Image: The Last Arrow by Len Lantz (CC BY-NC-ND)
Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 9 out of 10. A challenging, countercultural book on Christian living that focuses on breaking through mediocrity, living for the future, and leaving no effort undone.
BY LEN LANTZ, MD, author of unJoy / 1.30.2022; No. 73
Disclaimer: Yes, I am a physician, but I’m not your doctor and this article does not create a doctor-patient relationship. This article is for educational purposes and should not be seen as medical advice. You should consult with your physician before you rely on this information. This post also contains affiliate links. Please click this LINK for the full disclaimer.
Star Rating – 9 out of 10
Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow
Author
Erwin McManus
About the author
Erwin McManus is a speaker, futurist, best-selling author, and lead pastor of Mosaic, which is a megachurch based in Los Angeles that has additional locations in Hollywood, South Pasadena, Venice, Orange County, Seattle, Mexico City, and Ecuador. He obtained his MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and he received an honorary degree, a Doctorate in Humane Letters, from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Erwin McManus also hosts a talk show, McManus, with his son Aaron on Hillsong Channel NOW.
General description
The Last Arrow is a book that describes a contrarian mindset and action-oriented approach to Christian living. The author uses the metaphor of the arrow in two different ways. One of the ways is to encourage the reader to “ask big” in their prayer life in their requests to God. Erwin McManus references a biblical story involving king Jehoash and the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 13: 10-25) in which the king failed to ask for enough of a blessing from God (he was supposed to repeatedly strike the ground with a quiver of arrows but he stopped short after striking the ground three times). The other arrow metaphor that Erwin McManus uses is to recommend that the reader not hold in reserve any efforts (arrows) toward their goals/dreams before they die. Topics covered in this book are accurately reflected in the chapter titles, which include:
The Point of No Return (choose to be above average, and never quit)
Save Nothing for the Next Life (gain courage as you live for God, not the world)
Choose the Future (acknowledge and utilize the power to choose)
Set Your Past on Fire (get rid of things from the past that would interfere with your future)
Refuse to Stay Behind (say yes to the right opportunities)
Act Like Your Life Depends on It (choose to live a full life rather than simply exist)
Stand Your Ground (do what is right even if it is unpopular)
Find Your Tribe (invest in relationships that align with your future)
Know What You Want (want what God wants, then ask big from God)
Battle Ready (live life in a manner that any activity can prepare you for larger opportunities)
Unique and most important aspects
In full disclosure, I am wary of books – especially Christian books – that have an aggressive, militaristic, or weaponized theme. This is due to my concern that unbalanced individuals may selectively read these books to fuel violent urges. The Last Arrow pleased me, because, even though the author used absolutist language, the book is not about attacking. Also, many books on Christian living seem designed either to encourage or to help someone work through a specific issue. In contrast, Erwin McManus’ goal appears to be to provocatively disrupt mediocrity and provide the reader with guideposts for full Christian living, which is reflected in the subtitle of this book: Save Nothing for the Next Life.
There were a few challenges in this book. In several instances, the author used extreme examples to prove his point. He frequently used the words only, always, and never, and he occasionally presented forced dichotomies. Also, the arrow metaphor lost some of its punch as the author shifted back and forth between striking arrows against the ground to call on God’s blessings/provision and living a life without reserve by sending your last arrow, not saving it. Important concepts from The Last Arrow include:
The power of deciding to become above average
The vast difference between fully living and simply existing
The importance of knowing what you want and what God wants to give you
The advice to not skip opportunities that are in alignment with your future direction
The contrast of “setting your past on fire” vs. burning bridges
The idea that action, like prayer, can be spiritual
Best quotes
“I do not believe anyone is born average, but I do believe that many of us choose to live a life of mediocrity. I think there are more of us than not who are in danger of disappearing into the abyss of the ordinary. The great tragedy in this, of course, is that there is nothing really ordinary about us.”
“God is never calling us into the past; he is always calling us into the future. When he calls us to choose him, he is calling us to choose the future as well.”
“God’s future will never come to us at the cost of our character.”
“I have found that life can be incredibly elusive because it exists just on the other side of existence. Most of us are not choosing between life and death; we are choosing between existence and death. We actually never choose to live. We are so afraid of death and all its relatives, such as failure and disappointment and injury, that we actually never choose to live.”
“The last arrow moves you past what God will do for you to what God will do through you.”
“Don’t expect to be popular if you choose to rise above the status quo.”
“No wonder the church has lost its magnetism to a world searching for hope. We are seen as the guardians of tradition. The church is known for fighting the future rather than creating the future that humanity desperately needs.”
“You have to want what God wants in order to receive what he wants to give you.”
Who would enjoy this book?
Readers who are interested in a book on Christian living that is future-focused, action-oriented, and challenging would likely enjoy The Last Arrow.
Who would not enjoy this book?
Readers who are interested in a book on Christian living that provides traditional, specific advice or who would be turned off by absolutist language and provocative ideas are unlikely to enjoy The Last Arrow.
Conclusion
The Last Arrow is a challenging, countercultural book on Christian living that focuses on breaking through mediocrity, living for the future, and leaving no effort undone.