Jason Clark writes with clarity and humor. In his new book, Prone to Love, he seeks to show the reader just how much God the Father loves His children. Jason shares his insights into God’s love from his personal experiences, all of which led him to settle the question of his identity by understanding the heart of the Father.
He offsets the idea of being prone to wander by a revelation of being prone to love. His tone is casual, as if he is talking to a friend over coffee. Jason distills the Christian life into one word: love.
He seeks to de-familiarize his readers with the term “child of God.” He argues that if we understood what this really means, it would change the world. To understand God’s love, we must understand who God is, argues Clark. If you like it when authors tell stories from their own experiences about their journey, you’ll enjoy this candid book.
Some of the stories are quite comical. While reading through this book, two thoughts struck me.
First, there’s another book by an inaccessible celebrity pop Christian author (written mostly be a ghost writer) that seeks to say the same thing that Clark’s book does.
That author’s book has sold millions of copies, mostly due to big dollar marketing. (We’ve recently learned that Christians authors can pay their way to hit the NY Times Bestseller list. This happens more than you may realize.) In my view, Clark’s book is better.
Yet regrettably, because of the way books are sold today in the Christian market, it won’t generate the kind of attention the other book has. But for the record, this is a better book in my judgment and I also believe that Clark is much more accessible.
Second, I’ve often said that the DNA of divine life is love. But what does love look like? So many Christians believe that love is gushy sentimental feelings. Or it’s being warm and nice. But that misses the mark.
To love someone is to treat them the same way that you want to be treated in every situation. That’s how Jesus defined love. It’s also benefiting others at the expense of one’s self. Thus love is the opposite of selfishness.
For whatever reasons, this is not understood by so many believers today, yet it’s imperative. Talking about love and being “nice” isn’t the same as actually walking in love. When you’re denying yourself for the benefit of others, you’re loving them. And that’s exactly the direction where the life of God will lead you.
The nature and character of the life of Christ is love. And where did that lead Jesus? To lose. To deny Himself and to give. To sacrifice. To bear the cross. The DNA of God’s life hasn’t changed. Thus to live by the indwelling life of Christ is to walk in love, to sacrifice, to bear the cross to deny oneself. Every sin in the New Testament is the result of walking out of step with love.
If I slander you, I’m not loving you. If I steal from you, I’m not loving you. If I lie to you, I’m not loving you. If I defend myself and attack you, I’m not loving you. If I kill you, physically or verbally with anger, I’m not loving you. If I accept gossip about you and believe the worst, I’m not loving you, etc.
If you wish to be confident in God’s love . . . to feel secure in your relationship with God . . . to be freed from striving to earn grace . . . to be grounded in your true identity as a follower of Jesus who is in Christ, then this book and it’s message –“God is love. God is always good” – will encourage you.
I recommend Prone to Love and wish it had the success of that other title.
Order Prone to Love by Jason Clark on discount.
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