A review of The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. For many years and up until just recently, all my emails would go out with this signature attached. The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today, is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. This, is what an unbelieving world, simply finds, unbelievable. I wrote that entirely without looking it up, so much has it become ingrained in my thoughts. Some of you will recognize this quote, especially if you like Christian rock/hiphop group DC Talk as they use this quote on the start of one of their songs. It wasn't until about 2 years ago someone emailed me and corrected me about it's origin. Turns out it was actually Brennan Manning that first penned it. So the author of The Ragamuffin Gospel has been having an impact on me much longer than I have known about him or his books. Well as I have said last week, I am now listening to far more books in audio rather than reading them. And as you can see from the reviews I have been able to do, it really does enable me to "read" far more books than I normally would. The bookmarking feature of Apples iPod just makes it so versatile. The computer will keep playing from where I last stopped on my iPod and vice versa.

The Ragamuffin Gospel. Brennan Manning. So who is this book for? It's primarily for new believers, Pastors, and anyone else who has a heartbeat. If I had a name, I would write a book like this myself, for without wanting to sound conceited Brennan echoes the cry of my heart. I have been in ministry a long time. Long enough to have seen the incredible injustices so many suffer at the hands of those who hold title and position in the body. I am not sure they'd like to meet Brennan Manning in a dark alley, but then again, I am not sure anything but grace would flow from Brennan at that time. I do not see how this book could have been written without many a tear having been spilt. He so perfectly pictures the problems of our current fascination with turning Church into businesses, and contrasts it with the way of Jesus. Here, Brennan says, is a Church for ragamuffins, misfits, outcasts, delinquents, rejects, etc, this is the Church of Jesus Christ. But look, in today's Churches, we reserve the front seating for the Pastors and Elders, or the big givers. It is business as usual. The former are not welcome. They may be put up with, but hardly welcome. With gentle elegance, Brennan lifts the shroud from our eyes and shows us a picture of the true Church of Jesus Christ.

A Pastor I knew in New Zealand once objected when I told him that I don't think the Church in its current state is what Jesus really wants us to have. Ironically he calls himself a reformer. If it's ok, why reform it? Of course he would object, he was a Pastor. Not so fast. Today, many leaders in the Church are seeing the light. It's easy to point fingers at the likes of Rob Bell, he's young, but when Brennan Manning who has more memories stretching back longer than the road is stretching ahead, someone who has walked the talk the better part of half a century, we need to take notice. The Church is not where it needs to be, and that is plainly clear to any honest Christian leader. It is after-all, PLAINLY obvious to those outside of the Church. This book helps us. It's not just cute pop psychology, it's a clear view of how things are and how we can change them so the ragamuffins, the ones Jesus spent his time with, once again become the ones we spend our time with.

Grace over judgment. Grace over dogma. Grace. As I have discovered first hand on my own journey, grace is like a four letter word in many ministries. For those that have been hurt, are being hurt, or have been accused of being the hurter, The Ragamuffin Gospel will bring a much needed clarity of vision. To those who are ragamuffins and know it, and want to see Christ's vision of the Church come to fruition, this will be like rocket-fuel for your soul.

I give the The Ragamuffin Gospel 5 out of 5.

This item is for sale directly from me. It is the copy I bought to review. Now you can buy it from me. This is the AudioBook version. It will play on your CD player or iPod. Amazon sells this for $18.24 plus shipping, I am selling it for $15 including shipping. It is in as new condition. I sell items I have reviewed to help me afford to purchase more.