The Barbarian Way
Back in my seminary days at SWBTS my wife and I were members for a while at Wedgwood Baptist (Jerry Sutton was pastor). I volunteered with the youth on Wednesdays with others students, including George Guthrie, now at Union University (and can he play a piano), and Erwin McManus, now at Mosaic in LA.
Erwin has been a guy out of the system in the SBC, while I have been an old fuddy-dud, living in the denominational structure…okay, I actually have been amazingly blessed to serve the Lord in all the ways He has granted. But Erwin and I thought alike back then, and in some ways still do now. But this book has moved me. It has taken me back to my early years, when I met Jesus and just wanted to pour out my life for Him. It took me to my early years of marriage and seminary, when Michelle and I were dirt poor (praise God for .38 cans of chicken soup)but we just wanted to do everything we could to help others know the Jesus we know.
The following is a series of quotes from Erwin’s book. I am not attempting a formal review, just pulling some quotes that encouraged me, so maybe you will be blessed and challenged as well…
Erwin Raphael McManus, The Barbarian Way. Nelson, 2005.
“But then the worst thing happened that could happen to any fighter, you got civilized.” Mick to Rocky, Rocky III. P. vi.
p. 5: “The invitation of Jesus is a revolutionary call to fight for the heart of humanity. We are called to an unconventional war using only the weapons of faith, hope, and love. Nevertheless, this war is no less dangerous than any war ever fought. And for those of us who embrace the cause of Christ, the cost to participate in the mission of God is nothing less than everything we are and everything we have.”
p. 6: “This is the simplicity of the barbarian way. If you are a follower of Christ, then you are called to fight for the heart of your King. It is a life fueled by a passion—a passion for God and a passion for people.”
“When Christianity becomes just another religion, it focuses on requirements. Just to keep people in line, we build our own Christian civilization and (p. 7) then demand everyone who believes in Jesus become a good citizen.”
“It’s hard to imagine that Jesus would endure the agony of the Cross just to keep us in line.”
p. 12: “Perhaps the tragedy of our time is that such an overwhelming number of us who declare Jesus as Lord have become domesticated—or, if you will, civilized. We have lost the simplicity of our early faith. Beyond that, we have lost the passion and power of that raw, untamed, and primal faith.”
p. 13: “The barbarian way is about love, intimacy, passion, and sacrifice. Barbarians love to live and live to love. For them God is life, and their mission is to connect humanity to Him. Their passion is that each of us might live in intimate communion with Him who died for us. The barbarian way is a path of both spirit and truth.”
“If I know nothing else about you, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, I know this without question: there is within you a raw and untamed faith waiting to be unleashed.”
My thoughts: this last statement is what I see again and again as I speak to youth, to college students, to my students. May God give us a generation who will live with this passion, and spend more time on living for God than swapping our opinions…
July 22nd, 2006 at 9:38 pm
Doc, felt the same way when I read through the book. I really liked the quote by Mick to Rocky! Wherever you are this Lord’s Day, I pray that you experience “unleashed faith!”
Blessings,
Eric Thomas
July 23rd, 2006 at 1:09 pm
MacManus has been blessed with the ability to say what others think but can’t express. The Barbarian Way and The Unstoppable Force are in my reading rotation. I’ve read both many times. They remind me what it’s all about. And now, I’ve just started Chasing Daylight. It’s like I’ve got God’s megaphone in my ear and He’s talking really loud!
July 24th, 2006 at 6:41 am
Alvin,
I enjoyed the book too, well I don’t know if enjoyed was the right word. It was convicting. Thanks for stopping by my site. It is great to meet another Samford Bulldog!
July 24th, 2006 at 11:00 am
Dr. Reid,
Great post. We saw MacManus on the Student Life tour at Pinelake Church. He was great. I have not read this book but I will. You are an encouragment to us.
July 24th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Thanks guys. Eric, we need to visit again. Rob, I agree. I was at Mosaic in May and was blessed. Kevin, I enjoy your site. Convicting is a good word. It makes me want to change the world all over again. matt, thanks much. I am glad Erwin and I have reconnected. We are trying to get him on campus sometime next year.
July 24th, 2006 at 6:05 pm
This is one of Erwin’s I haven’t read yet. Just havne’t gotten around to it…but, you’re thoughts encourage me to buy it and read it as soon as possible.
On another note, other than in your book, “Introduction to Evangelism,” do you have a recommended reading list?
July 25th, 2006 at 1:19 am
I’d like to hear your recommended reading list as well and will also check out the Barbarian Way as I have not read it.
July 25th, 2006 at 4:38 am
Hmmm I have a pretty massive bibliography I can email you, mostly compiled during my mentoring with PhD students. It may be more helpful to offer books in a given subject, i.e. personal evangelism, prayer, spiritual awakenings, spiritual disciplines, leadership etc. I would be happy to post a list, maybe a brief annotated bib, something like that.
July 25th, 2006 at 4:40 am
Also…I have thought one way this blog can be helpful is to do what we are discussing, mention a list of books and add others to comment and add others. Maybe I can do a weekly post, which would be a little more substantive than a Phriday Photo lol.
July 25th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Dr. Reid
I picked up McManus’ book this afternoon. Keep the recomendations coming. Thanks! Matt
July 25th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Dr. Reid,
I just finished the book. WOW! It rang true when he said, “Jesus is being lost in a religion bearing his name.” I have lost Him myself many times.
I felt like I swallowed some Red Man when I read, “When the church becomes an institution, people are nothing more than volunteers to be recruited. When the church is a movement, our stewardship becomes the unleashing of our God-given gifts, talents, and passions. My goal is not to cast a vision that everyone buys into, but to create a visional community where everyone who enters in begins to have wild and God-sized dreams and visions.” That shook me to the core with conviction. Thanks again for pointing out this book.
Forgive the spelling in the former comments.
July 25th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
Thanks Matt:
I have a book for college students/older teens coming out in the winter. It is called Join the Movement. That has been my mantra: we are to be about advancing a movement, not maintaining institutions. Many are saying very similar things in this regard. Could be a movement…
July 26th, 2006 at 6:11 am
Dr. Reid,
I will promote your book with zeal. Thanks.
July 26th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
Alvin,
I never knew that you knew Erwin. Keith Eitel, Robin Hadaway and I went to the Mosaic the last Sunday in February 2006 at the old Mayan Temple (theater) just off Broadway. It was great. Not what I expected, but great. Next time I am in L.A. on Sunday, I ‘m heading to the Mosaic.
Keith, Robin, and I (51,56,51) were the OLD guys, but those young guys at the church really made us feel right at home. They were genuine, sincere, and fun to be with. When we arrived, there were about 200 young people on the street praying for their friends and God’s blessings on the service. And I really liked the way Erwin gave the invitation. He had the unchurched meet him on the mezzanine level and shared Jesus with them as he just hung out sharing in a light snack together.
Great Service. LOUD but Great.
If you ever have him on campus, lets take him to lunch together. My treat!
HEP
July 26th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
We are going to get him here. Here is an interesting point they made at Origins: the Christians who go to the Mayan service talk about how cool it is there, the music, the lights, etc. The unbelievers typically say, “the guy’s talk was something!” A lot of unchurched peeps may be seeking substance more than we!
July 28th, 2006 at 1:10 am
Sometimes it seems that “American Christians” have lost their wonder for Christ. We Baptists like to talk about stumbling blocks in certain areas… I think we often are stumbling blocks to nonChristians finding Christ, the one who holds it all together.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:44 am
It’s interesting that mcmanus refers to faith, love and hope as weapons. Also, I became a christian so that I would no longer need to fight. I spent my entire childhood fighting against many monsters, monsters that I guarantee mcmanus has not had to face. A man like mcmanus talks so easily about taking spiritual risk because he has not known what true suffering is. Had I known being apart of church was simply transferring from one uncivilized community to another, I would have never joined.
August 7th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Michael:
thanks for the post. I have no idea what terrible things you faced in childhood. It may be that Erwin at times overworks the war analogy, but the truth is that Scripture uses that often. I am not sure such criticism of him helps anyone either.
There are legions in history and today who in fact do serve Christ in the face of great suffering. We do wrestle, but not with people– rather with spiritual forces (Ephesians 6). I do think we have to remember people are not our enemy…our enemy is satan.
I think Erwin is reacting to a domesticated Christianity that emphasizes never rocking the boat, security, and ease, which is not exactly all Christianity is–we must take up our cross as well. I do appreciate your post. And I think knowing Erwin that even if you disagree with his premise and conclusions, the fact that you were moved to think about these things was part of his point in writing the book.
August 7th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
At what cost should we rock the boat? Taking risk should not give permission for men to but people in spiritual danger. It’s so sad to think that the minute I walk into to a church I become a chip in a spiritual poker game.
If it is true that the battle is against spiritual forces then why does erwin emphasize creativity so much. I find it hard to believe that a well crafted piece of art is going to keep the demons away.
Erwin has painted a very tricky picture in which its critics appear harsh. I’m not sure I am the one who is confused about what erwin truly means when he talks about risk.
August 8th, 2006 at 4:14 am
Michael, your posts illustrate the joy of blogging. We can all share our ideas whether we agree or disagree. I do agree with Erwin’s central premise,as apparently all others who posted do as well. However, I would apply that premise differently at times than he does. Otherwise, you and I will simply have to agree to differ. Many blessings on your walk with Christ, Micheal. Feel free to email me, but I will move on from here.