The Importance of Being Foolish: How to Think Like Jesus – The Radical Call to Christian Transformation and Kingdom Living

by Brennan Manning

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 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.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Faith, Christianity, Spirituality, Theology

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2005

About the author

Richard Francis Xavier Manning, known as Brennan Manning (April 27, 1934 – April 12, 2013) was an American author, friar, priest, contemplative and speaker.Born and raised in Depression-era New York City, Manning finished high school, enlisted in the US Marine Corps, and fought in the Korean War. After returning to the United States, he enrolled at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. Upon his graduation from the seminary in 1963, Manning was ordained a Franciscan priest.[2]

In the late 1960s, Manning joined the Little Brothers of Jesus of Charles de Foucauld, a religious institute committed to an uncloistered, contemplative life among the poor. Manning transported water via donkey, worked as a mason's assistant and a dishwasher in France, was imprisoned (by choice) in Switzerland, and spent six months in a remote cave somewhere in the Zaragoza desert. In the 1970s, Manning returned to the United States and began writing after confronting his alcoholism.

Reviews

[Meghan Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book by Brennan Manning is a revised version of a previous work from 1976, which he describes as written with “a little bit more grace and humility” the second time around. And it’s a good thing. I can’t imagine reading it without the compassion and understanding that comes peppered throughout. I probably could have used more.

The Ragamuffin Gospel, also by Manning, is one of my top five favorite books, mostly because it revolutionized my view of God’s value system. It is absolutely overflowing with grace. The Importance of Being Foolish, on the other hand, seems to be written to someone who has heard the Gospel of grace, but who isn’t experiencing as radical a transformation as might be expected. It’s scathingly critical of our culture at times, which is probably good, but I found myself struggling to stay afloat above my guilt and shame. I would ask myself why I’m not living such a transformed life as described by Manning (he references St. Francis of Assisi, St. Theresa, etc.). This is my issue, of course, but in the end, I decided to wittle down the message to a realistic prayer, and I believe this would be Manning’s desire: “Oh Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Let your streams of living water flow through me.” I know I’ll go on to forget most of what I read, but this was God’s word for me at this time in my life. I desire more and more of the Spirit, and I can only ask God for it. It won’t help to criticize my own heart.

The book’s title was always rather confusing and irrelevant to me, even when it was explained in the last chapter. Foolishness never seems to be so much the issue; but rather desperation for the Spirit. The epilogue, which I found to be the most profound and concise part of the book, wrapped this up nicely.

Chapters five and six were highlights—discussing the necessary response of a Christian to other sinners and to the work to which God has called us.

Overall, I’d recommend this book to someone who is thirsting for more from God, but not to someone who is currently struggling with feelings of guilt or shame. I went into it thinking that it would affirm what I’ve been learning about “foolishness,” basically that God does not despise a bruised reed or a smoldering wick. Instead, it was much more a call to personal holiness and a changed life.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most profound and impacting books I have read in a very long time. This book is an absolute must read! I must confess, I underlined about 30% of the book, and plan to re-read it again immediately. I feel sure that it is impossible to get all it has to offer, on the first read.

[Karen Wondercheck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not my favorite Brennan Manning book, that would be "The Ragaumuffin Gospel" and "The Furious Longing of God", but it did speak to me and encourage me to continue to strive to think with the mind of Christ, who in the eyes of the world, was a fool. In 1 Cor. 1:18 "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." This book reminds me that if I am not intentionally seeking the mind of Christ I am depriving myself of the fruits of the Spirit and the abundant life that Jesus promised. That my desire for security, pleasure and power can easily put me in bondage to worry, frustration, and resentment if I am not seeking the mind of Christ.

It also challenged me to live authentically. Jesus had a transparency about Him that our own insecurities can keep us from. "The glory shining on the face of Christ Jesus does not shine in many of us" Manning says. "In loving God with His whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, Jesus was utterly transparent and therefore revealed God. In Jesus there was no self to be seen, only the ultimate, unconditional love of God."

He sites many example of people that sought after God, like Francis of Assisi, who glorified God by being a Christian fool. Studying the life of Paul clearly reveals his all out passion for Christ. "Paul had the audacity to boast, "But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor. 2:16) His boast was validated by his life. From the moment of Paul's conversion, Jesus Christ preoccupied his mind and heart."

One of my favorite quotes from the book is by John Shea who says: "God raised Jesus from the dead not because he never flinched, talked back, or questioned but having flinched, talked back, and questioned, He remained faithful." Manning reminds us that Peter, James, Philip and countless others all started out well, but faltered. That God expected their failure, like He expects ours. It is not a striving after perfection that will count in the end, but grasping and knowing as much as we can know that reckless raging fury that they call the love of God and daring to be foolish.

[Reyer ten Napel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrecked me. Might go fasting for a week, lol. Love everything this guy has written

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best book I've read so far this year!

I offer the following as a quote to captivate you:

“A gentle revolution will come through a little cadre of Christian fools who are willing to overthrow the established order by arranging their lives around the mind of Christ. Their question is transparency through truthfulness, and their lifestyles will be shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ. If ‘truth consists in the mind’s giving to things the importance they have in reality,’ in the words of Jean Danielou, then the desire for security, pleasure, and power will be realistically assessed as straw and the Lordship of Jesus Christ pragmatically affirmed as the order of the really Real.” -- Manning, p. 175

- - - - - - -

In this book, Manning argues that many of us Christians remain spiritually weak, lacking in love, and immature because rather than "arranging our lives around the mind of Christ," we instead arrange our lives around our desires for security, pleasure, and power. These desires can consume us, if we let them, and can make us interpersonally opaque, stuck within ourselves, and cut off from others. The aim is to open our lives, hearts, and minds to Jesus and to His mind everyday, so that we will be relationally transparent to others and spiritually whole, loving others in the breadth of Christ's mind, rather than out of a mind and heart warped and by our own frustrated desires.

Please let Manning take you on a journey of discovery in this book! He says so much more than I can say here!

[Eduardo Lima · Rating 4 out of 5]

bem, bem bonito. a sensibilidade católica e franciscana traz umas coisas lindas pra esse livro. me pegou mais perto do final, não sei se por causa da tradução, porque eu tava meio tonto no começo ou se foi só demorar pra conectar com o jeito que o manning escreve, mesmo. recomendo! gosto das histórias que ele conta

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

this review first appeared on [http://intraspace.blogspot.com]

this is a book i found sitting on a table at my mum's house and decided to take with me.

brennan manning is a franciscan priest best known for his book 'the ragamuffin gospel' (which i also have in my possession - review sometime in the future). faced with the choice of reading this book and 'the ragamuffin gospel', i decided to read this one because i like the cover design...

in the event, it turned out to be one of the most impacting christian books i've ever read.

manning begins by emphasising the toughness of the christian calling - as found principally in jesus' sermon on the mount. he notes that christianity has watered down the magnitude of what jesus has called his followers to. his point is that although jesus' teaching is a hard teaching, we should nevertheless still aim to fulfill what jesus has called us to, rather than making excuses for it.

manning goes on to describe the way in which western society is addicted to security, pleasure and power. he describes western christians as 'schizophrenic', and says that we have become expert at sharing ourselves between material concerns and our spiritual calling, rather than letting our spiritual calling consume every area of our lives. serving two masters, he says, leads to anxiety and stress as we are pulled in two directions, constantly trying to cater for both masters.

the antidote for all this, says manning, is an awareness of God's love and an understanding of the cross and resurrection.

when you condense manning's message down like i have here, it sounds a bit confrontational and judgmental, but he has a peculiar knack for being able to deliver straight truths compassionately (a character trait that he has no doubt learned from jesus).

the title - 'the importance of being foolish' - is a little misleading at first. this book is a rewrite of an earlier volume called 'gentle revolutionaries' - which, i think, is probably a more accurate title. there are a lot of verses in the bible that make it clear that foolishness is not really the way to go. but the 'foolishness' that manning refers to is the variety found in 1 Corinthians 1:22-24: "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God." it is what manning calls "resurrection wisdom" - an inverted kind of wisdom that doesn't make sense unless there has been an experience of God's love and sacrifice.

protestants and pentecostals shouldn't be put off by the fact that this is a catholic author - manning is first and foremost a follower of jesus, and so his message is entirely biblical.

so all in all, an excellent and impacting book. for more info on brennan manning, go to www.brennanmanning.com. highly recommended.

[Briar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book strongly advocates foolishness - that is, foolishness in the eyes of the world. Brennan Manning suggests that instead of following our instinctive desire for security, pleasure and power we choose to let the reality of Jesus and his sacrifice fill our lives. As he points out, too many Christians are half-hearted about living a Christ like lifestyle. Jesus' commands in the gospels set out an incredibly radical way of life.

This is a thought-provoking and very important book. (Also, I like the pun in the title; somehow the irony of the original and of this book are beautifully parallel).

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this book wasn't really tied into anything until the very end of the book. What the author is saying is pretty much what all the other religious books I've been reading have said: Christians don't act like Christians and we need to start! We need to start acting more like Jesus, thinking like Jesus, and not degrading what happened on the cross. I like the author's idea, but I don't think it was properly executed in this book. And when there is a typo on the first page, you know it's going to be tough going.

[Buddy Draper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Manning spent a year with a group of monks called Little Brothers of Jesus who went around doing good works and living in spartan simplicity. It seems that he returned with the aim of setting Christians straight but I couldn’t connect with what he was saying.

[Emma DeGiovanni]

Quotes from my notes app:

But this book is written out of the conviction that Jesus Christ lived and died and rose in order to form the Holy People of God— a community of Christians who would live under the sway of the Spirit, men and women who would be human torches aglow with the fire of love for Christ, prophets and lovers ignited with the flaming Spirit of the living God.

Our rapport with the villagers was profound because we shared not only their poverty, toil, bitter bread, and anxiety over the harvest but the joy of a newborn baby, the nuptial bliss of newlyweds, and the multitude of lesser experiences woven into the warp and woof of rural peasant life.

In many long hours of prayer in the caves, I realized anew that the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ supersedes all else, allowing us to experience a freedom that is not limited by the borders of a world that is itself in chains.

There is no limit to the defences we contrive against the inbreak of truth into our lives.

Though he proposes an intensity of goodness and holiness before which we can only whisper, "Who then can be saved?" there remains an awesome absence of amazement.

He contradicts our conclusion that… what's tangible, visible, and perishable can be adequate achievement for a being who has inhaled the creative thrust of God.

There is no mention, apparently even no memory, of their betrayal. Never a reproach or even an indirect reference to their cowardice in the time of testing. No sarcastic greeting like,
"Well, my fair-weather friends..." No vindictiveness, spite, or humiliating reproach. Only words of warmth and tenderness. The same in the Upper Room as Jesus says, "Peace be to you."
This is more than forgiveness. The silence of Jesus is exquisite. To learn the meaning of steadfast friendship, delicacy in dialogue, sensitivity to the feelings of others, and love that "keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Corinthians 13:5, one must listen to the forgiveness in the heart of Jesus as he says to Mary Magdalene on Easter morning,
"Go and tell my brothers.." (Matthew 28:10).

The self-righteous, on the other hand, put their trust in what they had merited by their own efforts and closed their hearts to the message of salvation.

Our puny works do not entitle us to barter with God. Everything depends on God's good pleasure.

The self-righteous imagine that they have earned salvation through observance of the law. Refusing to give up this madness, they reject the merciful love of the redeeming God.

After that experience, I may not have been any better than before, but in some way life had changed. Everything had been transformed simply because I had accepted the fact that I am accepted.

Paul had the audacity to boast, "But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). His boast was validated by his life. From the moment of Paul's conversion, Jesus Christ preoccupied his mind and heart. Christ was a force whose momentum was ceaselessly at work before Paul's eyes (Philippians 3:21). He was a person whose voice Paul could recognize (2 Corinthians 13:3); who strengthened him in his moments of weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9); who enlightened him, showed him the meaning of things and consoled him (1 Corinthians 1:4-5)

…the Father bestows his kingly might on Christ, whom he makes to be Kyrios. The Lord Jesus then pours out the Holy Spirit to form the holy People of God, a community of prophets and lovers who will surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who will live in ever greater fidelity to the shattering, omnipresent Word, who will enter into the center of all that is, into the very heart and mystery of God, into the center of that flame that consumes and purifies and sets all aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant love.
"Do not put out the Spirit's fire," exhorts Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

We boast what we are giving because it hides what we are withholding.

Contact with Christians should be an experience that proves to people that the gospel is a power that transforms the whole of life.

[Scott Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a challenging read. There is a stark quality to the language and at times that was a bit off-putting. The words of grace that populate much of Manning’s other works weren’t exactly missing, but were clouded a bit by the insistence that there is a certain way that we are “Christian”. Nevertheless, I was moved by the invitation to genuinely pursue Jesus with everything that I am. I want this. Jesus wants this for me, but he knows that my wants don’t often reach reality. Finding the grace within myself not to feel guilty after reading some of the stories and challenges was worth the effort. Still worth taking some time with. We are fools for Christ’s sake after all.

[Ron W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My two favorite books by Brennan Manning are The Ragamuffin Gospel and The Furious Longing of God. All is Grace, his biography is compelling. With this book, I feel as though Manning is addressing the American church rather than a global body of believers. I could sense the 'Catholic' side of him in his writing. One of my many criticisms today of Christian authors is many are regional-centric. When it comes to the American church, it normally always centers on issues of sexual and financial immorality, and rarely covers the core problem of pride. Manning does manage to avoid this trap, which is to his credit.
Overall, there are gems of wisdom to be found.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don't want to be challenged, don't pick up this book. Brennan will have you pulling back from the reading, pondering a paragraph here or sentence there. Several times, I had to reread paragraphs to grasp their full meaning for they were stuffed full of wisdom. This book was deeper than I expected.

[Kimberly Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

"To the fool, Jesus Christ is not a sage or a starry-eyed reformer...he has redirected reality and given it a revolutionary reorientation. Jesus did not tidy up the world. He brought it to a screaming halt. What he refashioned out of the human stuff of the old order is not nicer people with better morals but brand-new creations." YES.

[Landon Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I stuck with this book until the end. The most powerful pages were the last 20. And the book picks up steam all throughout. Reading Manning’s stuff is really a glimpse into his heart, which is why I love reading him. Foolish is no different. Manning’s heart for Jesus and the insights he has accumulated throughout his adventures are shared well in this book.

[Soraya Keiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Brennan Manning's books. He does not polish over his life or the Gospel from an ivory tower. He is there in the thick of things, just as much a sinner as you and me. This book especially challenged me and made me think in new ways.

[Jonathan King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characteristic passion, wisdom, evocative, Christ-focused writing you would expect from Manning. This book does not disappoint. It is perhaps more challenge than other Manning books in his invitation to the cruciform, foolish life in the world.

[Abimael Lopes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro maravilhoso, um relato sincero de uma pessoa que descobriu quem realmente ele era, entendeu seus medos, seus limites e como sobreviveu a tudo isso.
Super recomendo

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books. It really convicted and challenged me.

[Martins Oliveira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sair do lugar comum sem perder o próprio "eu" dentro da missão recebida por Deus é o maior desafio.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give the first two chapters six stars if I could. But the rest of the book didn't connect for me. So the star rating is my average.

[K. Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book if you want a deep relationship with Jesus. That said, it has made me quite unpopular in our current culture.

[Ian Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book like I loved all his others. Just felt really dry and I couldn't connect....

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Brennan Manning. I read it in small bits to chew on his wisdom and savour his challenges to my conventional thinking. Fantastic book.

[Graig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was challenging and encouraging. Not a few times did I find myself wondering “why is my experience of Jesus so different?”

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Can recommend highly.

[Cat Rayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to think like Jesus in the typical “no holds barred “ style of Brennan Manning.

There is God, and his truth, and there is everything else. Brennan makes the solid, and biblical case to pattern your thoughts and your very existence in this world after Jesus. There is nothing else.

Appreciate Manning’s style, it convicts while softening you for humble submission to prayer for a mind like Christ and then to live your life in the mindset.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A gentle revolution will come through a little cadre of Christian fools who are willing to overthrow the established order by arranging their lives around the mind of Christ. Their question is transparency through truthfulness, and their lifestyles will be shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ. If ‘truth consists in the mind’s giving to things the importance they have in reality,’ in the words of Jean Danielou, then the desire for security, pleasure, and power will be realistically assessed as straw and the Lordship of Jesus Christ pragmatically affirmed as the order of the really Real.” -- Manning, p. 175

[Vaughn Bender · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book title was a bit confusing at first. When I first started reading through the first few chapters I was trying to connect some sort of dots to relate why the book was called "the importance of being foolish" but it wasn't until I read through half the book the idea of the title was starting to form in my mind. This book is not very similarly written like his others and that is ok. Mr Manning touches on a few key points such as blessings, transparency, security, pleasure, and power and when intertwined with the world, we are lost and not in any kind of authentic relationship with Jesus. But these same points if intertwined in our Lord we can experience what God wants us to see and Brennan explains that when we enter into that kind of relationship with our Lord, and then the world looks at us like they would look at Christ, foolish yet the upside is a real authentic relationship with our Lord and Saviour and the benefits are endless especially in the Peace we can have in Christ. Brennan explains then we have true Transparency. Manning says the Journey to transparency begins "with an honest confrontation with the truth, which is not something we acquire, but Someone." He talks about having the mind of Christ and this is really the first real book I have read that explains "how to have the mind of Christ," which leads naturually to be transparent etc. This is a great read and a great book to get you in the right direction in the Christian life and real practical truth How to. This book rekindles that desire God put in us at the moment of Salvation and Mr manning gives you the tools and direction to build on it for eternity. Thanks Brennan!