Love Matters More
How Fighting to Be Right Keeps Us from Loving Like Jesus
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4.4 • 5 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
For years, Christians have argued, debated, and fought one another while "speaking the truth in love," yet we are no closer to the grace-filled life Jesus modeled. Biblical scholar and popular podcast host of The Bible for Normal People, Jared Byas casts a new vision for the Christian life that's built not on certainty, but on the risk of love.
A biblically-based Christian life is not grounded in having all the answers but in a living relationship. This ultimately shifts our focus from collecting the "right" answers to loving others deeply and authentically. With stories and insights drawn from his years as a pastor, professor, and podcast host, Jared Byas calls us back to the heart of the Bible: that truth is only true when it's lived out in love.
In a refreshing voice that's both witty and profoundly revelatory, Jared unpacks the concept of truth, its meaning, and why we so often fight over it. He makes a compelling case for how what we believe is less important than how we believe it and that, more than anything else, telling the truth in love is about following Jesus.
For anyone who has ever felt forced to choose between truth and love, acceptance and rightness, this book offers a path forward beyond truth wars and legalistic religion to a love that matters more.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Byas (Genesis for Normal People), cohost of the The Bible for Normal People podcast, argues in this uplifting testament that how one believes is more relevant than what one believes. Drawing from his experience as a professor and pastor, Byas examines the Christian tendency to idolize truth in pursuit of certainty and explores different perceptions of truth, explaining that "in the Bible there is no tension between truth and love, because the highest form of truth is wisdom." Emphasizing that love and authentic faith can only be found through following Jesus, he provides stories and examples of Christians who model speaking the truth by sharing Christ's love. For instance, a woman who, after her gay son comes out to her, makes a speech to her church arguing that a Christian's "call is to love" all people. With a focus on Jesus's message of salvation for all, Byas frequently reminds readers of Christianity's welcoming core: "It turns out that the best Christians are the ones who love the most, regardless of what they know or don't know." Christians who enjoy the work of Richard Rohr should check this out.
Customer Reviews
Bam!
Jared you hit the nail on the head with this book. I can’t agree more that love matters more than “being right.” Your book does an excellent job of showing how Jesus exemplified love. Definitely a book I will recommend to friends.