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The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out [Paperback]

Brennan Manning
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Jun 28 2005
A Furious Love Is Hot on Your Trail!

Many believers feel stunted in their Christian growth. We beat ourselves up over our failures and, in the process, pull away from God because we subconsciously believe He tallies our defects and hangs His head in disappointment. In this newly repackaged edition—now with full appendix, study questions, and the author’s own epilogue, “Ragamuffin Ten Years Later,” Brennan Manning reminds us that nothing could be further from the truth. The Father beckons us to Himself with a “furious love” that burns brightly and constantly. Only when we truly embrace God’s grace can we bask in the joy of a gospel that enfolds the most needy of His flock—the “ragamuffins.”

Are you bedraggled, beat-up, burnt-out?

Most of us believe in God’s grace—in theory. But somehow we can’t seem to apply it in our daily lives. We continue to see Him as a small-minded bookkeeper, tallying our failures and successes on a score sheet.

Yet God gives us His grace, willingly, no matter what we’ve done. We come to Him as ragamuffins—dirty, bedraggled, and beat-up. And when we sit at His feet, He smiles upon us, the chosen objects of His “furious love.”

Brennan Manning’s now-classic meditation on grace and what it takes to access it—simple honesty—has changed thousands of lives. Now with a Ragamuffin’s thirty-day spiritual journey guide, it will change yours, too.

Includes a 30-Day Spiritual Journey Guide!

“Brennan Manning does a masterful job of blowing the dust off of shop-worn theology and allowing God’s grace to do what only God’s grace can do—amaze.”
-Max Lucado, Bestselling author of The Gift for All People

“I found deep comfort in realizing that Jesus loves even me, a ragamuffin, just as I am.”
-Michael Card, Musician, recording artist, and author of A Violent Grace

“This is a zestful and accurate portrayal that tells us unmistakably that the gospel is good, dazzlingly good.”
-Eugene Peterson, Author of The Message

Story Behind the Book

The world assigns value to people using measurable standards. Someone is a successful student if she receives As. Someone is a strong athlete if he runs five miles a day. The Lord, however, knows nothing of standards. The Ragamuffin Gospel was inspired by Brennan Manning after he discovered firsthand what it means to live by grace instead of performance. His words bring new life and sweet refreshment to Christians who are tired of never measuring up.

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The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out + Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate BelongingExpanded Edition New Preface and Discussion Guide by the Author + The Furious Longing Of God
Price For All Three: CDN$ 37.48

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  • Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate BelongingExpanded Edition New Preface and Discussion Guide by the Author CDN$ 11.90

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Brennan Manning wrote The Ragamuffin Gospel "for the bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt-out," the marginalized folks to whom Jesus ministered: the children, the ill, the tax collectors, the women. In other words, the ragamuffins. Manning understands better than most that behind our facades of order and self-assurance are inadequacies that can find healing only in Jesus. While the powerful and religious elite challenged him, Jesus embraced and healed and fed the needs of the ragamuffins. Jesus delivered love, healing, and, most of all, grace.

Grace is defined as "the freely given and unmerited favor and love of God." But, as Manning points out, we have "twisted the gospel of grace into religious bondage and distorted the image of God into an eternal, small-minded bookkeeper." In reality, God offers us grace immeasurable. Brennan Manning gently encourages us to embrace that grace in the face of our greatest needs. And Manning certainly knows whereof he speaks, having taken a journey from priesthood and academic achievement through a collapse into alcoholism. Manning came face to face with his need, finally abandoning himself to grace. And he invites us now to join him in a life of grace.

Manning is without doubt one of the most eloquent writers on the subject of grace because he openly shares his own pain and struggle to help readers deal with failure and inadequacy. And he sweetly challenges them to do the same. --Patricia Klein --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Brennan Manning is a Korean War veteran and former Franciscan priest who lives in New Orleans , Louisiana . A native of Brooklyn , Manning earned degrees in philosophy from St. Francis College and in theology from St. Francis Seminary. His books include The Signature of Jesus and Abba’s Child. Still traveling widely, Manning continues to write and preach, encouraging men and women everywhere to accept and embrace the good news of God’s unconditional love in Jesus Christ.

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I owe Brennan Manning thirty dollars for lecture tapes I bought from him on an I.O.U. I'm not writing this foreword because of that debt. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
I loved this book! It is written in an easy going, conversational style. While I love that type of writing because it captivates and draws me in, others expecting a more "academic" approach may not. Brennan writes as though he is writing just to ME, and the message he is sending has even more impact as a result. The message presented here is a simple, clear statement of love and grace given freely. The author makes references to AA meetings, a place where grace abounds due to the truthful honest reality of failure. The truth shall set you free. That truth is the reality of who we are, with all the posturing, image, and carefully crafted exteriors blown away, and the reality that it is that truth that God loves, accepts and embraces. In a particularly impactful segment, Brennan describes the heartbreaking and shocking process of a man's illusions being shattered, and the freedom and change that comes as a result of accepting God's love and grace from that place of true honesty. This book will shatter the illusions of many Christians guided by rituals, laws, and all the unfortunate illusions that keep us from seeing what is right in front of us - God's free gift of grace and acceptance, as we are, who we are. Many previous reviewers of this book have mentioned that it seemed that Brennan's continued message of grace might constitute some sort of absolvance of responsibility for behavior. I did not see this presented here. There is no one who has much trouble with behaving in ways they wish they didn't, however most of us have considerable trouble in accepting ourselves and loving ourselves as God does in spite of those lapses. We are who we are. And God loves and freely extends grace to us where we are, who we are. This is a great book! I thank my friend Craig for giving it to me, and will pass it on to others. What a difference it would make if I truly lived with the daily assurance of this message, in place of the fear and works based faith that so often creeps in.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars We Serve a Holy God Aug 9 2003
God loves the sinner. God is gracious and longsuffering; He endures our transgressions. God loves us just the way we are. We are saved by grace, and not by our own merits. We are exempt from the law since we've received the Spirit of God by believing in the Name of Jesus Christ. Yes, yes, and yes. There is nothing you or I can do to make God love us more, accept us more, or win favor in His eyes. And subsequently, there is no evil we can commit that would cause Him to stop loving us, since anything we did, can or will do has been paid for on the cross. And nothing but the blood of Christ can wash away sins.
These are all truths, great Biblical truths, and I stand by them, and commend the author for expounding on the loving eternal grace that God is (I John 4:8).
But let us not forget that God is also a Holy God (Lev. 19:2), and He expects us to live Holy (Lev. 20:7, Matt. 5:48).
And please let us not forget that God is to be greatly feared (Ps. 111:10).
We should cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7:1). Jesus knew His disciples were imperfect, yet He urged them to strive for the perfection of God. He told the woman caught in adultery to "sin no more". But were they willing to do as Jesus commanded them? Never once in any of the gospels did the Lord tell people, "Hey, don't let your hearts be troubled over your repeated sins. Go on with your lives, and just be comforted knowing that My Father loves you."
There is a serious lack of uncompromised holiness in the church of Jesus today. Those that strive for perfection (remember that Jesus said, "be ye perfect") through the infilling of the Holy Ghost, through dying to the flesh daily, by nailing their sinful, God-displeasing carnality to the cross and meditating on the Word while seeking God's face dilligently (something WE must do) are often mocked and labeled "legalistic" and accused of practicing salvation through works doctrine.
However, it seems to me that the "ragamuffin" mentality depicted in this book is apt to condone sinful, lukewarm lifestyles by falling back on the "God loves me, and accepts me as I am" crutch. That type of mentality would certainly find this book enlightening - and it is, partially (I say partially because there is another part of God that is eclipsed in the book). Are you ready to discover what the other part of God is like?
Here it is: God sends sinners to hell.
Hell is real, and people really do go there for all eternity. As much as God loves the sinner, He hates the sin. Jesus spoke more of hellfire than He did of the love of the Father. Why? Because He needed to drive it home by saying, "Look people, hell is real. The second death is real. The lake of eternal fire is real. I love you, but I'll tell every hypocrite to depart from Me on that day."
The Ragamuffin Gospel does not expound the Judgment Seat of Christ. And for good reason; it wouldn't make the compromised, backslidden reader feel comfortable in his or her sin. It doesn't tickle the ear with love and peace (Jesus didn't come to bring peace, remember). It doesn't demand sacrifice on part of the believer. It doesn't require you to die daily. (1 Cor. 15:31)
For the chainsmoking Christian, it doesn't preach that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (and that it is a stumbling block to others new in the faith), and that everytime you light up you displease God.
I was recently at a Full Gospel Church (I am a youth pastor, and took our kids to a three day retreat) and was amazed to learn that the pastor's wife smoked (as the entire praise and worship team!). And not in secret, either. They lit up after the service outside, and some of the kids saw them.
Now, because of their "I'm a ragamuffin. I can do anything I want because God loves me" philosophy, I have newly-saved kids coming up asking serious questions. Why? Because they saw those in leadership positions compromised in their walk with the Lord. They saw them doing stuff that Jesus would never do. And now they have questions about ..., drinking, and worldly entertainment. "Is it all okay as long as you are saved?" They saw stumbling blocks. You might call them ragamuffin Christian smokers, but I call them what they are - stumbling blocks. And their lack of holiness caused strife within the Body of Christ.
In Matthew 18:6, Jesus warns of situations like these. I believe this is relevent, and a very serious issue. There are so many things Satan has devised to sidetrack and distance us from God, but none of these things should be found in the church. (Especially under the guise that God actually permits it!)
Now, another problem I have with this book is that the author should know better. Does he light up a cigarette in the lobby after he does a seminar? ... Does he just do whatever he feels like, and disregards God's holy precepts?
If not, then how can he (in a leadership position, remember) tell those struggling with sin to just "forget about it" and know that God loves them? This mentality is harmful, because only part of the truth is being conveyed. Yes, we are all ragamuffins, I have no problem with that. In fact, the word ragamuffin is too kind for me. I like the apostle Paul's self analysis "scum of the earth" better. I am scum, and God loves me, but--
But the author also should be telling them what Jesus, John the Baptist, what Paul, and what all the disciples were ordered to tell the world, while still preaching the love of God: "Repent, repent, repent!" (Mark 6:12)
For those who call me legalistic and narrow-minded, I'd like to remind you of the last words Jesus gave to His church. And that includes all us ragamuffins:
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." (Rev. 3:19)
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars It's a good book Nov 4 2003
I've met Brennan several times and read his books. He's rough around the edges, but isn't that the point? We're all rough around the edges - ragamuffins, every one. And yet God loves us anyway.

Some people sin in public, some in private. If you don't believe in the concept of sin, you probably won't like this book. If you don't believe in God, you probably won't like this book. If you believe that you have to 'behave' in order for God to love you - well, I think that's why Brennan wrote this book.

It seems to me that Brennan isn't saying we shouldn't behave. Of course we should behave. But we don't have to behave in order for God to love us. If you have children, you know exactly what he means.

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Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars All christians should read
I have not even finished this book totally but so far it has been great reenforsing why and what I believe and showing us all as christians what undeserved love we have been given
Published on May 15 2010 by Zahara Quincy
5.0 out of 5 stars Ragamuffin Gospel
Fresh, poignant and critical... liked the vantage point and suggest all Christians get a hold of it and read it !
Published on Jan 18 2010 by Steve C. Wick
5.0 out of 5 stars Great content, gorgeous images
I was impressed by the powerful images that the publisher has paired with the powerful words of Brennan Manning. Read more
Published on Dec 21 2005 by Ellen Graf-Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars Redeemed by God's Grace Alone
The Ragamuffin Gospel is the first Christian book to hit right where my heart needed it... For the majority of my life, I considered myself right in God's Grace without... Read more
Published on July 15 2004 by "cmcarr2002"
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this review
Dear readers,
I was browing the web looking for a page of brenning manning and his works, so I came to amazon hoping to find a link. Read more
Published on July 9 2004 by "symon219"
5.0 out of 5 stars Approach with caution, but let into your heart
Although one must have a strong base in the Word to read this book, understanding that we are called to be born again or "new creatures" through putting faith in Christ... Read more
Published on Mar 28 2004
2.0 out of 5 stars Not a ragamuffin fan...sorry
I had a good friend give me this book for Christmas, so I decided to read it based on his recommendation. Read more
Published on Feb 23 2004 by E. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars From a Ragamuffin to a Ragamuffin
My appreciation for the message in this book is overwhelming and resurges if I simply glance at its cover. Read more
Published on Jan 18 2004 by "micah6824"
5.0 out of 5 stars The Gospel of Grace Embraced
The Ragamuffin Gospel is a book for the faint of faith - to help them realize that their very weakness makes them strong in what matters most: God's grace. Read more
Published on Jan 18 2004 by Evagrius Ponticus
5.0 out of 5 stars I've been on both sides of the fence, GRACE is the only way
I grew up in an abusive, legalistic church, who stressed a life of utmost holiness as most pleasing to God, therefore my ultimate goal in my walk with Christ is to overcome sin. Read more
Published on Dec 9 2003 by Paul Lyke
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