The Rule of Love: How the Local Church Should Reflect God's Love and Authority

by Jonathan Leeman

God Is Love vs. Love Is God

Our culture's view of love--with no boundaries or judgments or conditions-- justifies whatever our hearts want and whatever our hearts feel, rejecting any authority that gets in the way. Falsely heralded as the only path to true selfexpression and self-realization, this kind of love diminishes--if not completely redefines--the holy love of God revealed in the Bible.

In this book, Jonathan Leeman directs us toward a biblical definition of love by answering critical questions: How is love commonly misunderstood? What is God's love like and why is it offensive? And how does all of this relate to the church? In an age of consumerism, individualism, and tribalism, Leeman demonstrates how God showcases his holy love and authority to a watching world through the lives of his people living in true community with one another as the church.

Genres: Church, Christian, Theology, Ecclesiology, Christianity, Religion, Christian Living

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2018

About the author

JONATHAN LEEMAN is the editorial director of 9Marks, which involves him in editing the 9Marks series of books as well as the 9Marks Journal. He has written a number of books on the church, including Reverberation, and he teaches theology at several seminaries. Jonathan lives with his wife and four daughters in a suburb of Washington, DC and serves as an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington. You can learn more about him and his writing at www.9Marks.org.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book covering a biblical theology of love and authority. He critiques the way our broader culture would define love. He also explains how God's holiness, judgment, and authority work in tension with his love.

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extended consideration of God's Love and what it means that God is love from Scripture. Leeman explores the theology carefully, and then gives some practical application largely centered around how you should engage with a local church as a Christian. But most of the book is about God, and the application to the church is only an implication of what it means for the church to be God's people.

I'm not sure there's an aspect of God that is more taken for granted in the West, and actually so fundamentally misunderstood. In my own country, I think people often think the way Christians talk about God's love simply means we don't think he cares about how we live. So this book is both devotionally rich and immediately practical.

**This is not a shorter version of The Church and the Surprising Offense of God's Love. If you've not read it because you already read the longer book, I'm sorry to tell you you should still read this book.**

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. This is a condensed and revised version of Leeman’s earlier work, “The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love.” Brilliant analysis of individualism, consumerism, and tribalism (the latter being new material). My favorite chapters were 1 (“Love in the Culture”), 6 (“Love and Judgment”), and 7 (“Love and Authority”).

Leeman is exactly right to situate this book as a kind of prequel to the 9Marks corpus. He’s aiming to confront presuppositions, form intuitions, and appeal to the imagination. “In a sense, this book is like a prequel or a prolegomena—a pre-word—to thinking about and living as the church. Many Christians today have a hard time grasping what the church is, because so many of our intuitions about love and authority are compromised” (23).

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leeman montre comment la définition que l'on a de l'amour influence, positivement ou négativement, notre compréhension de l'Eglise locale. Il rejette la définition populaire de l'amour, ainsi que certaines définitions "chrétiennes", et plaide pour une définition biblique, centrée sur Dieu, et basée sur l'amour de Dieu pour lui-même. Très bon livre !

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: God is love, says Scripture. It’s one of weightiest and most precious truths imaginable for a Christian.

Would it be too bold to say upfront that this is one of the best books I've read in 2018? I'm going to do it anyway. This is the book I didn't know I needed...only to discover that I desperately needed such a book.

What is love? What is authority? How does the world define "love" and "authority"? How does God define love and authority? Why does the world's definitions clash with God's definitions? Is the church being overly influenced by the world? What are the dangers of letting the world's definitions impact how we live out our beliefs and doctrines? How can the church do a better job of reflecting God's definitions of love and authority?

The Rule of Love is engaging, compelling, thought-provoking. Perhaps because it is God-centered. Perhaps because it's practical and packed with applications for the church. Perhaps because it's packed with literature references.

Leeman first introduces us to the idea that God is love making sure to point out that "love" isn't all God is. He writes, "God’s own character gives us the definition and standards of love. Dictionary writers should observe God and then draft their definition of love on that basis. Anything called love that does not have its source in God is not love." Most people get "love" wrong. Because they're not looking to GOD to define it.

He concludes,
"We’re no longer interested in the God who is love. Rather, we’re interested in our own ideas of love, which become god. Love—or our notion of it—becomes the supreme justifier, boundary setter, and object of worship. That’s what a god is and does. So now we carry around something called love which possesses all the moral authority of God himself. The trouble is, it’s not God. It’s nothing more or less than our own desires—especially the desire to rule ourselves."
Modern day notions of love make assumptions--big assumptions--that clash with historic (and biblical) definitions of love.

Assumption 1. No moral boundaries or judgments can be placed on love. Rather, love establishes all the boundaries. You can justify anything by saying that it’s loving or motivated by love.
Assumption 2. Love means unconditional acceptance and the end of judgment.
Assumption 3. Love and authority have nothing to do with one another. Authority restrains. Love frees. Authority exploits. Love empowers. Authority steals life. Love saves life. This disassociation between love and authority is nothing new. They have been divided ever since the Serpent suggested to Adam and Eve that God’s love and God’s authority could not coexist.
Assumption 4. It follows that love is anti-institutional. Institutions, after all, impose authority on relationships. They are rule structures. In our minds, the words love and institution just don’t fit together. Love helps relationships. Institutions hurt them.

Essentially, he argues that "The world presumes to understand love and authority, like it presumes to understand God. Yet it understands these things only in their fallen forms, not in their created or redeemed forms... The main goal of this book, then, is to refashion our views of God’s love and authority and their relationship together."

There are SEVEN chapters: "Love in the Culture," "Love among the Theologians," "God's Love for God, Part 1," "God's Love for God, Part 2," "God's Love for Sinners," "Love and Judgment," and "Love and Authority."

In the first chapter, he examines the idol we've made called LOVE. How does culture see and define love? How did our culture come to view love in this way? (It hasn't always.) How is this cultural definition of love infiltrate the church?

In the second chapter, Leeman traces how theologians have defined and discussed love throughout the centuries. What kinds of love are there? How does God love us? Does God love in only one way? With which kind of love does God love us? Is his love unconditional or conditional? How can understanding God's love impact how I love others?

Chapters three and four focus on God's love for God. These chapters are admittedly the most complex and perhaps the most intense. It gets abstract, but he does use an analogy or two to help us out. One of his analogies is a boomerang.

The fifth chapter is "God's Love For Sinners." How did sin impact love? How has our fallenness shaped or distorted our view of love? If God loves sinners, why does he love them? how does he love them? Does he love conditionally or unconditionally?

It is finally--FINALLY--in this chapter that he reaches a definition of love. "Love is affectionately affirming that which is from God in the beloved, and giving oneself to seeing God exalted in the beloved." He points out, "Biblical love always begins with the love of God, and therefore it will affirm only what is from God. Sin and folly are never from God. Yet, when God rests lightly on our hearts, we begin to affirm sin and think we are serving both God and love in doing so. The trouble is, sin produces death, and so affirming sin is not love at all, but cowardice and hate...Love’s uppermost goal, whether in speaking or acting, is for people to know God in Christ. This is the demand of holy love."

The sixth chapter is "Love and Judgment." In this chapter he looks at judgment--and the undeniable connection between love and judgment. You might be surprised--I know I was at first--that these two are so closely related. But he convinced me.

The seventh and final chapter is, "Love and Authority." This is a dramatic chapter. Our ideas of authority aren't always all that biblical. By nature, by our fallen nature, we tend to not like authority...ever. What is the connection between love and authority? Can the two ever be separated? Why do we want them to be when God has designed them to go together perfectly? How can the church illustrate biblical authority?

As I mentioned at the start, I found this a GREAT book. It's MEATY and thought-provoking. Easily it is one of the best I've read this year. And I'm not just saying that because he discusses Les Miserables by Victor Hugo!

[Anthony Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there is one term that has been misused way too much in our culture, it is love. This little four letter word is used by so many to either sell or justify many things. It has been taken out of its true context time and time again.

Jonathan Leeman has put together an amazing work in The Rule of Love that points the reader to a true sense of what love really is. Leeman reveals that there has been a separation of love from the authority that comes with it. He does well in pointing back to the fact that love is defined by the Person of God. It is in God that love is best understood and experienced. True love comes under the authority of God and allows Him to draw the lines.

Leeman's careful use of Scripture as well as things from culture force the reader to look at what love really looks like and how it should be viewed in various contexts. Love is a wonderful thing, but when it is pulled away and used out of context, it can lead to some disastrous things.

[Salvador Blanco · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite chapter was the last on Love and Authority. Leeman’s argument comes together beautifully and practically. It clearly answers the question: “How does a church relate to one another in light of a proper view of God’s love?”

The illustrations weren’t always relatable.

I look forward to reading more of his writing on authority in scripture. (12.9.22)

Second read was good. His treatment of the paradox between the law and love, judgement and love, and authority and love are useful. A lot of ground on the topic of God’s love is covered in 163 pages with great application for churches. Upon further reflection, I do think his writing on the Trinity can be unclear (09.25.23). Nothing overly alarming, but it’s hard to move from trinitarian observation to practical theology without muddying waters.

[Jeremy Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leeman helpfully juxtaposes culture's understanding of love with the Bible's understanding of love. Then, he brings that conversation into conversation with the local church. Leeman argues, "A church characterized by holy love....is jealous for God’s glory and fame." There is much at stake in our faith, so properly understanding the rule of love is necessary for preserving the health of our churches.

[Kristen Helm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leeman's concept on the theology of love is masterfully explained. It is simple but also deeply profound. God is love, and therefore He defines what love means. It is not unloving to make judgements or to put authorities in place; in fact, these things are inextricably bound to love. "Love is affectionately affirming that which is from God in the beloved, and giving oneself to seeing God exalted in the beloved" (102).

[Nathan Weeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You cannot separate love and rule. It’s only a question of which love will rule: the love of God, or the love of self.” What a refocus my mind has gone through on the definition of love! If love is not God-centered it is not truly loving. This one is a thinker but it will be well worth your time. Jonathan’s reasoning is well thought out and streamlined.

[Jónatas Rafael Lopes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livre muito interessante para colocar em perspectiva o amor do mundo e o amor que vem de Deus.
Tem muitas ideias do autor contidas noutros livros.
Vale a pena a leitura

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is top-rate. We today often have really messed up views of love, thanks to our culture. We use "love" to excuse all sorts of sins. We use it to reject all sorts of authority. Our love of self leads to self-expression and self-realization being the goddesses of the day. Leeman is not afraid to pull any punches when it comes to describing how these ideals have infiltrated the church, from commitment-phobic twenty-somethings to Baby Boomers' quest for a church that will "meet my needs."

To counteract these trends, Leeman starts in an interesting place: intratrinitarian love. That's right, if we are going to understand God, and love, and the God who IS love, then we've got to begin by understanding God's love for himself, as seen in love between Father, Son, and Spirit (or, in Augustine's terms, which I don't think Leeman ever uses, the relationship between Lover, Beloved, and Love.

Leeman then moves to God's love for sinners as seen in both salvation and judgment before closing with a good discussion of love as seen in the church, including through membership and discipline. He gets slightly kooky here in regard to ministerial power, as he is a Baptist, and thus a congregationalist, and thus believes the keys of the kingdom are held by the congregation rather than by the officers, but he has good things to say in general.

It is a good sign that as I read this book I kept thinking of people who could be benefited by reading it. Really any believer could, especially those struggling with how the church should present itself both outwardly and inwardly in the twenty-first century. Great stuff here, and I am increasingly impressed by 9 Marks and the whole Mark Dever program (even if he did name it after himself).

[Torre Cannavo · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. Jonathan Leeman's wonderful presentation of the balance of love and authority within the context of the local church is just beautifully written. I could not put this book down.

[Joshua Pegram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent look at “‘God is love’ vs. ‘Love is God’” and its implications for the Church, Christians, and discipleship. A helpful corrective to worldly definitions of love (even those widely accepted in the Church) and a beautiful exposition of God’s love.

[Mike Conroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is meant to be a condensed edition of Jonathan Leeman's longer (and out of print) book, "The Church and the Surprising Offense of God's Love." I preferred the longer volume. Leeman makes many good points in this book and shows the need to biblically define love and authority, but I think he makes a tighter arrangement of the argument in the longer book.

[Anthony Aviles · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Garrett Wishall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leeman talks about how love and authority go hand-in-hand throughout the witness of Scripture for creating environments where people can flourish holistically, with a focus on spirituality. A shortened version of Leeman's Authority without losing impact in arguing for a redeemed version of authority as an essential element of healthy local churches.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear and helpful book on the relationship between love and authority.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Church discipline begins and end with love. At least, it ought to. The church, insofar as she is a demarcated people, must practice discipline for the good of her members but also, pointedly argued here, for the good of the world.

Jonathan Leeman, known for his work with Dever’s 9Marks parachurch organization, has published a mostly helpful little work on love and the life of the church under the title The Rule of Love. The thesis of the book is simple enough: the church must exemplify as well as point toward god’s love for his people and the world. Leeman spends much of the first half of the book expounding on the nature of love, whether our culture’s definition of it or the scriptural testimony of god’s inward- and outward-directed love. The book closes with practical applications for church leaders and members.

In all honesty, I won’t remember much of the book or his arguments. There were points in the beginning chapters at which I wondered whether I could correctly guess where he was getting his points from (hint: they sounded like Rand), but much of the rest of the book’s first movement was uninteresting because trite. Not to suggest that god’s love for his people and for the Son is trite, but it was quite clearly establishing very fundamental points in regard to a Christian doctrine of love–much of which has been said elsewhere and better. The Rule of Love does close with a collection of helpful thoughts and applications, and, as a beginning resource on church discipline, it holds its own.

Grounding Christian ecclesial practice in love is an important point to remember, and Leeman does well reminding us.

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I received a complimentary edition of this work from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

[Luke Gorsett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gets the job done

It’s to be expected but Rule of Love, an abridgment of Surprising Offense, just doesn’t pack the same punch as the big book. I’m sure Leeman received feedback on the verbosity of the earlier book but in it he was able to elaborate on some incredibly important concepts. Mainly I’m thinking about his sections on Matthew 16 and 18, membership as a covenant and the radical nature of love expressed in the local church with concrete examples. The idea of church membership as submitting to a local church came out stronger in surprising offense. With that said, many will never read Surprising Offense but will give this one a chance and it’s good enough to get the job done. Here one will understand the holy nature of Gods love and how it is manifested in the local church through its preaching, structures (government, membership and discipline) and its ethics. If you have time read the big one as well.

[Coyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We all know that love means all sorts of things, from never having to say your sorry to tearing down walls to dismantling prejudice to erasing all borders between people. In fact, it clearly means everything except opposition to the popular issue of our exact cultural moment. And while there is something compelling about that imagery, and even a small kernel of truth in it, at the end of the day “love” by this definition is, well, it’s much more akin to the way we might expect a tyrant to behave than it is to the Biblical picture of love outline in Scripture. Articulating that picture of love is the point of Jonathan Leeman’s latest book, 'The Rule of Love: How the Local Church Should Reflect God’s Love and Authority.'"

Read the rest here: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/schaeff...

[Sam Knecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to know what to make of this book. In the conclusion Leeman states, “If you cannot figure out how love and judgment, or love and authority, or love and holiness work together, you have not yet understood God’s love.” That seems right, except it’s hard to recall from the first reading how these work together.

I appreciated Leeman’s careful deconstruction of our idolatrous versions of love. Though when he begins to positively argue for the true biblical love I got lost in his sometimes academic, sometimes poetic language. Along the way he offers practical implications for the church, which ending up being some of my favorite sections.

It’s clear this book is important, and I think it will be helpful. It may require a second reading, or—in retrospect—a slower first reading on my part.

[Todd Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book about the subject of love. It's arranged in a very logical order--chapter after chapter--from a general view of love in our society to God's love for Himself to our love being from God to loving discipleship to loving church discipline. The arrangement of the book helped greatly.

I do wish he'd have spent a notch more time discussing church discipline. Though, in his defense, he has a book on the subject.

Worthy read.

[Michael Abraham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leeman aims to correct our misconceptions of love, authority, and their relationship together. After doing so, he considers how the local church should embody these things. Throughout the book he offers practical implications for the local church in practicing membership and discipline.

[Taylor Sines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of the best books I've read primarily for it's cultural analysis and application. It also has two of the most important discussions in our age: what is love? What is justice? Really thankful for this book.

[Jeff Breeding · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer of the biblical definition of love, especially applied to the church. Would be a great resource for church members seeking to understand why the Bible’s view of love differs from the culture.

[Caleb Rolling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good (and very provocative) yet accessible understanding of what the Bible and Christian tradition has to say about God's love. Leeman's very tangible applications for the life of the local church are helpful, too.

[Tyler Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pair this with Brett McCracken's Uncomfortable and you have a good duo on the importance of church and community.

[Ben Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very important book on a very misunderstood subject.