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Pastor Jay's Blog

Book Review: God’s Love

 

First of all, many will be pleased to know that this isn’t even a book, but a booklet, totaling only 16 pages. Those 16 pages focus on one message: God’s love is not well represented by such a vague, weak word that is weighed down with unbiblical notions, and instead should be tied to biblical language that makes it the glorious thing it is.

The author, David Powlison, is a well-known biblical counselor and has written numerous works that have served counselors who seek to ground their counseling in the word of God. He handles this single topic with skill and grace. Let me give you a taste of why he wants to unshackle God’s love from the unhelpful description of “unconditional.”

“I’d like to propose that God’s love is much different and better than unconditional. Unconditional love, as most of us understand it, begins and ends with sympathy and empathy, with blanket acceptance. It accepts you as you are with no expectations. You in turn can take it or leave it. But think about what God’s love for you is like. God does not calmly gaze on you in benign affirmation. God cares too much to be unconditional in his love.”

The progression of this small piece is wisely handled. While there aren’t chapters to this booklet, it does have sections. The first three sections begin to argue that unconditional is an inferior way to describe God’s love. The first section is called “Watching Love,” the second “Active, Intrusive Love,” and third “Love Has a Goal.” Each of these sections contrasts God’s love with unconditional love.

Realizing that there is a reason that the term “unconditional” is used, Powlison then gives a section called “Four ‘Unconditional’ Truths.” Here he gives four ways that the term “unconditional love” can serve as shorthand for some biblical realities. That section is followed up by a section called “Four Biblical Improvements” that shows us why “unconditional” just does not measure up biblically.

Powlison concludes the short article with a wonderful alternative that serves those who want to speak of the love of God. Instead of unconditional love, the Bible proclaims to us a “contraconditional” love.

“If you receive blanket acceptance, you need no repentance. You just accept it. It fills you without humbling you. It relaxes you without upsetting you about yourself – or thrilling you about Christ. It lets you relax without reckoning with the anguish of Jesus on the cross. It is easy and undemanding. It does not insist on, or work at, changing you. It deceives you about both God and yourself. We can do better. God does not accept me just as I am; he loves me despite how I am. He loves me just as Jesus is; he loves me enough to devote my life to renewing me into the image of Jesus. This love is much, much, much better than unconditional! Perhaps we could call it “contraconditional” love.”

This is a superb little article that will help you think and speak more clearly about God’s love and the gospel. You can purchase it online or borrow a copy from myself.

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