by Caitlin Mulvihill

The Ragamuffin Gospel addresses an audience who, quite often, feels left out of the loop. It speaks to the hearts of “the bedraggled, beat up, and burnt-out,” and provides relief for “the sorely burdened who are still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other.” Christianity often seems like a system that is convenient for anyone and everyone- as long as they’ve got it all together, and seems to offer a lot- as long as you don’t need too much. This little piece of insight instead applies to “the inconsistent, unsteady disciples whose cheese is falling off their cracker.” It provides the hope that Jesus gave to the tax collectors, women, sinners, prostitutes, hungry, lame, and weak. It shows how Jesus seems to have ‘a thing’ for ragamuffins- for people who don’t seem very valuable.

It is very common for Christians to cringe at the mention of grace, to clamp their hands firmly over their ears at any statement that refers to undeserved favor. Manning reveals the truth that we’ve “twisted the gospel of grace into religious bondage and distorted the image of God into an eternal, small-minded bookkeeper.” He points out the reality of Christ’s message- Jesus didn’t come to earth just to make the lives of top salesmen with big houses and nice cars a little easier. He didn’t only come to save the talented, hard-working individuals deserve everything they have. In fact, Jesus didn’t even come just to save robust, super-spiritual Christians who know the verses and the songs and don’t stay out late. Jesus came to extend grace to ordinary people who’ve “grown weary and discouraged along the way.”

Brennan Manning’s personal and eloquently written narrative strips the reader of his facade, breaks him of his self sufficient tendencies, and offers him the gospel of grace. His writings address “the legalists, puritans, prophets of doom, and moral crusaders (who) are having a hissy fit over the Pauline teaching of justification by grace through faith” and put them to shame through his interpretations of the heart of Jesus. Manning’s message to the inadequate is for the “wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don’t have it all together and are too proud to accept the hand of amazing grace.” He gives them a taste of freedom, and walks their broken hearts toward a loving, graceful God who is ready to accept the broken- tilted halos and all!

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