gets my recommendation. Yancey writes short biographies on several individuals who were instrumental in him returning to a faith he had abandoned. The individuals range from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Gandhi, Leo Tolstoy to C. Everett Koop. All of the chapters are fascinating, though I think I found the one on Henri Nouwen the most rewarding on a personal level.

I highly recommend checking out any of his books if you’re a (Non-)Christian struggling with the Church, or the apparent dichotomy between what Christians preach and what Christians really experience and practice. Reaching for the Invisible God or What’s So Amazing About Grace? are very good starting points. As you read his books, you’ll notice common themes, ideas, quotes, and statements pop up in all of them, and they’re all poignant and moving.

Yancey has been as influential as C.S. Lewis in my personal life. Indeed, they’ve probably done quite a bit to restore some sanity and normalcy into my life over the past 12 months. He’s brought some real insight to my life, probably more so than 95% of the sermons I’ve heard.