I met Brannan Manning first in his book [b:The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out|173526|The Ragamuffin Gospel Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out|Brennan Manning|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1266488592s/173526.jpg|863196] that was published in 1990. I wonder if he'd reconsider some of the ideas he put forth in The Lion and the Lamb -- published in 1987, because I found myself confused as a reader.

Many ideas echoed the joyful voice of Ragamuffin Gospel, but more than once I felt bounced from a delightful, wild and trusting and "reckless" confidence in the love of God into a self-conscious, self-evaluation of my life of faith. Am I the 30%, 60% or 100% believer Manning profiles in his reading of the parable of the sower? (148-149) I always thought these numbers were about the amazing outcomes possible because of the work of the Spirit. And there's a distinct difference between 30% and 30 times...

I could not resonate with the notion that, according to Manning and the French poet Paul Claudel, "Since the incarnation, Jesus has only one desire: to recommence the human life he lilved. That's why he wants additional human natures, people who'll let him start over again." (77) Really? One incarnation was not sufficient? Perhaps the context -- an argument for the the value of suffering -- is what made me squirm. What about the yoke that is easy and the burden that is light? On a side note, I'm reading this in tandem with [b:When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times|687278|When Things Fall Apart Heart Advice for Difficult Times|Pema Chödrön|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320553046s/687278.jpg|2464740]. I'm curious about her non-theist thoughts on suffering...

Manning's uneven approach left me on guard and ready to argue when I'd hoped to engage and be challenged toward renewed faith and hope.

Manning does weave wonderful quotes through each chapter.
p 108 "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very act of existance becomes an act of rebellion." Albert Camus

p 116 "Not fearless and tearless, not unscarred and unshaken. Quite the contrary: you are a wounded healer, dreadfully vulnerable." Henry Nouwen

Manning himself writes with clarity and beauty...
p 132 "One of the most shocking contradictions in Christian living is the intense dislike many disciples of Jesus have for themselves. ...They are fed up with themselves, sick of their mediocrity, disgusted by their own inconsistency, bored by their own monotony. ...Through experiencing the relentless tenderness of Jesus, we learn first to be gentle with ourselves. ...It is simply not possible to know the Christ of the Gospels unless we alter our atttude toward ourselves and takes sides with Him, against our own self-evaluation. ... Would you like to know at this moment how Jesus feels about you? ...if you love yourself intensely and freely, then your feelings about yourself correspond perfectly to the sentiments of Jesus." ( )

Please take a look at this if you want to see JC in a new way
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Very readable - all the more so second time round. The first time I read this, I thought it not quite as incredible as 'The Ragamuffin Gospel' by the same author, but still thought-provoking. The second time, I found it extremely encouraging and quite moving.

Brendan Manning looks at Jesus from various viewpoint, focussing each time back to his love and immense tenderness.

Highly recommended, for all Christians who like to think, or for anyone interested in knowing more about God's love.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-relentless-tenderness-of-jesus-... ( )

This book is an excellent look at how Jesus was tender yet powerful. Brennan Manning breaks down in three sections Experiencing Jesus, Jesus at Easter, and Jesus at Christmas. Manning is able to explain in simple terms and ways just how Jesus loves us. ( )