A Review of Brennan Manning's "The Ragamuffin Gospel"

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/ranking/4380
The 2005 re-print of the 1990 classic best seller, The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, comes complete with a foreword by Michael W. Smith, a testimony by the late Rich Mullins,  nineteen meditations for a personal spiritual retreat, and an updated chapter chronicling some of the opposition the author has received from his critics. Loaded with scripture, cited quotations, and anecdotes that will make you laugh, cry, and retreat into deep contemplation, The Ragamuffin Gospel is written like a well researched sermon intended for an audience of a handful of friends gathered at your house. 

            Grace—a word I thought I understood after walking with the Lord for over half of my life, three years of seminary, private study, and a career in the ministry, but Manning stretches all of our understanding of what it means to experience it. Manning writes the book from the dichotomous perspective of a former Franciscan priest and an alcoholic—someone who understands and can explain the most complex theological positions and make them understandable, and has experienced the depth of his own depravity with his addiction to alcohol. Manning argues that we each must come to grips with our own depravity before we can move on in much the same way an alcoholic cannot begin recovery until he or she admits the seriousness of their problem.

            Manning has received harsh criticism for his views on grace, and God’s love for us despite our depravity. One can understand his critic’s point of view if they only listen to half of his message. Their criticism is rooted in the fear that if God loves us exactly where we are (something we all teach the youngest of Sunday school students) what motivation do we have to grow and mature as a Christian, and what is the role of the pastor or other spiritual leader? Should we not be encouraging our flocks to live a godly life? Manning would say, “Yes, of course, but pretending to be something we are not isn’t helping anybody including yourself.” Once you understand the depth of your depravity, that God is still head over heels in love with you, and that you have done nothing to earn it and, therefore, can do nothing to maintain it, then and only then do you have the freedom to grow in Christ. Failures are no longer detrimental to your life, but mere stepping stones.

            So pastor, parishioner, or unbeliever, if you are feeling “bedraggled, beat-up, or burnt out;” if you sought Your Best Life Now but felt like you were left with nothing but hollow theology; if you truly want to grow your relationship with Christ, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of The Ragamuffin Gospel. If the Lord tarries, it is my belief that this book will go down in history as one of the great classics. Manning rises above the crowd of weak-kneed, ear tickling, applause loving preachers, with a self-deprecating humility that is much needed in today’s world. Thank you, Mr. Manning.           

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.