Brennan Manning (1934–2013)

I was going to say this book wasn’t for the faint of heart, or those comfortable in their faith…then I changed my mind. It absolutely is for them (and I include myself in that crowd). I come away from this read convicted, uncomfortable, challenged, and frustrated with my own lackluster faith and uncourageous heart…and I have a feeling (both good, and scared, lol) that Manning would say, “Good. That’s the perfect spot for God to start.”

Okay, Lord. Here I am. Knees knocking and show more all. Bring it. show less

Once I began reading it I put other books aside. Who doesn't love a good writer who weaves the work of others -- Dostoevsky, Dillard, Kung, Flannery O'Connor, Burghardt, et al -- into his personal story presenting a joyful, really good news, approach to faith? There's something winsome about a priest who leaves the priesthood to marry and also writes about his journey as a recovering alcoholic.

Best of all, here is a Christina writer who doesn't eschew the faith journey of other traditions. show more There is no pretense of hierarchy of belief here.

"Compassionate love is the axis of the Christian moral revolution and the only sign ever given by Jesus by which a disciple could be recognized."

"...gentleness toward ourselves constitutes the core of our gentleness with others. ...the way of gentleness brings healing to ourselves and gentleness toward ourselves brings gentleness to others...Solidarity...frees the one who receives compassion and liberates the one who gives it in the conscious awareness "I am the other.""

"Christianity is not primarily a moral code but a grace laden mystery; it is not essentially a philosophy of love but a love affair; it is not keeping rules with clenched fists but receiving a gift with open hands."

Happily, I snagged this copy at a library book sale so felt no qualms wielding my pencil as I read. show less

I'm still trying to grasp God's love in a way that doesn't contradict Jesus's warning about the strait gate, that only a sliver of fallen humanity will make it to the great wedding. Who will enjoy eternal life? And what does Jesus do for us in this life?

What I loved most about this book was the joyous delight in God's love, even producing a tangible affection, greater than the world's affection, that I don't see often in the church. I want that. His story about the Amish man is especially show more captivating. His story about an alcoholic's rock-bottom haunts me, and helps me appreciate the desperation of my own situation.

Brennan doesn't go into technical details of his doctrine, but wants the reader to taste the implications of God's amazing love for sinners. But I see why people say he's universalist. He says nothing can separate "anyone" from the love of Christ. That is something I doubt. He also says it's crucial for us to understand that forgiveness precedes repentance. That is something I want to grasp but I have a hard time with it.

It seems like he's saying that being born-again, "seized by the power of a great affection," (which is an awesome description) is the way for Jesus to help us to be loving and humble and more Christ-like. I agree that's biblical, and I desire it, but it's interesting that Brennan avoids discussing its implications for eternity. Jesus talked about Hell on a regular basis. Brennan does share (but does not endorse) "an ancient Christian legend" that sees Hell as a temporary place of torment before Jesus rescues them.

Brennan is the most affectionate Christian writer I've been exposed to, more than John Piper, way more even. And I need more of that. But this gospel isn't enough to address what bothers me most in scripture: false assurance and the strait gate. show less

Many of the books I review are new (or new to me). I don't often have an opportunity to return to a book that has been personal influential. Abba's Child by Brennan Manning is a book that has been used by God to help me move past pretense to my true self. Manning was at one time a Franciscan priest and a monk who broke his vows to the church. He was also an alcoholic, a compulsive liar and a divorcee. In a lot of ways his resumé disqualified him as a writer on the Spiritual life. Yet I've show more read few authors who were as gripped by the reality of God's grace.

Abba's Child was originally published in 1994, and expanded with a group study guide in 2002. This new edition, published two years after Manning's death, is essentially the same as the 2002 edition with a new foreword from Jon Foreman (of Switchfoot fame) and an introduction from John Blase. The real value of the new edition is that it is a pretty book (cover art by Charlie Mackesy, printed on nice paper), making it a good gift edition.

In the book Manning helps us move toward authentic spirituality by getting us to come out of hiding. We all have a false self we project at the world--an impostor who is not our deepest, truest self. Our pretense keeps us from experiencing all that God has for us. Manning helps us confront our Impostor with grace. Our strategies of self protection may have been necessary at different stages of the journey, and hating our impostor is also self hatred. Manning shares a letter he wrote to his personal impostor while on retreat, inviting him to the presence of Jesus (28-30). True to form, Manning called us to grace, even graciousness with the parts of ourselves we don't much like. It is only in the presence of Christ that we are set free to drop the mask and discover our belovedness to God. Manning knew this better than most.

Manning also confronted our personal legalism, judgmentalism, racism and bigotry. Each of these are strategies meant to prove that we are okay, that we belong, that we are in the right (or atleast righter than the next guy). Each is an aspect of our false self, where we fail to live out of God's grace and our belonging to Him. In prophetic words, Manning confronts the increasing political and ideological polarization of our age and calls back to gospel (good news) faithfulness:

The "anything goes" morality of the religious and political Left is matched by the sanctimonious moralism of the religious and political Right. Uncritical acceptance of any party line is an idolatrous abdication of one's core identity as Abba's child. Neither liberal fairy dust nor conservative hardball address human dignity, which is often dressed in rags.

Abba's children find a third option. They are guided by God's Word and by it alone. All religious and political systems, Right and Left alike, are the work of human beings. Abba's children will not sell their birthright for any mess of pottage, conservative or liberal. They hold fast to their freedom in Christ to live the gospel--uncontaminated by any dreck, political flotsam, and filigreed hypocrisies of bullying religion (55-6)

I love this book for the ways that Manning called us away from moralism, false religion and politicized solutions back to grace and Christ's resurrection life. Personally I feel pressure to perform, to prove my worth. This makes may hunger for more grace. I give this book 4 stars.

Notice of material connection: I received this book from the Tyndale Blog Network (and NavPress) in exchange for my honest review. show less