By Anna Quinn
If you want to coddle old grudges, do not read this book.
If you want to maintain safe boundaries in a strained friendship, do not read this book.
If you want to continue to justify yourself with your “to-do” list, do not read this book.
But if you want to consider that grace might be more radical and liberating than you have ever dreamed possible, if you want to be free from the guilt of your sins and the tyranny of your good works, if you want the freedom to forgive old wrongs and move boldly forward in your relationships, then by all means read this book.
Tullian Tchividjian’s One Way Love describes God’s love for us, His amazing grace in sending Jesus to die for our sins and to justify fully and completely with His sacrifice. Tchividijian emphasizes that while our serving Christ with good works is important, it is far less important than what Christ has does for us. He says, “We can give people the impression that Christianity is first and foremost about the sacrifice we make for Jesus rather than the sacrifice Jesus made for us.” Further, once we fully embrace the gospel of grace, it changes us and allows us to serve God and others more freely. Tchividjian writes, “Because everything I need and long for I already possess in Christ, I am now free to do everything for you without needing anything from you. The fire to love unconditionally comes only from being soaked in the fuel of being unconditionally loved.”
One Way Love is full of theology, but is accessible to any once-a-month pew warmer. Read it, and learn to view grace as abandonment, as an ability to unbound the ties of your rights and my rights, winning and losing, legalistic rule following and hoop jumping, and instead live freely in Christ and follow the fruits that come from tasting unconditional love.
Visit the Patheos Book Club for more conversation on One Way Love by Tullian Tchividjian.
Anna Quinn writes book reviews and cultural articles for the e-zine Six Seeds.tv.
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