What if Jesus and the ancient Chinese sage Lao Tzu met beside a campfire?

Jesus speaks of loving enemies, losing your life to find it, and becoming like a child. Lao Tzu answers with humility, simplicity, nonviolence, and the wisdom of letting go. Their traditions are not the same, but their teachings often meet in surprising places.

In Jesus and Lao Tzu: The Way of Love, Gregory T. Smith brings the Gospels into conversation with the first thirty-seven verses of the Tao Te Ching, the foundational text of Taoism. Rather than blending the two belief systems, Smith lets each speak in its own voice—exploring where they resonate, where they differ, and how each can help us live with greater compassion, freedom, and love.

Written in short, accessible chapters, the book invites readers to reflect, experiment, and pray their way into a less fearful and more open-hearted faith.