“My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn or deserve it.”
–Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, 25
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“My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn or deserve it.”
–Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, 25
22 Comments(+Add)
hmmm….a calvinist Catholic…
No, a disciple of Jesus.
yes, because NOBODY else believes that we are undeserving of God’s grace.
Who knew the Holy Spirit had been held in reserve until the REAL Pentecost could be unleashed in 16th C. Geneva?
My deepest awareness of myself is how unlovable I am and despite that, Jesus loves me.
At what point does “correct theology” become a work? And how impeccable does the word “correct” need to be in order for redemption to “kick in”? Here is my theology:
Jesus + belief = redemption.
There will be a test.
Scotty,
I’m not sure I understand. If you were unlovable, why would God love you? I heard someone else say something slightly different than that and I had to object to that as well.
The very fact that Christ died for us is an indication that we are loved. “For God so loved…” without qualification.
jerry
Loving the unlovable is the purest form of love.
Right, but I think unlovable is a condition or a status we impose on people because of our own prejudice just as lovable is too.
I don’t believe, despite what PB will probably write or what Scriptures he will quote from, that anyone is necessarily unlovable or that God picks and chooses who is and is not lovable.
For God so loved the world.
Unqualified. Unconditionally.
That is Manning’s point.
What’s interesting is that a book that is exclusively about grace, which is one of the most paramount themes of the Scriptures, is somehow negated due to the fact that John thinks the author is not as orthodox or reformed or “right” as he is.
It’s easier for him to just write someone off, including a wonderfully Biblical quote, because he does not agree with his Christian beliefs.
It is a very surfacey way to follow Christ, only quoting those who are 100% in line with you. God spoke to Balaam through a donkey. Sometimes he still speaks to me through jackasses. Am I too proud to receive truth no matter what the source?
Well, I suppose one quote can be right in the midst of false theology and doctrine. I mean the Devil knows the Gospel and he is still a devil.
While we can do nothing to earn or deserve the love of Christ, the love and the grace of salvation is transformational…it changes you. You go away from dead works (i.e. the Catholic Church and her works based theology) and move on by living by the Spirit. We do not live in sin (like alcoholism) so that this grace can increase. Yep, the devil himself can speak wise words. We can all say amen. Indeed, I am more keenly aware because of this quote for my need for grace to save me, indeed to change me. I do not deserve it! But I do not put Manning anywhere near a pedestal. He is instead a cautionary tale, like ‘mother’ Theresa.
You are beyond hope, John.
Nobody is beyond hope, Jerry. Look at the Apostle Paul…
yes. because quoting a person automatically means we’re putting the person on a pedestal.
Unlovable is human terms, Jerry. Knowing full well the despicable things that I’ve done in my life,
sometimesmost times, unconditional love is so often hard to comprehend.I envy Brennan Manning’s “awareness” of Jesus’ deep love. I find it very difficult to maintain that sense of awareness.
#14 maybe a few drinks would help….
Wow, PB, it’s nice to see a pastor exhibit such grace… Manning has never been shy about discussing his problems with alcoholism, and because of that, many people have found comfort in his writings. I believe all Christians will struggle with sin until the day we die. Yes, Christ transforms us, but it isn’t a magical process – it’s slow and laborious. And even when we do have setbacks, Christ’s love for us is no less.
I reject anything disguised as Christianity that doesn’t acknowledge this fact. You can take your works-based religion and the guilt and shame it produces. I’ll take Jesus.
Phil,
Thank you for writing that. I had other thoughts, but deleted them. Your words are refreshing and full of grace. God bless.
jerry
So you read the whole book and came to this conclusion?
My Pastor has something to say about the sins that we are tempted by daily. Don’t look down on others who are tempted by sins that you are NOT tempted by… God made you immuned to those temptations, not so you could stand on the shore and point as they drown, but so you could wade out into to lake and save them from drowning… food for thought.
No human has ever understood or completely defined the grace of God. Even our attempts to unfold an expansive revelation of God’s grace constricts it and humanizes it.
A prideful non-alcoholic is as sinful as a practicing alcoholic. Pride is more addicting than heroin.
What about grace? You may ask where the grace of our Lord is in the message that I share- Grace is transformational. Grace TEACHES US..
Grace teaches us to do certain things as the Lord says in the above verse of Titus 2:11-13: -stop being ungodly -stop lusting after the world -be sober (grave, serious, temperate); life is not one big joke-stop kidding so much -follow after the righteous teachings of Jesus (do them) -do it NOW! In this life! delaying and looking for excuses later will be too late. -look for the return of Jesus!
You all love making excuses. Its not about pride- I know there is nothing good in me but an alien righteousness through Christ. But grace is not an excuse to sin. And grace, while it is hard to understand why I would get it- does not mean that I spit in the face of the one giving it and continue to do the things He has saved me from.
What a great quote!