A few nuggets from Erwin McManus’s The Barbarian Way
“If [John the Baptist] lived today, he would be medicated and diagnosed bipolar. He would be one more certified lunatic.”
“For years I have made it my mission to destroy the influence of the Christian cliche ‘The safest place to be is in the center of the will of God.’”
“So what is this good news? The refined and civilized version goes something like this: Jesus died and rose from the dead so that you can live a life of endless comfort, security, and indulgence. But really this is a bit too developed. Usually it’s more like this: if you’ll simply confess that you’re a sinner and believe in Jesus, you’ll be saved from the torment of eternal hellfire, then go to heaven when you die. . . . The call of Jesus is far more barbaric than either of these. It is a call to live in this world as citizens of an entirely different kingdom.”
“Jesus began his public ministry with a simple invitation: ‘Come, follow me.’ His closing instructions to his disciples can be summarized in one word, ‘Go!’ A quick survey of the modern church would lead you to believe his invitation was ‘Come, and listen,’ and his closing mandate would be summarized in the one word ‘No!’”
“After more than two decades of walking with Christ, I’m happy to say that while Jesus can wonderfully make you healthy, he has no ambition to make you normal. The healthier you become, the freer you are to simply be yourself. The more your identity is rooted in God’s value for you, the less you are controlled and limited by what others think of you.”
“How many stories do we need of children who grow up in church being forced to act like Christians rather than being won to the heart of God? Both are an effort to shape the character of our children. The first is an external force; the latter an internal force. The civilized Christian does what is right out of fear; the barbarian does what is right out of love. The Christian civilization is held together by rules and rituals; the barbarian revolt is fueled by the passion of God and guided by the mission of God. If our children are going to walk away from Christ, we need to raise them in such a way that they understand that to walk away from Jesus is to walk away from a life of faith, risk, and adventure and to choose a life that is boring, mundane, and ordinary.”
“With insects most of us know that bees are called swarms, and ants are called colonies. Among ocean life, I was aware that whales are pods, and fish are schools. Cattle are herds, birds are flocks, and if you watch Lion King, you know a tribe of lions is a pride. If you grew up in the country, you might know that crows are murders. Maybe the most unnerving one is an ambush of tigers. I was surprised to learn that a group of buzzards waiting around together to feast on leftover carnage is called a committee.”
“I was surprised to learn that a group of buzzards waiting around together to feast on leftover carnage is called a committee.”
LOL! and a bit of chuckling too.
Interesting thoughts. Good stuff.
Sounds like a rewriting of Hauerwas and Willimon’s Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony.
Peace.
So much great stuff in there. Although I don’t know that I like thinking of myself as barbaric!
It’s one of the most impacting books I read this past year. Not because it was so deep, but because it was so practical and he is so transparent. I love the story about the young man not wanting to be baptized in the Pacific ocean.
I am currently on my second McManus book. Thanks for getting the word out on his writings. Because of your plug, I know a lot of folks will be blessed now that never would have heard about him.
DU
I’m about a third of the way through the book presently. Very challenging read. We need more present day John the Baptists blazing trails and making inroads for the Good News to be shared; starting with me I suppose.
Saw the book recently at the Book Store, and thought about buying it, now with the quotes I am motived to purchase a copy. Thanks.
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
Wish I could read as fast as you guys do! I’m way behind, but this sounds like another one to add to my stack by the bed.
“For years I have made it my mission to destroy the influence of the Christian cliche ‘The safest place to be is in the center of the will of God.’”
He follows this up with his wife cluing him into the fact that it was Corrie ten Boom who coined this phrase while in the most insecure place possible. In fact, it was this very commitment to Christ that sustained Corrie and her sister Betsie, and ultimately lead to Betsie’s death at the hand of their tormentors.
Safe in the “ultimate” sense. Context, context, context. Let’s not lose it again.
I’ve been trying to read Uprising by McManus for more than a month. His writing is dfficult for me. (Not difficult like The Illiad) Kinda meaty. I have to read a chapter and then chew for a few days. Is that weird?
Thanks, Craig. I wanted to put the whole story, but it was too long. He still likes to undermine the cliche because of what it implies in popular Christian culture. But he knows there is an eschatological sense in which it is true. Wish that’s what people usually meant!
Mike- Now you’re talking! I mean reading. Oh, whatever.
I love the line, “we need to raise them (children) in such a way that they understand that to walk away from Jesus is to walk away from a life of faith, risk, and adventure, and to choose a life that is boring, mundane, and ordinary. We all need to keep this thought in the forefront of our minds.
Keep bringing the good stuff!
This sounds like a fascinating and timely book. American Christians, now more than ever, need to be reminded that Jesus never promised a life of comfort or safety. Thanks for giving me something to add to my reading list.
Let’s hear it for the deviants!
It strikes me as very odd to label this “barbaric,” but the points you shared are excellent. It is SO HARD to have a congregation that doesn’t fall into the “come and listen” mindset. This is further complicated by the fact that no one seems to agree on exactly what a “go and tell” church would look like in practical terms.
Sadly, this fire-insurance theology that McManus is combating has some churches (and some entire denominations) by the throat. The call to discipleship is seemingly non-existant in some places. To me, that’s why Lee Camp’s work, Dallas Willard’s work, and Brennan Mannings work are so timely and all important right now!
We need more prophetic voices calling us back to the “calling” — more prophets calling on us to stop using Jesus to “pay our sin bills” and start walking with Him - allowing him to change us inside out - radically transforming us in every way. Lord, send more of these!
Fiddlesticks!
Does this mean no more Bundt cakes or casseroles? No more church potlucks?!? More dribbling over the drumsticks! So, who needs deodorant? And NO MORE LEG SHAVING! One less role for women in the church…
OOPS, I’m running behind … it’s time to go burn a village for Jesus…Honey,will you grab that torch?
AARGH!!! While I mostly enjoy deep discussion . . . and I understand that there are things in Scripture that are difficult to understand (Peter said so himself in either I or II Peter) . . . and I know it is good to exercise our brains . . .
DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE TO BE SO BLOODY COMPLICATED???
I honestly don’t think so. I don’t think Jesus meant for us to be sitting around trying to memorize Greek grammar and parse sentences. Doesn’t he want us to be doing something about what He’s said?
Sorry for my rantings; I’m just a totally confused Christian at heart!
Ah, those committies!
The beloved N.C. Baptist evangelist, the late Vance Havner once said,
“A committie is the unfit, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unecessary”
Grace to you,
Royce Ogle