I was sent the book, Unleashed, to review through BookSneeze.
Unleashed is a re-release of the book The Barbarian Way.
I was very excited to read this book and learn about the potential to release the untamed faith within myself. This book gave me a lot to think about regarding the Christian faith, my personal belief/faith, and forced me to think outside the box. He encourages the reader to unleash their faith and not be civilized Christians.
Unleashed gives a call to escape a tame Christianity and become original, powerful, untamed Christians—just as Christ intended.
Christianity had become civilized, domesticated, and complacent. We all are susceptible to choosing a life defined more by security and safety than faith and risk. We all struggle with the tension of wanting to live a life of unimaginable adventure and at the same time maintain a world that is fully under our control. The problem is that faith when fully ignited moves our lives entirely out of our control completely into the hands of God.
Barbaric Christians see Jesus differently than civilized Christians. They see disciples differently, and they see Christ’s mission differently. Unleashed is a call to escape “civilized” Christianity and become original, powerful, untamed Christians—just as Christ intended.
I thought this book was thought provoking and forced me to think outside the box of my comfort zone. I must agree, that my Christian faith has become complacent and safe. I am not a barbarian in my beliefs or actions. Yet, I crave that adventure for Christ. After reading this book, I am more aware of my domesticated faith and am choosing to make my life count.
God created me so that my life would count, not so that I could count the days of my life.
I love how McManus shares that, God is not calling you to the same life that everyone else will live. He is not even calling you to the same path that every follower of Christ will walk. Your life is unique before God, and your path is yours and yours alone. Where God will choose to lead you and how God chooses to use your life cannot be predicted by how God has worked in the lives of others before you.
There are MANY great pieces to chew on from this book with regard to your Christian faith. But for me, there were many other quotes that helped me with regard to fitness, family (parenting), and life. Here are two of my favorite lines that I have been chewing on for the past few weeks:
The life you long to live is not waiting in the future, it is waiting in the inner recesses of your soul.
This quote hit home for me regarding my fitness & weight loss goals. My goals in life are not waiting for me in the future… they reside IN me. Ultimately it is up to ME to get out there and DO something about that desire to reach those goals.
Jesus expected that those who were His followers would hear His voice, know His voice, and follow only His voice.
Just like a mother wants her children to listen to HER voice – not their peers. I want my children to HEAR my voice, KNOW my voice, and FOLLOW my voice – what we have taught them as right… not necessarily what their peers have pressured them into believing.
This book was an interesting read, and if you are looking for a book that will challenge you to think outside the box for your faith… this book is it.
Disclaimer: I received this book for sole purpose to read and review from BookSneeze. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed above are my own.
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