Reclaiming Love - by Ajith Fernando

Reclaiming Love by Ajith Fernando is an endeavor to look at the Biblical definition of love particularly as given in 1st Corinthians 13.  Fernando goes through the many declarations of what true love is, illustrating them with anecdotes and historical accounts, and reminding us that, as we have been made new creations, we are truly are able to do these things, giving various Scriptures that God's grace is sufficient for us in our sanctification towards Christlikeness.   

Although the author has some good points, I did not like this book much.  To start with,  the statement is made that we must be careful of making too much of the differences between the different words for love in the New Testament(Philia, Agape).  And therefore, the definition for the word 'love' in the chapter that is being examined is not given, although definitions of other words are. The thought is given that that particular word for love (agapao) was possibly chosen simply because Christians wanted to show that Christian love was unique. Perhaps that is because it IS. Doesn't the definition of the word have something to do with anything? 

And then the statement is made that "love is an end in itself." It's not a means to glorifying and obeying God? Also he speaks of music leading people to the throne of God.  What?  Do the people die when they hear music?  Also, in speaking of 1 Corinthians 7:36, "Paul says that it is rude when a man chooses not to marry his fiancée, after having made her wait for a long time, saying that God has called him to be single." If this were truly the meaning of the verse(and I do not believe that it is), what about where it states "let him do what he will; he sinneth not"? There are also examples given that I thought were inappropriate to what was being discussed, or at least were not needed.  There are too many things that I disagreed with in this work.  Again, there are some good points that are made, but not enough for me to recommend the book. 

 I received this book as a complimentary copy from BookSneeze® in exchange for my review(which does not have to be favorable).