Learn from Jesus how to disagree with courage and kindness, avoiding divisive arguments.
In this positive and practical book, Gavin Ortlund looks to the Scriptures to discover a way in which to disagree with others that leads to greater understanding, peace and love—and that shows a watching world something of Jesus.
This is a much-needed message in a society that is losing the ability to disagree well. Whether over politics, religion or culture, or the more everyday issues of normal life, points of view tend to be held with a polarising intensity. Too often we view disagreements as must-win contests or simply do our best to avoid them altogether.
Looking to Jesus’ example of courage and kindness, readers will be given a framework for engaging in intense disagreements with a love that furthers relationships instead of hindering them.
So, whether you tend to fight or flee, learn how to keep calm and stay friends—even when you disagree.
Introduction: Why Disagreement Is Difficult
| Contributors | Gavin Ortlund |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781802542639 |
| Format | eBook |
| First published | February 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Good Book Company |
This is a winsome, courageous, warm-hearted, and desperately needed book. Don’t let its brevity fool you into thinking it can’t possibly tackle this issue in a searching way. Rather, read it slowly, reflect, repent and commit to relating in Christ-like ways in his strength, and then pass it on to someone else, with the prayer that God may change the way in which we relate to one another for the sake of the gospel of the Lord Jesus!
Gavin is one of the best models of thoughtful, gracious, and healthy disagreement that I know. In this timely book, he shows us how we can learn from, listen to, persuade, and love one another, with a warmth and wisdom that we can all learn from.
With scandals rocking the Christian world and disagreements between Christians played out on social media for all to see, this book is very timely. With pastoral wisdom and practical application, Gavin Ortlund asserts that while disagreement in itself is not a problem, the way we conduct ourselves when we disagree can be hugely damaging. This book encourages us to be better listeners (one of the indelible marks of wisdom) and challenges us not to try and win the argument but rather to build trust with those with whom we may (continue to) disagree.
