Love Without Limits: Jesus' Radical Vision for Love with No Exceptions

by Jacqueline A. Bussie

The love of God crosses all boundaries. Every. Single. One.Every day, millions of people lament the loss of civility, respect, and hope, and they wonder if it's possible to cultivate a love big enough to overthrow hate and heal our hurts. With courage, authenticity, and relevance, Jacqueline A. Bussie proclaims, "Yes! It's possible!" and urges readers to widen love's wingspan and to love as God loves--without limits or exceptions.In Love Without Limits, Bussie imparts practical solutions for people of faith who yearn to love across division and difference in these troubled times. Through poignant personal memoir, engaging theological reflection, inspiring true stories of boundary-busting friendships, creative readings of scripture, and surprising shout-outs to some of love's unsung heroes, Bussie challenges readers to answer God's call to practice a love so deep, it subverts the social order; so radical, it scandalizes the powerful; so vast, it excludes no one."A must-read for all Christians interested in inclusivity for their communities." --Publishers Weekly

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Theology, Memoir, Faith

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2018

Reviews

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s how I felt reading Jacqueline Bussie’s Love Without Limits: Delighted. Embraced. Challenged. Understood. Convicted. Forgiven. Anguished. Galvanized. Included. Loved.

As a queer Christian myself, someone thrown to the margins of my own faith, I can’t begin to explain how much Love Without Limits means to me. Jacqueline refused to cut stories of her LGBTQ and Muslim friends from this book and lost her original book deal—thank god this book was given another life. She weaves scripture and theology into stories from her own life—stories that are breathtakingly vulnerable and beautiful. Stories she tells like she’s sitting right across from you. Stories that gave her a glimpse of what a love without limits looks like in all kinds of situations, and what a love without limits means for the powerful and the powerless. I cried, I wrote “YAS!” in the margins, and I loved this book. It’s for everyone.

[Ellie Boese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more than a book. It’s a meditation, a prayer, a letter, a guidebook to living in love and forgiveness where hatred and division seem most powerful. Love Without Limits is courageous, hopeful, tragic, forgiving, and uplifting. It's a great comfort to know that in this broken world we can all try to love each other more fully in a way that offers hope to the hopeless and recognizes pain and suffering as we sit with one another in loving accompaniment––no matter who our "neighbor" in need might look like, believe, or love. This book and its author are beautiful, soulful, and honest, and I guarantee you will not soon forget Love Without Limits.

[Paula Mehmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bussie handles heavy issues with a light pen and accessible language. She tackles tough subjects like family dysfunction, grief, abuse and the political divide head on, not looking for easy answers but rather honestly wrestling with how we love without limits. She is open, honest and theologically sound. I truly believe this is the book that Christians in our country need right now. I believe she provides a road map for our way forward from this divided world in which we live— and it begins and ends with a love without limits.

[John Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book by Jacqueline Bussie, a religion professor at neighboring Concordia College. Her first book, OUTLAW CHRISTIANITY, was published by a more evangelical press, but they balked at some of the ideas that she promotes in this book and refused to publish it. Luckily, a Lutheran press, Fortress Press, decided they would be willing to publish it. I really liked her first book and this one I liked quite well, too. I found some of the chapters reinforced my liberal Lutheran views very well, another chapter on Fargo (and Moorhead, MN where she teaches and I live) seemed a little cliche-ridden, but other chapters caused her to reach very deep into herself to push herself to "love without limits". I felt these chapters were extremely powerful. Her writing is very accessible and allows people to hear an alternative Christian voice that allows us to consider loving all people far beyond our narrow "Christian" enclaves.

[Steve Eulberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tears of recognition and resolution, nods of insight, clarity of sight and delight in the author's vivid word pictures that inspire from the middle of trash heap. I can feel my heart and hope expand beyond what I thought were their capacity...THIS is the Big Bang...the ever-expanding embrace of life.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you believe in an “all are welcome” philosophy, or if you want to learn how to be better to people in this world, read this book! It’s engaging, accessible, and so very wise. I loved it.

[Jonathan Shaheen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ A great book that even got me to side with Jacqueline over C. S. Lewis at one point. While I personally wanted a little more theological exploration at various points (the only reason I took .5 stars off), the book goes into exactly enough detail to challenge typical (white American) Christian assumptions and beliefs. Even if you disagree with her, a must read in my opinion as it forces you to think through what you believe, why, and its impact on others and yourself.

[Carroll Berntson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading books by Jacqueline Bussie because she is a local religion instructor at Concordia College in Moorhead Minnesota and I have had the privilege of hearing her speak two times. Though she is Lutheran and I am Catholic, we seem to share opinions on every controversial topic and agree on "Jesus' Radical Vision for Love with No Exceptions".

[John Hergert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transformative! I had the great pleasure of being with the author for a few days in a place called Holden Village. In person she was captivating and profound. She also showed great courage as she told her story. Her book can claim that as well! If you are looking for a Christianity that breaks the barriers, as Jesus did, then this is a book for you. In a time when Christianity is being defined by close minded and fearful people this book is a refreshing change. I found each chapter to be thoughtful and alive with insights that I believe delivered hope, not a cheap hope of the prosperity preachers in their mansions of opulence, but a grounded hope that includes all and yes she means all! On top of a captivating writing style her theology is solid. I could go on for many words, but will close by lifting up her chapter on grief! We live in a world or at least a country, that denies grief and rushes us through it. After 40 years of doing funerals I know how unhealthy that can be. The author seems to intuitively know that, though her’s is a story that contains much grief. She gives expression to our deep need for ritual grief. For that reason alone I give this book 5 stars.

[Steve Johgart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful challenge to Christians to love as Jesus did

I loved this book. I’ll admit that part of why I loved it was because it reinforced what I already believe, that God’s love is inclusive, not exclusive, and so our love should be so also. Thus, it wasn’t a challenge to broaden my thinking. It was, though, a deepening of what my faith teaches me. The book is very accessible and full of rich illustrative stories, and no doubt would be more of a challenge to people, Christians especially, who believe there are limits to who we are expected to love.

[Juli Wingert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book filled my soul. I underlined something on pretty much every page. The author gave powerful examples of how living like Jesus means loving, accepting, and welcoming EVERYONE. Nobody deserves to be excluded for any reason. She also stresses the importance of loving ourselves and recognizing how deeply God loves each and every one of us. He created us and wants to know us. Jesus calls us to LOVE. Period!

[Deby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Jacqueline on a trip earlier this year and was inspired to read her book after numerous conversations with her. Her perspective on life intrigued me and I wanted to learn more. This book was best read in small increments so that the life experiences and lessons can be fully taken to heart and explored. In a time and place where everyone seems so polarized, Jacqueline's book is a refreshing respite and an example of how I can be more open and welcoming in my daily life.

[Mark Bourdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacqueline did a great job sharing stories and scriptures that supported a "love without limits." At the heart of religion is loving-kindness and compassion. Another theme that I found very helpful was how we act towards ourselves and others with a single story. A single story usually leads to misunderstandings and conflict. A very worthwhile read, regardless of your religious affiliation.

[Pat Jorgenson Waterchilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptional read. Consider how we as Christians are taught to love and then consider how as Christians we dont love. This is the concepts Ms. Bussie shares in this thought provoking book.
I have read it from cover to cover quickly trying to absorb all the important views on love without limits.
I now will go back and spend more time embracing the golden nuggets!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard truth

This book describes love as something that is difficult when it is radical. Loving those who love you back or make you happy is easy, but loving those who don’t make you happy is what radical love is about. I found this book a good reminder that being a good person is not easy and we should all strive to be the best we can be.

[Leigh Gaston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Worked well for a church small group of 10+ people. We met every other week, took turns reading out loud, and stopped to discuss throughout. Very accessible book and sparked good discussion as we grappled through pertinent issues in the church today.

Recommend for individuals or a small group.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Bussie writes in lay person terms for anyone who has felt on the outside looking in, for anyone scared to love outside their small homogeneous group, for anyone afraid to get to know others of a different religion, race, sexual orientation, or creed. In short, I highly recommend this book to everyone. It is very readable and engaging.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reminder of God’s command to love everyone. I enjoyed her use of personal stories woven in to connect to her points. I also appreciate how she didn’t let the book be censored when her original publisher asked. There were a few interpretations of Scripture I didn’t quite agree with, but they were minor in the overall picture of the book.

[Jacob Cronauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful testament for how to love as Christ taught us to love. It is intended not for those who need to hear the law, but those who need to hear the Gospel message. Everyone can find this book very helpful, and I think anyone can find some takeaway from this book to make the lives of them and others better.

[Taylor Blackwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book for my Quaker book club for the month of June. She gives simple, clear cut and straight forward arguments in support of choosing an agape love and making this a priority as a Christian. This book helped solidify my beliefs and values of inclusivity of all people as a Christian and why it is a no brainer to do so.

[SaraCat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I struggle with how I feel about my faith and religion in general, but this was a beautiful and touching book that had me in tears at several points. And always had me thinking. This is a book that will stay with me, I feel.

[Sharon L. S. Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solidly good read. For those who have grown up with or embraced a progressive version of Christianity, who understand a God of abundant grace and love, this book is lovely but not earth shattering. If I were less sure of that abundance, I’d give the book 4 stars.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me stop and reflect several times. The author provides information on the Muslim religion, new learning to me. I would recommend this book for others looking for answers in their lives.

[Jill Kandel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful writing and stories that made me think. And rethink. Thank you Jacqueline for this thoughtful, beautiful book.

[Susan Heim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful stories of love and forgiveness and a call to each of us to try to do the same.

[Kelly Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book spoke to me - I loved it!!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book! Bussie shows how necessary it is to extend love to all people without excluding anyone. Even those people who oppose everything you stand for.

[Lois Peterson]

241.4 B967L

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and thought provoking. I highly recommend reading also with spouse or significant other.
Ron Lohrbach

[Cathi Kulik · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Christians should be people who turn the world upside down. Especially by loving those we're taught not to love, as Jesus himself did." Love this.