Book Review: "Unleashed; Release The Untamed Faith Within" by Erwin Raphael McManus

Have you ever felt that going to church just wasn't enough?  Have you ever felt that there should be more to being a Christian than just showing up on Sunday?  Does Christianity just seem to bland?  Then your inner barbarian is ready to burst forth and follow Jesus! 

This is how Mr. McManus frames it up for us.  He sets forth that Jesus never promised us a safe and secure time on Earth when we believe in Him.  That, upon examination of the Bible, the opposite is true.  God wants us to be warriors/barbarians in the unseen war against evil.  He sites numerous times in the Bible that to follow Jesus puts you in the direct path of turmoil and strife.

One of my favorite lines from the book is "People who are fully alive look out of their minds to those who simply exist."  Isn't that awesome!  How often have you had people look at you like you are nuts when you are convicted about a calling that God has put on your heart?  I know I've been in that position on several occasions.  When someone just goes through the motions of being a Christian or is a Sunday Christian, they don't hear God speaking to them.  They have never been called to step away from the normal and become a barbarian.

Another illustration that struck a cord with me is when Mr. McManus discusses Exodus 40:34-38.  For those of you without a Bible nearby, that is where it describes God in the form of a cloud leading the Israelites in the wilderness.  Mr. McManus states, "The civilized Christian build shelters & invite God to stay with them; barbarians move with God wherever He chooses to go.  The civilized Christian has a routine; the barbarian disciple has a mission."  He goes on with these illustrations for a paragraph.  They are all so spot on that it makes you really examine your own behavior.  It makes you want to reach deep down and call up that barbarian in your soul.

As you can tell, I really enjoyed this book.  It is along the same lines as "Radical," "Crazy Love," and "Irresistible Revolution."  It really motivated me to become a more active barbarian for Christ.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”