Digital Logos Edition
Too often the Christian version of popular culture’s sentimental view of love is that, of all things, Christians should be nice. After all, people ask, isn’t the Church about forgiveness? Aren’t Christians supposed to love others without condition? This book not only focuses on the aspects of Christian love that are not easy–such as when it comes to loving our enemies, and even forgiving those loved ones who have hurt us–but also helps readers understand, then, what biblical love really is. As author D. A. Carson points out, thinking seriously about Christian love soon embroils us in reflection on justice, revenge, war, the authority of the state, forgiveness, hate, and much more. This book shows some of the important ways in which the love of Christians is a reflection of the love of God, and enables believers to develop an appropriate understanding of how to love in the hard places of life.
“popular culture saunters between a sentimental view and an erotic view of love” (Page 11)
“love, rightly understood and practiced, actually fulfilled Old Testament law” (Page 19)
“We find it difficult to hate those for whom we pray; we find it difficult not to pray for those whom we love” (Page 44)
“unity is not an intrinsic good. There is good unity, and there is bad unity” (Page 62)
“ our responsibility to love our enemies is grounded in the fact that God providentially loves the just and the unjust” (Page 15)