The Rule of Love
Author: Jonathan Leeman
Written: 2018
“God is love.”
“God in himself provides the definition, the reality, of what love is. love is not an abstract concept but a personal quality of God.”
Hello Ordinary Readers,
Prepare to get wrecked! Do you think you know what love is? I thought I did, well kind-of. I mean I know in middle school I think I might have been in love with every girl my age at some point! (didn’t we all?). I also loved basketball, baseball, and movies! Love to me were these things that made me happy and when they stopped making me happy I didn’t love them anymore. Then as I grew older and then eventually turned from my sin and trusted in Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) But it is still so much more than this, and Leeman’s book, The Rule of Love has given me a new perspective on God’s love.
Leeman writes this and it goes against everything the world tells us love is. Four assumptions that Leeman point’s out are;
No moral boundaries or judgments can be placed on Love.
Love means unconditional acceptance and the end of judgment.
Love and authority have nothing to do with one another.
It follows that love is anti-institutional. (p. 18-19)
But as Leeman writes he points out that, “God’s love draws lines. it puts up boundaries. it exercises authority. it makes commitments and offers corrections. loving churches will do the same” (p. 21).
The entire book unpacks what God’s love is and it is a great read. I can’t wait to read this again and go through it slowly with another person. I think that is where this book will shine, is reading it with a friend and diving into each chapter, and discussing its’ implications.
Happy Reading!
Quotes
“Anything called love that does not have its source in God is not love.”
“God’s love draws lines. it puts up boundaries. it exercises authority. it makes commitments and offers corrections. loving churches will do the same”