Review: The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

Review: The Ragamuffin Gospel

Brennan Manning

Multnomah Books

2015

This is a 25^th anniversary issue of this Brennan Manning book. John Blase mentions in his preface to this edition that the book has already sold nearly a million copies over its 25 year run. (ix) What I found interesting is that with just a few exceptions this book is as current now as it was when it was written.

This is my first time reading this book. I had read a couple Manning’s other works and decided it was time to read this one as well. I was not disappointed in the least with it and found it to be encouraging. It reinforced a line from one of his other books that had stuck with me for years now---God loves you and there’s nothing you do about it. That’s probably a paraphrase but close and I cannot remember which book it’s from. Sorry.

There’s not a lot that hasn’t already been said about this book already since its 25 years old now, and I’ll just say it is well worth the read. It’s about grace, and the majority of the discussion revolves around how even when you mess up, fail, or otherwise just miss the mark grace still has you covered. Most of us don’t understand or believe that concept and struggle as a result. Manning freely admits to being one of us strugglers, too. He’s no theory guy; he lived it and I believe learned most of it the hard way.

I do recommend this book to you and believe that most of us can benefit from his wisdom.

This book was provided to me by the publishers in return for a review.

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