The Ragamuffin Gospel (by Brennan Manning)

(Amazon UK link)

I had never heard of Brennan Manning when my son sent me his book ‘The Ragamuffin Gospel’ for my birthday many years ago. I thought it excellent, and then gradually started acquiring more of the author’s books. I re-read this one in 2012, so after a ten year gap it was more than time for another read through.

Brennan Manning was a Catholic priest who left the priesthood and got married fairly late in life. He knew how much God loved him, and he also knew that he was far from perfect. He made mistakes, he committed sins, his lifestyle was not compatible with following Jesus… and yet he knew, without a doubt, that God loved him, and would always welcome him back to the fold, no matter what he did.

The message doesn’t seem particularly dramatic today, when there are many excellent books about God’s love and grace, but back in 1990 when this was first published, it was seen as rather in opposition to the somewhat performance-based Christianity of the American church - the Protestant evangelicals in particular, but apparently the Catholics too. Manning hated seeing people acting, pretending to be better than they were or - almost worse - so screwed up that they felt unable to approach God at all.

The book is divided into eleven chapters, the first one simply called ‘Something is radically wrong’. It outlines what Brennan Manning saw as the main problem with Christianity and following Jesus towards the end of the 20th century. Subsequent chapters explore different aspects of this, in different ways.

The writing is good, peppered with relevant anecdotes and some confessions from the author. There’s plenty of good applications of Scripture too, but the overwhelming message, coming through repeatedly, is that God’s love covers everything. The parable of the Prodigal Son is discussed, as a supreme example of the Father’s love, going to meet even the smallest hint of moving towards him. 

Definitely recommended for all Christian believers, including those who are on the fringe of the church, or who have lapsed entirely. The book is positive and encouraging without denying the reality of sin and evil in the world.

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