How We Love Matters

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. *disclaimer; I don’t always have time to sit and read physical books, but I do quite a bit of my reading through audiobooks these days.*

This month I’d like to talk about How We Love Matters

By Albert Tate

A few months ago I was listening to one of my favorite Podcasts (the Holy Post) and they interviewed Albert Tate to talk about his new book. I am always on the look out for good resources to help with the work of racial reconciliation, and as they talked I realized I needed to read this. I really believe that one of the best ways to eradicate racism from our hearts and our culture is to spend time getting to know people who are different from ourselves.

When we slow down and stop pointing fingers at one another, sometimes the best thing we can do is simply sit and listen to another person’s story. It can be very easy to get defensive (or offensive) when discussing racism in the modern world. Albert is a preacher, but this book is not very “preachy.” For the most part, he is simply telling us his story – and inviting us to experience what he has experienced. To know him better, which is actually a way to love him better. Albert’s book IS about racial reconciliation, but it actually reads almost like a MEMOIR. This is a topic that is woven deeply into the fabric of his life. He tells a whole pile of stories, both personal and professional, that show a new perspective I had never seen before.

The gospel of Jesus gives us a unique ability to love and live together even in our differences – and we see that in his church leadership and life. The primary message underneath this book is that to love people better, you need to know people better. The gospel of Jesus pushes us to get closer to people, listen to their stories and in that way we will be ABLE to love them better! How we love truly does matter. Please go read this beautiful book.