I thoroughly enjoyed the interview. I too am a recovering fundamentalist. Thank you, Sean, for what you do and thank you Philip Yancey for sharing your personal journey of grace and that it's okay to ask God questions.

I so resonate with everything Philip said. I grew up in a fundamentalist Baptist church, and once my parents were divorced we were "demoted" to second-class citizens. I remember viewing God as akin to something similar to Captain Caveman with his wooden bat just waiting to bop me on the head whenever I did something wrong which was always since there is no pleasing a perpetually angry God. It has taken YEARS and the immense kindness and patience of God to undo all of the gross misrepresentations of Him.

I just can’t put into words how this resonates. I found a little bit of myself in every member of your family, Mr Yancey. I am dealing with a huge amount of aftermath and have walked back so much. I had a similar supernatural spiritual experience that was alternately very frightening but caused my faith to grow. I have a son who is so similar to your brother it’s uncanny. I will pray for Marshall. Please pray for my Noah. Thank you. 🙏

Two very gracious men showing the love of their God! Thank you

Great interview! I appreciate how Sean asked the right questions and just let Philip answer. He doesn’t take over as so many interviewers do. Thank you!

"Grace costs everything to the giver and nothing to the receiver." My fave definition of Grace. This is in the book 'What's so Amazing About Grace' by Mr. Yancey. Loved it!

Philip Yancey is by far my favorite author. I have been more inspired by his honesty and transparency but also the depths of his thought process when dealing with tough questions concerning the Bible, faith and the character of the Almighty God. His books are so engaging and thought provoking. Sometimes I can only read a few pages of his books because I have to stop and seriously ponder what I just read. Absolutely a talented writer.

Terrific interview. The transparency, authenticity, and rawness is rare. The gentleness, humility, and lack of pretension is beautiful. Thank you.

Many of us, including me, ran from the legalism of fundamentalism into the arms of antinomianism (lawlessness) thinking that we'd found freedom in doing whatever we wanted and thinking God loves us no matter what we do. The common thread in both wrong approaches to God is that it assumes that God is not that good and that we are not that bad. True Christianity teaches that we are desperately wicked and deserving of God's wrath, but God in his rich mercy and love, send his own Son to stand in our place, taking the punishment we deserve. This resulted in peace with God for those upon whom God shows mercy. Salvation is for all who trust in Him.

Wonderful heartfelt interview. Worth watching for Christians and non-Christians.

My favourite author. What a marvellous interview. Thank you.

Thank you, Philip, for your honesty in sharing life experiences with the truth of the nature of God that are relatable and honest. The Christian life really is all about Grace, both on the receiving end and the giving end.

I grew up in a very similar theology. Thankfully, my father also exposed me to other Christian beliefs. Even though my church taught that speaking in tongues had ceased and therefore any speaking in tongues today (or miracles or personal prophecy) was now "of the devil", my family also often visited a mission run by Pentecostals and I could see how much THEY loved Jesus AND loved the down and out, the lost, the ones who needed Jesus most. My church believed that the hippies who were saved during the Jesus movement weren't really saved unless they cut their hair and shaved their beards. I went to a summer camp that was Christian and conservative but not legalistic as my church was. I could feel the Holy Spirit there, even against my will, as I was sliding away from a belief in God. God knows how to plant seeds in our hearts and He knows how to reach us even when we've been misled.

I can really relate to the upbringing. In my early twenties when I couldn’t understand why I had such palatable emotional pain even though I supposedly had all the answers from the Bible, your book, Where is God When it Hurts? was a breath of fresh air and my first foray into authenticity. There’s a lot of resources now but back then, there wasn’t much! Thank you, but I am concerned that you are straying from full truth with the recommendation of Rohr and some other things. Don’t start thinking you have more compassion than God or start making God over in your image. He is still full of both grace and truth.

What a beautiful interview, thank you both!

This was such a wonderful, interview. Such a blessing !Thank you much!💕✝️

Thanks a lot Sean. What's so amazing about Grace ! My first book I got through cover to cover. I don't regret my book reading debut. Thank You Mr Yancey for talking about reality as real as it gets. God bless you both.

I absolutely loved this interview. I love Mr. Yancey's books and am grateful for your ministry, Sean. I loved hearing this gritty, authentic and grace-filled interview. Thank you both and praise God!

Thank you so much for this interview. Like you, I have been impacted by Mr. Yancey and now by you. I appreciate so many of the programs that you have done, and I am thankful for your strong voice of hope in such a dark age. Keep up the good work !!

The new book shook my spirit and was mesmerizing. I used the audio version that you narrated yourself. Your tenor and tone--just gripped my heart. Great work Mr. Yancey. Your description of your own faults and queries so soothed my own faith experience. Thank you kindly

This is such a beautiful interview - ThankYou so much!

Loved this interview and testimony. Could relate to parts of his story. But my heart's 'caution ' signals went off major when he quoted Richard Rohr!

Thank you for your books, i am from Romania!!God bless you !!!

I'm almost guilty of seeing Philip Yancey as a hero! His books were fundamental in helping me sort out the truth from the lies and deception after I left the Charismatic "Health, Wealth and Prosperity" movement. Wonderful interview, thank you so much for doing this!

Thanks Sean, this was great. I hope this video gets a lot more views.

Did my old sometimes rebellious heart to sit by a fire here in the Northland to listen to this wonderful story. Many thanks!

I've read the book The Bible Jesus Read by Philip Yancey. It was a huge blessing in my life. Thank you sir for what you do.

This was edifying! Thank you both for this.

Huh. I'm pleased to see this very positive interview with someone who has been through a process of deconstruction. Most videos on this channel and others like it seem very anti deconstruction, but this puts it in a very positive light and shows what deconstruction is really about, and really for - to come to a deeper understanding of truth. On a personal note, Phillip thank you for sharing your story. Some points of it are very similar to my own. I have found your books immensely helpful in the past and will definitely be buying your memoir.

Thank you, so grateful to hear and view this wonderful talk. A friend of mine who passed two years ago, liked Philip Yancey's books and now I have learned about why, and more about Grace which I really needed.

Hurt, doubt and questions...daily life...the pilgrimage of each (even when lost or misdirected). Courageous to write and be so vulnerable....pure narrative would indicate deepening healing. Thank you, gentlemen.

After listening to Sean's opening I had to scratch my proverbial head. We need each other for encouragement and various kinds of helps (being many members of a single body with various gifts for building up the body) but we have everything we need for life and holiness in God's breathed words, especially within the New Testament Epistles, which are addressing the Body of Christ (for fully equipping believers for building up and maturing), a heavenly people, under Grace not laws for our righteousness. This includes all we need to hear from God concerning our lives throughout our time in these present dwellings while waiting for the adoption of our bodies as we grow Spiritually. It's one thing to relate to another believer's life, but God's breathed words are for our Spiritual knowledge and understanding, strengthening the faith of the believer, comfort when under pressure, holiness- being sanctified more and more as we walk in the Spirit, having been created in Christ, being seated in the heavenlies with Christ, always able to be before God's throne with our requests, being able to confess sin as a Child of God for forgiveness of said sin and being cleansed from all Unrighteousness, knowing what our eternity is, etc. and all we need to refute clearly, false teachings.

Great interview, great interviewer (who never interrupted!) and a great interviewee. Thanks so much to both of these gifted men. ❤️🇨🇦

Watched several of your episodes, and what impressed me most is your outstanding interview skills. Well prepared, master of words and your ability to draw out interesting points without stepping on the interview subject.

Wow! What a fantastic interview. Sean … Gods's grace is exemplified by the way in which u interview and include conversations with those of other beliefs. Your approach to those who disagree is to be commended. I received Philip's book this Christmas and plan to start reading today. Thank you ❤️🇨🇦

Wow, followed Philip Yancy a longtime. This interview was so good and background a surprise to me. God is soooo Good is really a truth here. He alone can make New after such doubt and Rebellion! His Grace really is so amazing huh Philip Yancy! Saw you teach that Book/ Sermon in person about 30 years ago in Chicago. Still have the Cassette tape!Ha. ♡ this story.

Excellent interview great job! What a beautiful story and thank you both!

Love yanceys soft voice. You hear the love of God through his mouth. Blessed brother... Will be praying for your brother and mother

I love to listen to Yancey-so articulate.

I so enjoyed the conversation

Spoken from the heart ❤️

I truly enjoyed this discussion with Sean McDowell and Philip Yancey but I must say that the reference to Richard Rohr caught me by surprise. In fairness, I hope that Philip Yancey was making a reference that was short of endorsement of Richard Rohr’s theology. I want to give the benefit of the doubt but I wish that this reference had not been made. I was just about to order WHERE THE LIGHT FELL but now would love to have some answers to whether or not Philip Yancey endorses the theology of Richard Rohr before I do.

Sean, your the most Brilliant interviewer . Thank You for bringing these folks . 🙏

Thank for showing us Jesus. In my early days as a Child of God - unlike you - I did not grow up in church and had absolutely no religious framework on which to build my own conversion experience. I devoured ALL of your books - drawn at first by the titles - but I found a place to experience God in your books outside of my voracious study of His word. Thank you for offering us a world in which Jesus is present and we are pilgrims vs being bad caricatures of Christ. LOVED this interview 🙏🏻

Excellent interview. I have some people in mind with whom I will share this extremely valuable conversation. Thank you, both.

I feel like I just met you….. i read all of your books, but this was so very special.

Hi Phil, Than you for sharing g your journey, even the painful parts.

This is so wonderful thank you.

Phillip Yancey is one of my favorite authors. His story is similar to mine. I have not finished Soul Survivor yet, because while wonderful, it brings up so much pain for me. I WILL finish it one day. So, I am looking forward to the new book, and I'm not sure how long it will take me to read it. ❤

What a privilege to hear this interview!

The meeting of Gods Humor with Grace is God’s MERCY.

Thanks for Sharing this Conversation, Hello from Ecuador :)

Dr. Sean McDowell -- Thank you SO MUCH for this; it was an amazing interview. I'm grateful for your steady, sturdy faithfulness to God's Word, and am old enough to have been influenced by your father's work during my late teen years as well. I am a longtime appreciative reader of Philip Yancy's books, and his willingness to transparently wrestle with common struggles of faith for believers. I listened to this entire thing, and learned much about him, and plan to get his book. While I grew up in Chicago, I've been living in Atlanta for 38 years now, so his Yancy family history here was fascinating. However towards the very end (last 5 - 10 minutes), two things troubled me deeply, and I wonder if you might address them, if possible. I sincerely am not trying to stir up controversy, but we live during a time when there is so much unfaithfulness creeping into churches, both subtly and blatantly... and it grieves me to see God's warnings about the costs go unheeded. It is God's reputation being defamed, not ours... and that's why it's vital to address it accurately. My two concerns were this: 1) His passing reference to the writings of Richard Rohr. I hope that's not an endorsement because Mr. Rohr is doing great damage in a popular and "seductive" way, by "equalizing" all major world religions. That is contrary and unfaithful to the exclusive and uniquely essential INTERCESSORY work and person of Jesus Christ... who is both our LORD and our SAVIOR (two distinct roles ONLY He can accomplish). Richard Rohr's messages are seducing people straight towards Hell. 2) Mr. Yancy's allusion to Jesus saying to His disciples "Okay... Goodbye!! I'm OUTTA here!" when He returns to Heaven after His Attoning work on the Cross and Resurrection. Mr. Yancy implies that Jesus departs and "leaves us to our own devices". That is INCOMPLETE and UNFAITHFUL. Jesus REPEATEDLY assures His disciples that when He departs, the HOLY SPIRIT will come and be PRESENT within those who believe. In fact, Jesus says the Holy Spirit WILL NOT come until AFTER He has returned to Heaven, We are not only ill-equipped, but totally INCAPABLE of doing the work Jesus assigned for us to do WITHOUT the Holy Spirit. And as you know, just being HUMAN does NOT mean the Holy Spirit is present and working in everyone's hearts. Please know, I'm not trying to be contentious in bringing this up. But I am mindful of how relentless God's enemy is. It can sound so innocuous, and what's "left out" can seem so "slight" and innocent, but for the Deceiver it is intentional and poisonous. We can never forget how it all began: in a perfect Garden where every need was met, and a serpent asked, "Did God REALLY say...?" Oftentimes the most dangerous traps don't have Red blinking lights or blaring warning horns. They are subtle OMMISSIONS, intriguing MISDIRECTIONS, or clever DISTRACTIONS. Jesus and His Apostles warn us repeatedly to BE ALERT, be AWARE, to Not be DECEIVED. We must take Him at His word, there is so much at stake. Again, thank you both for this interview.

Yancey pinpointed meaningful topics must be in our heart: Grace, love, service, living for the gospel.

I've read Phillip Yancey for years. I'm loving this interview.

Wow! I typically have a lot to say, but this testimony just struck me.

Philip has been and is being used in a great way by The LORD. I am so thankful God awakened me at 1:30am a few weeks back and had me listen to an interview. I bought the light fell book for a family member who has been so broken by her parents. GOD is continuing to be rich in mercy.❤🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

I’ve never been able to see how the church attendance and life and the Bible connect. I tried for years through attendance , Bible study, to make connection with Christians with no result. I finally gave it up and have peace and faith in God who has never failed me.

Thank both of you very much! Greetings from Ukraine!

Beautiful, thank you 🙏

Thank you both.

Very interesting. Thank you both. Thank you for speaking about God’s love through Jesus Christ and it’s love and not judgement and condemnation that brings any and all to Jesus Christ. God uses all things and all people to bring those to Himself. Didn’t read his memoir yet. We all have stories and remember God is not a genie snapping a finger to make someone immediately pristine. We are all complex and God gets that. 💗💙🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Man... How is Sean not tearing up? Stories of His grace like this... they just hit different

Good discussion!

Thank you so very much 😊🙏!

Thank you so much!!!

I was truly engaged in this interview, until he quoted Richard Rohr. So confused.😔

Thank you.

Thank you!

Amen, hope for your brother still.

Speaking from experience, it isn’t easy for a woman to bring up boys on her own, and impossible for her to take on the role in their lives that a father would have had.

I can't help but wonder, how many of our "convictions" and beliefs are reactionary in nature? If we did some serious introspection, I'm willing to bet that many - if not most - of our strongest convictions are probably the result of some form of conflict in our life. I wonder if we can even help it. Even the way we read and interpret the Bible is severely restricted by our personal experiences.

Soooo good

Thank you for the reference to 'A Grief Observed' - I had completely forgotten about that one and while I knew what it was about (and having read most of the rest of his opus) had avoided that one as "it didn't apply to me". I lost my wife a little over 2 years and have prayed many times "Lord where were you when she needed you most? Help me to understand - I cannot bear this".. Guess it's "get thee to a library" time which is ironic since I spend a fair bit of time in historical forums and commonly say that to others when they say something inane...

just as Sean has said phillip yanceys books. have so influenced my Christian life. I had a huge trial in my life. his books were a lifeline. Dorothy f

Grace is awesome!

I thought that name looked familiar! Just 2dys ago I saw a memory show up on FB that was of a video by Philip. It starts off with a big puffy cheeked Goldfish. I wanted to share that on MeWe with some friends but could not find it anywhere other than FB. So Philip, if you see this, I'd love to know where you got that video from so I can share it other than on FB. That said, I'm coming back to make a final comment having finished the video. There is a LOT that I could respond to and questions I could ask. For example, having listened to Philip's "testimony", I still don't understand how the conversion happened and I see a lot of problems with his theology and soteriology. But to keep this short I'll just say I see Philip doing much of what SO MANY folks do and that is develop their theology, their soteriology, and even their God/Jesus based on their experiences rather than a rightly dividing the Word from a proper Hermeneutic and sound Exegesis of His Word. And that is Idolatry. It is creating a god in one's own image according to one's own ways, will, and wisdom.

I spent forty years in the IFB/KJVO movement. Much like Brother Yancey, I became disillusioned as I encountered the error and misrepresentation of scripture. Fortunately, my faith was steadfast and I grew even closer to God. While I reject modern fundamentalism, I am a classic fundamentalist. That is, I believe in the miracles and veracity of the Bible. Luckily, we while very strict in our fundamentalism, usually had black people in our churches. I must say that in the military communities during this time, we had the most ethnically diverse congregations I have ever seen. We are now in a conservative SBC church and we are very comfortable in the nice balance. When I learned that God's Word was also in other English translations, I began to tell others and that is the catalyst drove my Fundy churches to marginalize and even shun me and my family. My wife and kids maintained their KJV onlyism, but that didn't matter as we one damaged package that had strayed into error. Ironically, when I managed to extricate us from Fundy congregations, the pastor became shrill and spied on us for years. Fundies generally believe that other churches/denominations are Hell-bound and beyond hope. When you leave a Fundamentalist church that you were never really a true believer in Christ. When we finally escaped the dark side of Christendom I felt a heavy burden had been removed, and an overwhelming sense of freedom! Praise God for delivering us from a movement that is shattering Christian love and unity. 🙏🏼

Dr Gary Habermas has some excellent messages on doubt.

Great but sad story. Reminds me of my dad’s experience growing up in the Church of God in Alabama. I am curious how you deal with the fact that the god in the Old Testament WAS THAT RUTHLESS GOD of which you were taught in that fundamental church? Again, great story and, even as a forward Christian agnostic, I’m so happy for your success in what you are doing. Bless you, you great, strong man.

Get the book, or hear it on audible. Phil reads it himself. You will love it and learn from it.

This is what my books on Amazon are all about.

Listening, breathing in grace and breathing out grace.....

Very interested because I’m both a Yancy and a McDowell fan.

What a great question- to help those who don’t have his experience!

The story of Philip's brother is heartbreaking. We need to remember the power of our words and how easy it is to curse our own children. Heaven help us to reflect the love of our Wonderful God! 🙏🏼

I loved this! He's so right-the church often doesn't represent her Bridegroom correctly- causes so much hurt. I can't agree with the God loving a rebel phrase-but I do agree He's gracious with our questions and struggles.

I'm not a believer any more but mad respect for Philip Yancey. "What's so Amazing About Grace" hit me hard and was very helpful when I read it after my conservative and legalistic upbringing.

I agree that God's grace is greater than our ability to offend and that He knows our hearts regardless of what we say "to His face," but it's good to remember that God Himself rebuked Job for his impudence in both his mindset and his words to and about God. It may be forgivable to rail at God, but it's still wrong and needs to be repented of when we do it. David consistently humbled himself after he poured out his frustration with and to God.

Super! Both of you

How do you distinguish between worshipping just a character in a book versus worshipping a god described in a book who actually exists?

Hey Brother Sean, please do you journal while you read books? If you do, how are you able to find what journal you wrote about what book? Like how do you keep track. Or when you see a book you read to be able to look back and say oh that's in that specific journal and find it? Well this is if you journal

What's the name of the book by Dallas Willard recommended by Mr. McDowell?

What is the date and year of this.

Philip quoted Richard Rohr? He is very New Age according to Marcia Montenegro.

I find it amusing really that the very fundamentalist ideas that are entrenched lead to those who are trapped by it being so fearful of being challenged. It reminds me of children in the sandpit declaring they won't play with one child because that child associates with another. And you wonder why people are leaving the church in droves. Yancey keeps an open mind. Yes, it's ALL about grace.

What do you do if you've been a part of a charismatic fundamentalist kind of church and now you've learned some of these things and now you're torn between what to do because you know it's not right for people to say thus saith the Lord or here's a word of faith in the same person speaking in tongues is also interpreting it we've come to love the people especially my wife and her friends I just don't know what to do

Does the lord still work all things together for our eternal good or not?

What makes you believe that the Gospel writers, writing 50 years after Jesus’ departure, didn’t put their own hangups into the gospel narrative? What makes 55A.D. anymore supernatural then 2021? The Gospel’s been whittled down to a punched ticket to heaven, without the supernatural, there is no power or good news in it. I grew up fundamentalist and now find myself a humanistic Atheist. I still enjoy listening to people like Philip Yancey and Sean McDowell. I believe they’re doing their best on their journey.

Paranoid Schizophrenia is generally hereditary. When Mr. Yancy was describing his Mother...l was already thinking that his mother may have some paranoid mental destabilization...probably from some Complex PTSD from her childhood & then again husband's death. PTSD is a brain injury, not mental illnesses & without proper healing (thru balanced nutrition, proper sleep, taking walks, etc) the brain will continue to be additional harmed instead of heal. The personality will be Unstable. Overeactions, screaming, yelling, feeling misunderstood or feeling confused, unsound decisions or unreasonable expectations, anger & control issues that could manifest as OCD perfection (of one's home, ones environment or perfection of one's people (to create order due to chaos not chosen) as the affected person is trying to keep order & stability. Depression is factor usually filled by eating, sex, drug, alchohol, religious addiction (ie scientology example). The mother (perhaps eating conditions presented) was addicted to church, church people & church rules. The son (Marshall) was addicted to opposing church rules (drugs, sex). Sounds like the mother & son were both trapped by a medical condition (Complex PTSD) - becoming a mental condition (Paranoid Schizophrenia). Unfortunately there was no understanding of C-PTSD until recently & we still simply do not know enough. We overlook or do not even think about C-PTSD & ask if CPTSD could be a factor in our story & look through the previous generations weaved within our story. It is fanatical to look for the devil behind every door & just as fanatical to look for a psychological diagnoses behind every door - however, just as we must rightly apply God's Attributes & Word for proper human & Spiritual balance - we must apply mental & medical conditions that affect certain parts of our brain that might be biologically fragile by nature. When those fragile areas of our brain is invaded by sustained & continued trauma...this fragile part of the brain becomes damaged from combining situations - our biological makeup (nature) & added naturing trauma.