Bold Love
by Dr. Dan B. Allender &
Dr. Tremper Longman III
In Bold Love, Dr. Dan Allender and Dr. Tremper Longman challenge readers to move beyond polite Christianity and into the fierce, redemptive kind of love that Jesus modeled. This is not sentimental or naïve love—it’s the courageous commitment to truth-telling, forgiveness, and the costly pursuit of restoration when possible.
The authors invite readers to consider what it means to love both the repentant and the unrepentant, the friend and the enemy. Through biblical wisdom and psychological insight, they show that love sometimes means confrontation, boundaries, and letting go—and that real forgiveness never denies justice.
Why We Recommend It
For those working in advocacy or ministry, Bold Love provides a framework for understanding love that is neither passive nor permissive. It names evil honestly while calling believers to love with discernment and strength.
This book has special relevance for counselors and church leaders walking with victims and offenders alike. It reframes forgiveness not as forgetting harm but as entrusting vengeance to God while seeking truth, freedom, and the good of all.
This title is also featured in our show notes for Season 6: “Bearing Witness,” on the Safe to Hope podcast.
Key Takeaways
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True love names evil and refuses denial.
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Forgiveness releases vengeance to God without erasing justice.
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Biblical love often includes courage, confrontation, and boundaries.
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Mercy and righteousness are inseparable in redemptive relationships.
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Loving boldly means imitating Christ’s costly compassion.
About the Authors
Dr. Dan B. Allender is a therapist, author, and co-founder of The Allender Center at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology.
Dr. Tremper Longman III is an Old Testament scholar and professor emeritus at Westmont College. Together, they help readers rediscover a love that is fierce, wise, and shaped by the cross.
Who It’s For
Counselors, pastors, and believers navigating forgiveness, reconciliation, or the challenge of loving wisely in the face of harm.
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