Ive just discovered his writings and love what I see…however, I cant find antyhing indicating his thoughts on “salvation”…is he sort of inclusivist? universalist? exclusivist? Any thoughts?
Thanks for any input!
Zaida
Hi,
I have ‘What’s so Amazing About Grace’ in the house but haven’t read it for a number of years. It seemed to me back then that he felt that Grace was certainly more powerful than in traditional theology but that free-will if exercised eternally against that Grace would defeat it and consign the unrepentant sinner to Hell foe ever. He may have changed his position in the intervening years.
I love how honest Yance is. And I think he’s changed over time. I most recently heard he was criticized for his “open theism.”
Zaida, can I ask where you’re from? Your name is Arabic and I’ve lived most my life in the Middle East.
Tom
Great question zaida (no capital “z” just like you write!)
I’ve read Yancey for as long as I’ve been an engaged believer (some might call that the “being saved” experience I suppose) which is since 1994. And the man is about as insightful and honest a thinker/writer as I can imagine. He has helped me enormously over the years.
Am about half way through his latest book titled WHAT GOOD IS GOD? Wow – good stuff.
And I’ve found myself asking that exact question! Again and again!
But Yancey is an incredibly clever and insightful man. And incredibly wise. He will NEVER be so self-defeating as to come down for something like Universalism. (He mentions it in this book very briefly as being one of those “controversial” doctrines.) For let’s just face it and be honest here: to come down firmly and publicly FOR Universalism would mean that his credibility for the vast majority of Christians would be shot. Over. Kaput. Millions would be able to discredit him by saying “after all, he is a ‘Universalist’”.
Our church’s former youth pastor, and one of the most brilliant public speakers I’ve ever heard, is very interested in the subject (hear him speak and you’d swear he was a UR believer!) and we’ve talked and I’ve begged him, if he becomes convinced of UR, to keep it quiet and private. For the scope of his witness and his effectiveness would be SEVERELY curtailed if he “came out”. (so-to-speak)
Same with Yancey; he’s a tiny bit like Obama in the sense that he presents himself as being perhaps one of YOU; you imagine that he’s ON your page and thus his effectiveness is greatly magnified and enhanced. I think he understands that to embrace Universalism (my guess is he’s very sympathetic, maybe even “hopeful”, but not ready to explicitly come down in favor of the idea. Even privately.) would be to diminish his own voice. And he understands how he is seen and cherished by countless millions from many and varied denominations! Including my own! It’s a rare talent to be able to speak powerfully to truth, yet to blend in and be seen as a part of very widely different groups of Christians.
For that reason I believe Yancey is most effective for the cause of Christ – and I’ve no doubt he is one of Christ’s best representatives on this earth – by being something to everyone like he is. I hope/trust you see my point here.
TotalVictory
Bobx3
I was talking to one of Australia’s most respected evangelical leaders a few years ago. (His big work is with outlaw bikies.) He told me that he believed the grace of God would catch everyone in the end, but he would never preach it. “People are such mealy-mouthed, conniving bastards,” he said. “They’d try to take advantage of it.”
Nice one Allan - I can just hear the long Aussie ‘a’ in baastards! - much the same sentiment as Jeremiah really - nothing so devious as the heart of man 
Hi everyone - Thanks for all of your replys. Im really glad there are other Yancey fans out there!
Tom, I think you asked about my name. Zaida is actually my middle name. My mother comes from an islamic background (pakistani islamic) and she gave all of her childran arabic middle names. “Zaida” means prosperous I believe…I am a “name” person, I love names, and both my sons have a first name, and two middle names! It occurred to me, I have this meaningful middle name I never use, so I use it now on internet sites, forums, etc…Im not trying to hide or anything (my first name is Tamara)…but I just get a kick out of using my middle name!
Its interesting, the idea that maybe Yancey is toying with universalism, or possibly inclusivism…Im surprised that noone has come right out and asked him, that theres nothing in any of the interviews I found addressing that point…I have mixed feelings about “hiding” the fact that one is a universalist, although I TOTALLY understand the point people are makming, about losing ones audience once one admits to such a thing! Isnt it sad, that people get so upset over the idea of univesral salvation? I cant rememer what writer said this, but one Christian writer said something along these lines"even if one doesnt believe its true every Christian needs to at least HOPE that every individual on the planet will be saved…that has to be a happy thought for a true christian"…
Anyway, Im enjoying this discussion!
Zaida
I agree it’s a cool name 
So you might be one of a few people who will really appreciate my son’s name: Levi Obadiah Charlton Smith or L.O.C.Smith (now if he actually becomes a locksmith 
). It’s a bit nerdy but if he takes after me, he’ll appreciate it, hopefully…
Yes Alex - Your son has a FAB NAME!!! I love loong, interesting names with stories behind them…I can speak for 3 hours on how I chose my sons names…and Im always naming my non-existent children as well, lol…
I’m glad some people appreciate it
True humans are sinful and try to take advantage. People already try to take advantage of Grace and the Gospel, but that’s no reason not to tell them about it. If anything, it’s all the more reason to tell them as the Gospel is the only way to change that attitude!
LOL – that’s wonderful!
Too much of a focus on the fact of everyone’s eventual salvation skews the message. But, I think, the message that each individual needs to hear may be different. To the paralytic on his pallet, Jesus said, “Take courage, child. Yours sins are forgiven!” To the Pharisees he says, “You brood of vipers…” to the woman caught in adultery, “Where are your accusers? Does no one condemn you? Neither do I condemn you–go and sin no more.”
Perhaps the right message to the biker gang is, “Make peace quickly with your adversary at law, lest he turn you over to the judge, and the judge to the jailer, for you will not come out until you pay the last cent!”
Judgment and justice is an essential aspect of the gospel message. Paul preached in Athens, “God is calling all men everywhere to repent, for he has set a day when he will judge the world…” I don’t believe anyone will be allowed to “get away with” their sin, and that part of the message can get lost or neglected if our focus is only on the ultimate end result of God’s work.
Sonia