falling into the arms of your abba
“Radically stated yet rarely applied” is an all to common phenomenon. We preach boldly, we memorize revolutionary passages of Scripture, and we acknowledge the truth of the Gospel; and, yet, most of us fail to recognize how the radical message of the Father actually applies to our daily lives. For instance, proclaiming in church “God loves you” is commonly received as white noise; but how many live moment by moment (through failure and success, through wisdom and folly, through sin and righteousness) in the truth that they are wrapped in the loving arms of a God who came to suffer, bleed, and die just to be with us? Can we even imagine what our Sunday church experience would be like if Christians lived into that reality? The guess is that we might be led to judge less and instead love more, to not hide in shame and instead worship with tears of joy. Brennan Manning insisted that God not only loves you and likes you, he also wants a profoundly intimate relationship in which we can call him daddy. His message is that the message that we preach is a tangible reality that shapes the experiences of daily lives. Manning sought to live his life with radical understanding and application.
When Jesus taught us to pray, Christ revealed to us that our prayers should be directed to “Abba, Father”; in prayer we do not call upon a distant being of power but to one unto which we may cry “daddy.” For Manning, this was pivotal. And, it led to writings that made no efforts to include delusional attempts to present himself without blemish; instead, with confidence in the Gospel of Christ, Manning was transparent about his struggles with pride, alcoholism, and so much more. He knew he was the prodigal son. He knew he was nothing more than a beat up ragamuffin, a beggar before the cross. But, he also allowed himself to live into the truth that the Father, his Daddy, was running after him to embrace him as a beloved son. This is what Brennan Manning called The Ragamuffin Gospel, and it inspired many including Christian singer/songwriter Rich Mullins.
In his book, Manning shares an experience he had when ministering to a burn victim; that woman was horrifically impacted, and the cosmetic surgeon did the best he could. Manning was present in the room when her face was unwrapped, and he watched as her fears were laid bare in the room: what would she look like, and would her husband still love her? Manning recalled being undone as he watched the husband’s face beam with love and admiration for his beautiful bride, lavishing genuine affection upon her. But, most impactful was the kiss. In her moment of overwhelming fear, she experienced a passionate and beautifully romantic kiss; however, because the injuries and reconstructive surgery left her face and lips unnaturally twisted, the kiss was only possible because, as Manning was able to observe, the husband contorted his own lips to perfectly match hers. The husband met his bride as she was; he bent his kiss so she can experience the romance her heart so desperately needed.
This is the Gospel.
Brennan Manning’s The Ragamuffin Gospel is a must read for the sake of not losing sight of the loving heart of God revealed to us in Christ. The Good News is more than mere words or theological discussion; it is an invitation to sit in the loving arms of our abba.
Manning, Brennan. The Ragamuffin Gospel. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, 2005.