Product Description

In the eyes of the world, Jesus was a fool. He did not abide by the rules of his day; the people he associated with were shunned by society; his Sermon on the Mount reads likea primer on being left behind, stepped on, and ignored. In order for us to truly be the people Jesus wants us to be, we too must learn to become "foolish."

Becoming a Christian is not a magical enterprise by which we are automatically transformed into better people. We must train to become who God intends us to be. In The Importance of Being Foolish, bestselling Christian author Brennan Manning teaches us how to think like Jesus. By reorienting our lives according to the gospel we may appear to be fools in the eyes of the world, but Manning reveals that this is exactly what Jesus wants.

In a powerful exploration of the mind of Christ, Manning reveals how our obsession with security, pleasure, and power prevents us from living rich and meaningful lives. Our endless struggle to acquire money, good feelings, and prestige yields a rich harvest of worry, frustration, and resentment. Manning explores what Christ's mind was truly focused on: finding the Father, compassion for others, a heart of forgiveness, and the work of the kingdom.

Coming from the gentle yet compelling voice of Brennan Manning, The Importance of Being Foolish is a refreshing reminder of the radical call of Jesus and the transforming love of God.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108376 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-29
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .34 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. With his now classic book The Ragamuffin Gospel, Manning set a standard for powerful writing and no-holds barred personal candor that even his own subsequent books (Ruthless Trust; The Wisdom of Tenderness), however excellent, have not quite matched. Here, Manning offers a fiercely provocative call to arms that exhorts Christians to stop pandering to the things of this world (wealth, power, influence, pleasure) and instead choose to be so "foolish" as to follow Jesus. This book is not for the easily offended, as Manning pulls no punches and does not attempt to soften the radical nature of Jesus' message. He decries superficial faith and hypocrisy, and points to the unfortunate prevalence of the shallow Christianity that Thomas Merton once called "convenient spirituality." In its place, Manning upholds a Christian faith that is simultaneously hard-line about the intransigent demands of the New Testament, yet wrapped in grace and mercy, not judgment and condemnation. Drawing on the Bible (particularly the gospels and the letters of Paul), his own experiences and thinkers like Paul Tillich, Edward Schillebeeckx, Søren Kierkegaard and other heavy hitters, Manning proposes an iconoclastic faith that calls Christians to the dangerous, wild and wonderful abyss of a fully surrendered life. (July)
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Review
“Manning offers a fiercly provacative call to arms...” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )

“Manning invites the reader to move from self-delusion to embracing the truth about who we are.” (Christianity Today )

“[W]orth the read for all the insights--and encouragement--Manning offers on leading a Christ-centered life.” (Christian Retailing )

“Manning… writes poetically when sharing contemporary parables. His intimate knowledge of Scripture flows seamlessly throughout his narrative.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer )

“Being Foolish is a message of unsettling grace. It is the best kind of wisdom.” (John Ortberg, Teaching Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church )

“This is a deeply felt and clearly expressed avowal of faith...” (Library Journal )

“A rich feast of food for thought...offering both challenge and comfort.” (National Catholic Reporter )

About the Author

Brennan Manning is the bestselling author of many books, including The Ragamuffin Gospel and Ruthless Trust. He leads spiritual retreats in the United States and Europe for people of all ages and backgrounds.