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Rating(4 / 5.0, 95 votes)
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95 reviews
July 14,2025
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With a profound biblical worldview and an astute understanding of the human heart, Allender and Longman embark on a journey to unpack the true meaning of what it means for Christians to love their enemies. This is far from being a book filled with simplistic and superficial "one size fits all" maxims. Instead, with their nuanced wisdom and a willingness to be vulnerable, these authors courageously tackle the extremely real and difficult challenge of loving those who have inflicted the most pain upon us.


Their exploration leads to conclusions that do not encourage readers to adopt an avoidant and passive stance. On the contrary, it points them towards active strategies that are designed to prompt the other person to repentance and restoration. This book offers valuable insights and practical guidance that can truly transform the way we approach the concept of loving our enemies. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of this essential Christian principle. Highly recommend!

July 14,2025
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“Wise and so helpful. I'm extremely thankful for this book.” This simple yet powerful statement truly encapsulates the value and significance of the book in question. It is not just a regular read, but a source of wisdom and practical guidance that has had a profound impact on the reader. The book must be filled with valuable insights and useful tips that have helped the reader in various aspects of life. Whether it's in personal growth, professional development, or simply in understanding the world around us better, this book has proven to be an invaluable resource. The reader's gratitude is a testament to the quality and effectiveness of the book, and it serves as a recommendation for others to explore and discover its treasures.

July 14,2025
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Changed my view of forgiveness and allowed me to process the pain resulting from the sin of others. I have come to realize that forgiveness is not an easy task, but it is essential for our own well-being. Through this experience, I learned to see that people can be ignorant, foolish, and intentional in their sinful actions. These different categories helped me better understand the actions of others and work toward boldly loving them.



When people are ignorant, they may not be fully aware of the consequences of their actions. In such cases, it is important to approach them with kindness and understanding, and try to educate them. Foolish actions, on the other hand, may be the result of a lack of judgment or impulse control. Here, patience and guidance can go a long way in helping them make better choices.



Intentional sinful actions, however, are the most difficult to forgive. But even in these cases, I have learned that we must try to see the person behind the act. We need to remember that everyone is capable of change and that love has the power to transform even the hardest of hearts. By boldly loving others, we not only give them a chance to redeem themselves but also find peace and healing within ourselves.

July 14,2025
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Good book.

I have been reading it for a while, just like it is the case with many Christian books. However, I truly believed that Allender had a remarkable perspective.

My favorite chapter was undoubtedly Chapter 6: Resume of a Warrior. This chapter was so profound and inspiring that I think I should read it every few months.

It offers valuable insights and teachings that can have a significant impact on one's spiritual journey.

The way Allender presents the concepts and ideas in this chapter makes it easy to understand and apply to our daily lives.

Overall, this book has been a great read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in deepening their understanding of the Christian faith.
July 14,2025
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Excellent practical theology阐述了上帝对我们的爱推动我们去爱他人。

它在爱很难的时候,比如对敌人和箴言中所说的“愚人”以及普通罪人时,都具有实用性。

然而,这本书并没有否认作为特定环境中的个体在爱方面所带来的复杂特殊性。

在我读过的其他任何书籍中,我都没有如此深入地思考过,也没有受到过如此大的挑战去在爱中变得明智。

题为“惊得说不出话”的那一章光是它本身就值这本书的价钱了。

This book offers an outstanding exploration of how God's love for us should inspire our love for others. It provides practical guidance on loving even in difficult situations, such as when dealing with enemies and those whom Proverbs refers to as "fools," as well as ordinary sinners.

Nevertheless, the book acknowledges the complex and specific nature of loving as an individual within a particular context.

I have never delved so deeply into this topic nor been so challenged to be wise in my loving through any other reading.

The chapter titled "Stunned into Silence" is truly a gem and alone makes the book well worth the price.

It offers profound insights and practical wisdom that can transform our understanding and practice of love.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to grow in their love for others and to live out the teachings of Christ in a practical way.

July 14,2025
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Love is a beautiful and complex emotion that has the power to transform our lives. It is something that we all渴望 and strive for.

However, growing in love is not always easy. It requires effort, patience, and understanding.

That's why having certain things on our list can be extremely helpful.

For example, communication is key in any relationship. Open and honest communication allows us to express our feelings, needs, and desires to our partner.

It also helps us to understand their perspective and build trust.

Another important aspect is mutual respect. We should respect our partner's opinions, values, and boundaries.

This shows that we care about them and their well-being.

In addition, spending quality time together is essential. It gives us the opportunity to bond, create memories, and strengthen our connection.

Whether it's going for a walk, watching a movie, or having a romantic dinner, these moments are precious.

Finally, forgiveness is crucial. No relationship is perfect, and we are all bound to make mistakes.

When we forgive our partner, we let go of grudges and move forward.

This allows our love to grow and flourish.

In conclusion, having these things on our list can help us to grow in love and build a strong and healthy relationship.
July 14,2025
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This book is truly timeless in its application.

My mind is completely overwhelmed by the profound idea that our God calls us to love others, even though He knows full well that it is virtually an impossible task.

After all, we initially start as enemies of God, but through the cross, we are reconciled.

Jesus' charge to love our enemies is extremely challenging, to say the very least.

We already have a hard enough time loving our own family and friends.

However, that being said, He does include some practical ways to love a fool, an evil person, and just regular sinners.

These practical ways give us hope and guidance on how we can strive to follow Jesus' commandment of love, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

It forces us to look beyond our own limitations and biases and reach out with love and compassion to those who may seem unlovable.

By doing so, we can truly experience the transformative power of God's love in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.
July 14,2025
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An excellent book about loving broken, sinful, hurtful, difficult people is truly a gem. In a world where it's often easier to turn away from those who are flawed and challenging, this book offers a profound and inspiring perspective. It delves deep into the nature of love and shows us how to extend grace and kindness even to those who seem unlovable. Through vivid examples and powerful teachings, it challenges us to look beyond the surface and see the humanity within each person. It reminds us that everyone has their own story, their own pain, and their own need for love and acceptance. This book is not just a theoretical exploration of love, but a practical guide that equips us with the tools and the courage to reach out and love those who are broken, sinful, hurtful, and difficult. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to grow in their capacity to love and make a positive difference in the world.

July 14,2025
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This book was recommended by my pastor. It offers a gospel-saturated lesson on what biblical love looks like in relationships, although it can be quite deep and challenging to understand.

Bold love is defined as courageously setting aside our personal agenda to move humbly into the world of others, with their well-being in mind, and being willing to risk further pain in our souls, in order to be an aroma of life to some and an aroma of death to others. I would highly recommend this book as a companion to Dr. Henry Cloud's book Boundaries.

Here are some of the concepts and quotes that I found particularly memorable. In the forward, it is stated that God's consuming preoccupation is to destroy evil through the power of sheer goodness made known through His perfectly righteous love.

In the introduction, the importance of forgiveness is emphasized. We must learn to radically put aside the right to use past harm to justify present sin, but we must also not pretend that past harm never happened. Bold love is also described as courageously setting aside our personal agenda to move into the world of others.

Throughout the book, various chapters explore different aspects of love, such as the meaning of love, the reasons why we don't love better, and the liberating insult of grace. The book also delves into topics like facing a war of hearts, our divine warrior, and the qualifications of the heart.

Overall, this book provides a thought-provoking and in-depth exploration of biblical love, challenging readers to examine their own relationships and the way they love others. It offers valuable insights and practical applications for those seeking to grow in their understanding and practice of love.

Whether you are struggling in a relationship, seeking to deepen your understanding of love, or simply looking for a challenging and inspiring read, this book is well worth your time. I would encourage you to pick it up and discover the power of bold love for yourself.

Love well. Hope deeply.
July 14,2025
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There are far too many unnecessary stories within this text. It seems that if these stories were removed, a significant number of pages could have been saved. Without them, the reading experience would likely have been more enjoyable. The stories, unfortunately, did not truly enhance or contribute to what was being said. They failed to bring any new or valuable insights to the topic at hand. It is a pity that such extraneous elements were included, as they detracted from the overall clarity and impact of the message. It would have been much better if the focus had remained solely on presenting the essential information in a more concise and straightforward manner.

July 14,2025
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Love is not simply unconditional acceptance.

It does not mean "forgive and forget" without any thought or consideration.

Nor does love involve ignoring the hurt that has been caused and pretending as if it never happened.

The back cover of this book boldly proclaims, "If Jesus practiced the kind of love we advocate today, He would have lived to a ripe, old age."

This statement is truly eye-opening and seems perfectly timed for this particular point in my life.

It makes me stop and think about the true nature of love and how often we may misunderstand or misinterpret it.

Love should not be a blind force that allows everything to slide by.

Rather, it should involve a healthy balance of understanding, forgiveness, and addressing the issues at hand.

This book has given me a new perspective on love and has made me more aware of the importance of being true to myself and others in matters of the heart.

July 14,2025
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This is an excellent book.

It truly captivates the reader from the very beginning. The ideas and concepts presented within its pages are so profound and thought-provoking that I find myself needing to chew on this one for a while.

I am constantly amazed by the author's ability to convey complex thoughts in such a clear and engaging manner.

Each chapter seems to unfold like a new adventure, leading me to new insights and understandings.

I can already tell that this book will have a significant impact on my thinking and perspective.

I look forward to spending more time with it, delving deeper into its contents, and uncovering all of its hidden gems.

It is definitely a book that I will be recommending to others.

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