Author Philip Yancey recently confessed to an eight-year extramarital affair and announced that he was stepping down from ministry, including writing, speaking, and social media. Yet another Christian leader falls to sexual sin after decades of ministry! The response among Christians has been mixed, but I have seen many harsh condemnations of Yancey. This I have issue with.

I understand being disappointed—how could we not be? But angry, spiteful, condemning, these I do not understand. After all, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Right?

As far as I can tell, Yancey is in pretty good hands: David, a “man after [God’s] own heart,” fell to adultery and murder; his son Solomon fell to lust, greed, oppression through slavery, and idolatry; Hezekiah fell to pride, and in those prideful years birthed and raised Manasseh, the worst king of Judah who did the most to bring the judgment that came via the Babylonian exile, but even after all that he was still able to repent and be restored! There are plenty more examples like these.

Not even the greatest among us is beyond slipping and falling into horrible sin. I know this full well of myself, and it keeps me humble. I, too, am tempted to think, “I would never do that,” or “How dare he!” Then I remember my own mistakes, foolishness, grievous sin, and yes, betrayals. The higher the position you are in, the greater the temptation. Yancey’s confession should be a reminder for us to pray for our leaders, religious and political and our bosses, because they need it.

If we are commanded to instruct our opponents gently, how much more gentle should we be with our own? I have seen criticism of Yancey’s confession, which honestly blows me away. Please, read his confession, I think it’s perfect. Nothing is perfect, but what is missing from that one? Sure, we can nitpick at anything, does that mean it’s warranted? No. Throwing stones on social media is too easy, and Christians succumb to this evil all too often.

Philip Yancey sinned, yes, but he was not a predator, and he was not taking advantage of multiple women, as so many others have. We don’t know the details, and I don’t think we ever should—he has given us enough to understand his sin. He was able to repent and move toward healing with all those involved before leaving this life, rather than leaving behind a tainted legacy full of unknowns.

We Christians should be looking toward his restoration, not trying to tear him down further. If his prior ministry was full of truth and grace and love, the truth of that grace and love should still remain, and in light of his repentance, is worthy of our desire that it be restored. As for me, I am grateful for his repentance, I still appreciate his life of ministry, and I pray that everyone involved will experience healing.