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Reviving the Golden Rule: How the Ancient Ethic of Neighbor Love Can Heal the World
The Revolutionary Power of Loving Your Neighbor
Discover the transformational power of neighbor-love in theologian and ethicist Andrew DeCort’s Reviving the Golden Rule. This thought-provoking work illuminates the revolutionary ethics of loving your neighbor, weaving together history, theology, and practical guidance. Through this in-depth historical survey of the ethics of neighbor-love, DeCort invites readers to reclaim loving their neighbor as a powerful force for justice, healing, and human flourishing.
The biblical charges to “love your neighbor as yourself” and to "do to others as you would have them do to you" are at the heart of Abrahamic faith. DeCort argues that they are also at the heart of some of the most groundbreaking developments in human rights and the common good. Jesus taught neighbor-love and promised, “Do this and you will flourish.”
But Christians today are at high risk of ignoring or overthrowing the most daring teaching of Jesus’ movement. Having heard it repeatedly and having benefited immensely from its cultural effects, we have become dulled to neighbor-love’s revolutionary power.
In response, Reviving the Golden Rule:
Explores the ethics of neighbor-love from the ancient world to modern times. Examines how neighbor-love challenges the oppressive power of "othering" and expands human connection. Highlights inspiring figures like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Mother Teresa, and Oscar Romero, who practiced neighbor-love among marginalized communities. Addresses instances where Christians have failed to uphold neighbor-love. Provides practical guidance on how to love and embrace "othered" neighbors today.In one of the only historical and constructive works on the ethics of neighbor-love, DeCort invites us to reclaim this ancient movement. Get your copy today and learn to embody this revolutionary practice amidst crises for the healing of the world.
Discover the transformational power of neighbor-love in theologian and ethicist Andrew DeCort’s Reviving the Golden Rule. This thought-provoking work illuminates the revolutionary ethics of loving your neighbor, weaving together history, theology, and practical guidance. Through this in-depth historical survey of the ethics of neighbor-love, DeCort invites readers to reclaim loving their neighbor as a powerful force for justice, healing, and human flourishing.
The biblical charges to “love your neighbor as yourself” and to "do to others as you would have them do to you" are at the heart of Abrahamic faith. DeCort argues that they are also at the heart of some of the most groundbreaking developments in human rights and the common good. Jesus taught neighbor-love and promised, “Do this and you will flourish.”
But Christians today are at high risk of ignoring or overthrowing the most daring teaching of Jesus’ movement. Having heard it repeatedly and having benefited immensely from its cultural effects, we have become dulled to neighbor-love’s revolutionary power.
In response, Reviving the Golden Rule:
Explores the ethics of neighbor-love from the ancient world to modern times. Examines how neighbor-love challenges the oppressive power of "othering" and expands human connection. Highlights inspiring figures like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Mother Teresa, and Oscar Romero, who practiced neighbor-love among marginalized communities. Addresses instances where Christians have failed to uphold neighbor-love. Provides practical guidance on how to love and embrace "othered" neighbors today.In one of the only historical and constructive works on the ethics of neighbor-love, DeCort invites us to reclaim this ancient movement. Get your copy today and learn to embody this revolutionary practice amidst crises for the healing of the world.
272 pages, Paperback
Published October 2, 2025
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69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 24, 2025
This is a fantastic resource for something that is needed more than ever today. In this book, DeCort examines what he calls the Neighbor Love movement. It is a direct and clear call that takes down the sinful work of “othering” and pulls back to Christ’s vision of loving our neighbors — who happen to be everyone. There are no others. There are no enemies. There are only neighbors.
I should say that I continue to struggle with how DeCort reads the Hebrew Scriptures. Chapter 2 was, in my judgment as a Jewish reader, overly supercessionistic and uncharitable in how it interprets and represents the Torah. Alas, I know DeCort personally and look forward to chatting with him about this over our next cup of coffee or weekend retreat. I have no concerns about our hearts’ alignment.
And yet, despite these misgivings, the other six chapters overcome the reservations with such a consistent delivery of goodness. Chapters 5–6 provide a fantastic survey of Christian history and look at how love for our neighbor has shown up and routinely changed the world and called us back to Christ and His work. I was challenged and reminded, in a world that wants me to “other” with abandon, that Jesus has changed all this. I give this book my hearty recommendation.
I should say that I continue to struggle with how DeCort reads the Hebrew Scriptures. Chapter 2 was, in my judgment as a Jewish reader, overly supercessionistic and uncharitable in how it interprets and represents the Torah. Alas, I know DeCort personally and look forward to chatting with him about this over our next cup of coffee or weekend retreat. I have no concerns about our hearts’ alignment.
And yet, despite these misgivings, the other six chapters overcome the reservations with such a consistent delivery of goodness. Chapters 5–6 provide a fantastic survey of Christian history and look at how love for our neighbor has shown up and routinely changed the world and called us back to Christ and His work. I was challenged and reminded, in a world that wants me to “other” with abandon, that Jesus has changed all this. I give this book my hearty recommendation.
October 2, 2025
Andrew DeCort is no stranger to big books. As an academic, a writer, and a learner, he has scavenged the stacks for every good and perfect word that lends credence to his deepest desire: that we learn how to love each other fearlessly, openly, and completely. His latest book, “Reviving the Golden Rule: How the Ancient Ethic of Neighbor Love Can Heal the World,” DeCort explores the many paths taken by humans who’ve sought to follow God’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves. I highly recommend this book for readers looking for "what can I do" answers that will change the world one person at a time.
“Reviving the Golden Rule” invites us into a fresh immersion in the ethic of loving others as our neighbors. Reading this book helps us explore our collective roots where we uncover mistakes, for sure, but also inspiration for the future. DeCort exhorts us, “When we dive deeply into it, we find not an abstract principle but an unfolding story and expanding movement alive with hope and healing.”
DeCort’s book journeys into the origins of neighbor love in the Bible, its unfolding story across history, and the implications of Neighbor Love for us today. The book’s short sections and accessible language make it a natural study guide for small groups (Bible studies or reconciliation conversation groups), classes, Sunday school, and book clubs. DeCort is also available for book discussions and presentations locally or virtually online.
If you’ve wondered where did all this start, or how did we get so far off track from the divine agenda to love our neighbors and our enemies, here is your encyclopedia. “In this ethical vision, ‘neighbor’ isn’t a geographical term of physical proximity or group identity. It’s a moral term that names seeing and treating other people as morally connected to us and equally precious in value,” DeCort explains.
“In each generation, the invitation resounds from this movement: to recognize more and more ‘others’ as our neighbors and to heal the blindness of othering.” It is a gift for the generations--especially if we put into practice the compelling call to go out into all the world and love everyone. Take this book with you as your guide. Hand out extra copies as a gift to empower others to love more intentionally.
October 8, 2025
*A timely and transformative read*
Reviving the Golden Rule is one of those rare books that doesn’t just inform—it reshapes how you see yourself, your neighbor, and even God’s call on your life. The author takes Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself” and helps us wrestle with what it really means in a world fractured by division, fear, and bias.
What I loved most is how this book embodies what it teaches - it (somehow! through a book!) encourages us to pause and examine our own blind spots. It doesn’t let us off the hook with vague ideals, but gently challenges us to recognize the ways we’ve “othered” people, and to imagine what true neighbor-love looks like in today’s context. Through Scripture, history, and moving stories, it shows that Jesus wasn’t calling for sentimental niceness, but for a radical, boundary-breaking love that dismantles prejudice and redefines community.
This is a compelling and hopeful vision, but it’s also practical. It points out how loving others well requires tending to our own hearts, and it offers concrete ways to embody compassion in everyday life. I certainly needed that.
If you’ve ever wondered what Jesus really meant by loving your neighbor—and how that command still speaks into modern injustice, division, and fear—this book is a must-read. It left me convicted, inspired, and eager to live differently.
Reviving the Golden Rule is one of those rare books that doesn’t just inform—it reshapes how you see yourself, your neighbor, and even God’s call on your life. The author takes Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself” and helps us wrestle with what it really means in a world fractured by division, fear, and bias.
What I loved most is how this book embodies what it teaches - it (somehow! through a book!) encourages us to pause and examine our own blind spots. It doesn’t let us off the hook with vague ideals, but gently challenges us to recognize the ways we’ve “othered” people, and to imagine what true neighbor-love looks like in today’s context. Through Scripture, history, and moving stories, it shows that Jesus wasn’t calling for sentimental niceness, but for a radical, boundary-breaking love that dismantles prejudice and redefines community.
This is a compelling and hopeful vision, but it’s also practical. It points out how loving others well requires tending to our own hearts, and it offers concrete ways to embody compassion in everyday life. I certainly needed that.
If you’ve ever wondered what Jesus really meant by loving your neighbor—and how that command still speaks into modern injustice, division, and fear—this book is a must-read. It left me convicted, inspired, and eager to live differently.
October 2, 2025
We need this book now (and books like it always). Decort does an excellent job summarizing the idea of neighborly love from the beginning of the book: the core idea of the book is that we must see others as RELATED TO US and EQUALLY PRECIOUS as ourselves.
Decort diagnoses one of the great enemies of our day: "othering" certain other human beings as unrelated to us and/or not precious.
Though I am not a Christian anymore, Decort draws out the most compelling aspect of Christianity to me in Jesus' proclamation of the neighbor-love command.
The book is both extensively researched and clear, readable, and not over-long or too detailed for the casual reader. He organizes the book somewhat historically, which allows the reader to look for ideas and topics in specific periods, followed by case-studies of saints and ordinary people who put this ethical vision of neighborly love into practice.
As a researcher, I really appreciated the very extensive bibliography of texts on neighborly love, organized historically. This bibliography that Andrew has collected is in an invaluable resource for any thinkers working on this topic! I hope it will not be missed!
I highly recommend this book!
Decort diagnoses one of the great enemies of our day: "othering" certain other human beings as unrelated to us and/or not precious.
Though I am not a Christian anymore, Decort draws out the most compelling aspect of Christianity to me in Jesus' proclamation of the neighbor-love command.
The book is both extensively researched and clear, readable, and not over-long or too detailed for the casual reader. He organizes the book somewhat historically, which allows the reader to look for ideas and topics in specific periods, followed by case-studies of saints and ordinary people who put this ethical vision of neighborly love into practice.
As a researcher, I really appreciated the very extensive bibliography of texts on neighborly love, organized historically. This bibliography that Andrew has collected is in an invaluable resource for any thinkers working on this topic! I hope it will not be missed!
I highly recommend this book!
October 3, 2025
DeCort has written an imaginative and moving book.
The book examines neighbor love and its rivals in Hebrew and Christian scriptures and contemporary literatures. The book then explores the ideas of some thinkers on neighbor love. The historical survey concludes with illuminating portraits of practitioners of neighbor love in the twentieth century-- Bonhoeffer, Weil, King, Romero, and Mother Teresa.
These lines from the neighbor love covenant stay with me: "Resist separating your work and values. Live an integrated life." "Today I say Yes! I am an ambassador of neighbor love."
Review note: I ordered this book directly from the publisher and received it a few weeks before its official publication date.
The book examines neighbor love and its rivals in Hebrew and Christian scriptures and contemporary literatures. The book then explores the ideas of some thinkers on neighbor love. The historical survey concludes with illuminating portraits of practitioners of neighbor love in the twentieth century-- Bonhoeffer, Weil, King, Romero, and Mother Teresa.
These lines from the neighbor love covenant stay with me: "Resist separating your work and values. Live an integrated life." "Today I say Yes! I am an ambassador of neighbor love."
Review note: I ordered this book directly from the publisher and received it a few weeks before its official publication date.
October 2, 2025
There are few books as timely as "Reviving the Golden Rule" by Andrew DeCort. When it seems like our whole world is trapped in divisive othering, Andrew invites us into Jesus' ethic of neighbor love. Tenderly and passionately, Andrew invites us to ponder the radical implications of Jesus' teaching for today.
Last year, my church book club read Andrew's previous book, "Blessed Are the Others." We've been reading a book every month for the past four years, and many regulars said that this was the best one we'd done! High praise from these Midwestern Presbyterians! We are looking forward to reading this one all together with great anticipation!
Last year, my church book club read Andrew's previous book, "Blessed Are the Others." We've been reading a book every month for the past four years, and many regulars said that this was the best one we'd done! High praise from these Midwestern Presbyterians! We are looking forward to reading this one all together with great anticipation!
October 2, 2025
"There are no longer any nobodies, no longer any invisible objects or valueless enemies." This idea sums up for me the possibility of what this book could inspire more of - a fresh way of seeing others, that animates new and healing ways of living together. A beautifully written and helpful book.
October 2, 2025
Neighbor love is the missing piece in our time and with Andrew’s profound unpacking of this ancient concept we get a plan of hope for the future.
October 6, 2025
I feel like this is essential reading for those wanting to enrich their practice or understanding of nonviolence. It is both reflective and practical - inspiring a deeper commitment to the world embracing ideas of neighbor love, whilst also walking through the steps and discipline it takes to put these ideas into practice.
This book can operate as a really good starting point for a book club or church small group as there are discussion questions and the content is very timely (and some accompanying podcast episodes the author has created).
This book can operate as a really good starting point for a book club or church small group as there are discussion questions and the content is very timely (and some accompanying podcast episodes the author has created).
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews