The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning Multnomah 1990,200

http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/ragmuffin114.html The American Church today grace in theory but denies it in practice. We say we believe that the fundamental structure of reality is grace, not works - but our lifves refute our faith. By and large . the gospel of grace is neither proclaimed, understood, nor lived. Too many Christians are living in the house of fear and not in the house of love. As I listen to sermons with their pointed emphasis on personal effort - no pain, no gain, no gain - I get the impression that a "do it yourself" spirituality is the American Fashion. Though the scriptures insist on God's initiative in the work of salvation - that by grace we are saved, that the Tremendous Lover has taken to the chase - our spirituality often starts with self, not God. Personal responsibility has replaced personal response. We talk about acquiring virtue as if tit were a skill that can be attained like good handwriting or a well-grooved golf swing. In the penitential seasons we focus on overcoming our weaknesses, getting rid of our hang-ups, and reaching Christian maturity.