This book was difficult to get through, especially the first half. I'll present the bad first:

In the beginning, one of the biggest problems I came across was Scripture being taken out of context/misapplied based on no more than a hunch... for example, Manning states that in the story where the disciples are trying to shoo away the children that want to see Jesus, Jesus "silenced the 12 with a withering glance," even though the actual Scripture passage (Mark 10:13-16) never mentions a withering glance, but does include his verbal "Don't stop the children from coming to me," etc.

He also seemed to read way more into Jesus' words for us to "become like little children" than I think is wise, as he seemed to be promoting lazy, reckless behavior, rather than the wisdom presented all throughout the Bible.

There was very little Scripture in this book, overall. Most of it consisted of stories/jokes which seemed to be included more for shock value or sentiment than for relevancy.

Manning blasted, over and over again, those individuals who don't live the way that he thinks Christians should - which is to say, the way Manning lives. There was no nuance, no understanding that we all have vastly different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, and therefore don't all reflect God's character in exactly the same way.

And this last thing is obviously just personal preference, but Manning used a lot of "big" words - I may not be the smartest person in the world, but I am a lifelong reader, and I came across several words in this book that even I didn't recognize. Therefore, I don't think this book is very lay-person accessible. (I found it ironic that at the very end, Manning states, "Long prayers and big words do not suit ragamuffins." [p 226])

For all the bad, though, the overarching message that grace is truly a gift from God, one that we can never earn or deserve, is a true one.

A quote I liked:

"The gospel of grace... proclaims the awesome truth that all is gift. All that is good is ours not by right but by the sheer bounty of a gracious God. While there is much we may have earned - our degree and our salary, our home and garden... - all this is possible only because we have been given so much: life itself, eyes to see and hands to touch, a mind to shape ideas, and a heart to beat with love. We have been given God in our souls and Christ in our flesh. We have the power to believe where others deny, to hope where others despair, to love where others hurt. This and so much more is sheer gift; it is not reward for our faithfulness, our generous disposition, or our heroic life of prayer.... My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it." (p 26-27) ( )

Once I began reading it I put other books aside. Who doesn't love a good writer who weaves the work of others -- Dostoevsky, Dillard, Kung, Flannery O'Connor, Burghardt, et al -- into his personal story presenting a joyful, really good news, approach to faith? There's something winsome about a priest who leaves the priesthood to marry and also writes about his journey as a recovering alcoholic.

Best of all, here is a Christina writer who doesn't eschew the faith journey of other traditions. There is no pretense of hierarchy of belief here.

"Compassionate love is the axis of the Christian moral revolution and the only sign ever given by Jesus by which a disciple could be recognized."

"...gentleness toward ourselves constitutes the core of our gentleness with others. ...the way of gentleness brings healing to ourselves and gentleness toward ourselves brings gentleness to others...Solidarity...frees the one who receives compassion and liberates the one who gives it in the conscious awareness "I am the other.""

"Christianity is not primarily a moral code but a grace laden mystery; it is not essentially a philosophy of love but a love affair; it is not keeping rules with clenched fists but receiving a gift with open hands."

Happily, I snagged this copy at a library book sale so felt no qualms wielding my pencil as I read. ( )

Far too often the truth of God’s grace has been polluted with legalism, rules and religion, hindering the children of God pursuing a life-giving, intimate relationship with their Creator-Father, and from receiving the acceptance and love purchased for them by Christ on Calvary.

The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning is a must read book that brings us back to this central truth of the Gospel of grace.

Filled with tangible examples from the Bible and our modern day world, the book propels us into a journey of encountering the Father’s passionate love for every person He has created, paralleling His desire that all come to Him through His Son Jesus.

Jesus’ immense suffering and sacrifice for us is the ultimate expression of that love and desire, shown in a way that could be called reckless and wasteful—giving His life in our place even though we fail to love Him day after day in so many ways, all of us continually facing the truth of our “ragamuffin” state.

I highlighted much throughout the book, especially in Chapter 8: Freedom from Fear. This chapter outlines various intricacies of fear’s poison in our lives, many we are often blind to.

The final section, a personal spiritual retreat, is a blessed addition to the book to help one enter more fully into the truth of God’s love and grace poured out upon us.

The only bothersome aspect of the book is the use of a few cuss words (which appeared not in the author’s writing but within quotations used for illustrations). Personally, I would rather the author paraphrased these additions without these words included.

Finally, the following quote from the spiritual retreat section perfectly summarizes the main premise and purpose of the book; furthermore, it clarifies the whole purpose every human being was made for by God:

“Is your relationship with Jesus marked by reckless love? Authentic Christianity, according to the Word, is this: It’s the thrill, the excitement, of falling in love with the risen, living Jesus Christ. He shows us the way to the Father, He pours out on us the Spirit of Pentecost—not so that we’ll be nicer people with better morals, but brand-new creations, human torches ignited with the flaming Spirit of the living God.”

I highly recommend this book!

Disclaimer: I received a free, review copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

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Of all of Manning's books, this is his most popular book that encapsulates his entire theology. I personally enjoyed All is Grace his biography of how he got to this book, but this is a fantastic book in and of itself. If you want to read a very readable book about what grace is without the heavy theology, this is the book.

There are wonderful stories in this book and Manning is a fantastic storyteller. He brings his own suffering and feeling of unworthiness to the forefront while examining the grace of God. This book has personally helped me. ( )