Above all (by Brennan Manning)

(Amazon UK link)

One of the modern Christian songs which I have loved ever since I first heard it is the short but profound ‘Above all’, which was first sung by Michael W Smith. The writer Brennan Manning was so moved by this that he wrote a book, a kind of devotional based on the words of the song. I found the book in an online bookshop about eight years ago, and read it in 2017.

It’s a beautifully presented book. My edition is a hardback with a very attractive cover, and the inside is nicely laid out with some pages blank other than containing a phrase or two from the song, or a quotation from the book. I expect that this is, in part, to pad out the contents since it’s really a very short book. Even with this spaced layout, and including an introduction by Michael W Smith, it’s only 140 pages.

And yet there’s a lot in the book. I have always liked Brennan Manning’s writing. He had an interesting life, which is recounted in others of his books. He was a Roman Catholic priest for some years, although he eventually resigned from the priesthood and got married. He was a recovering alcoholic when he first became a believer, and had several relapses. In his books he acknowledges his many weaknesses, and also the immense power and strength derived from his love for Jesus.

In the first chapter - after a brief introduction - Brennan Manning talks about who Jesus is. Not in ‘religious’ phrases, but from his own personal experience. He points out that most of us have a very skewed view of Jesus - we either tend to see and love his tender, loving side, or the powerful creator of the universe who was very outspoken against hypocrites. But Jesus is all of these and so much more - ‘above all powers, above all kings, above all nature and all created things…’, as the song puts it. 

In just seven pages of text in the first chapter, Manning gives an overview of God’s overpowering love. He demonstrates how even the most broken or sinful of people can be forgiven. While the concept is, of course, not new to me, I found it moving and thought-provoking.

Other chapters follow a similar pattern. A small phrase or line from the song is used as an introduction, and the author then expands on that. The first half of the book - the first three chapters - is headed ‘above all things’, and concentrates on the holiness, wisdom and other aspects of God as displayed in Jesus.  

The second part (three more chapters) is headed, ‘You thought of me above all’ - the final line of the song. In these chapters, Manning reminds us what Jesus went through, and how much he loves every individual. He looks at the way Jesus was rejected and alone, reminding us that if we feel that way, we have someone who can sympathise and understand. And the last chapter looks at the transformation that is available to each of us, if we allow the risen Christ to live in us.

In one sense it’s fairly simplistic, laying out the truths of the gospel in quite basic terms. With such short chapters the author can’t go too deeply into any of the concepts, although he does that in some of his other books. In another sense, this is really all that needs to be said. It’s beautifully written and presented. 

In my view, this book would make a good gift to anyone feeling lonely, or unsure about their faith.  Sadly it's no longer in print, but can sometimes be found in excellent condition, used. 

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