When Doctrine Divides the People of God: An Evangelical Approach to Theological Diversity

by Rhyne R. Putman

An Excellent Study on Christian Unity and Doctrinal Diversity

"This helpful book will encourage Christians to hold their convictions with greater irenicism, humility, awareness, and wisdom.”—Gavin Ortlund, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Ojai; author, Finding the Right Hills to Die On

As evangelicals, we desire to be biblical—we want our doctrine to be rooted in the Bible, our lives to be guided by the Bible, and our disagreements to be resolved by the Bible. And yet, conflicts within our church communities continue to appear and seemingly multiply with time. Interpretations of the Bible and deeply held convictions often put Christians at odds. Encouraging us toward grace in disagreement and firmness in truth, Rhyne Putman reflects on how Christians can maintain the biblical call for unity despite having genuine disagreements.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Church, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Christianity, Faith

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Zach Hollifield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. Should be required reading in all evangelical seminaries and maybe even upper level undergraduate theology degrees. I may just incorporate certain chapters into our residency program. Although Gavin Ortlund’s “Finding the Right Hills to Die On” may be a better popular-level treatment.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching (didaskalia) that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of great gain” (1 Tim. 6:3-5). Paul’s words to Timothy struck a chord then and continue to reverberate in our day.

Doctrine has always divided people, sometimes rightly so. But other times, doctrine creates unnecessary division because people are unable to humble themselves and hear and opposing position. Rhyne R. Putman develops these themes in his recent book, When Doctrine Divides the People of God.

Part One: Why We Disagree About Doctrine

Part one focuses on foundational matters that are hermeneutical in nature. The author helps readers understand various approaches to hermeneutics and discusses how texts and doctrines are handled on the basis of tradition and belief. Readers who do not have a background in hermeneutics may be intimidated and struggle to put the pertinent pieces together.

Part Two: What We Should Do About Doctrinal Disagreement

Part two is more reader-friendly as the author offers practical suggestions for moving forward with doctrinal disagreement. His counsel is solid, measured, and biblical.

Chapter seven was the most valuable chapter for me, personally. Putman zeroes in on heresy and provides practical help with moving forward in an age marked by theological compromise. Additionally, various tests are offered that helps Christians navigate the “choppy theological waters” that characterize our age.

In the end, reminds us that doctrine matters. Indeed, Spurgeon said, “Those who do away with doctrine ... are the worst enemies of Christian living.” Our challenge is to determine where the lines need to be drawn. Putman helps draw those lines.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the current climate of division and hate, this book does help a person navigate controversies and theological disagreements with grace and understanding. At one point, Rhyne says that it is sometimes easier to love our enemy whom we disagree than a brother or sister in Christ. I have seen the truth of that so much. I think sometimes I have acted the same way. I give less grace to Christians many times because I feel like they should just “understand”. Anyway, it was a great book for all Christians to read and hold onto!

[J. Rutherford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having grown up without any real exposure to theological disagreement, I was in for a surprise in my first year of Bible college. Not only was I introduced to a depth of engagement with God and His Word I had never before encountered, but I was also confronted by a multitude of different positions on serious (occasionally, not so serious) theological issues. It would be years before I began to grasp the complexities of contemporary theology and exegesis, which lead to this variety. To address and explain this issue, Rhyne Putman has written his new book When Doctrine Divides the People of God, which I was delighted to receive as part of the Crossway blog review program. In a significant way, Putman’s book and my following reflections on it form a natural follow up to my review of Finding the Right Hill to Die on. Putman’s work is multidisciplinary, drawing on the resources of epistemology, psychology, theological method, and Biblical studies to answer the question, why do Evangelicals with a shared a commitment to Scripture disagree on doctrine?

Summary

Putman describes the book as “a work in theological method,” a “philosophy of theology” (29). He seeks to answer two questions in the book, “how do Christ-followers with similar convictions about Scripture and the gospel come to such drastically different points of view in matters of faith and practice?” “Second, what should otherwise like-minded Christians do about the doctrines that divide them?” (30). He is focusing on Protestant Evangelicals (defined according to Bebbington’s quadrilateral), so he assumes agreement on sola Scriptura, understood as the claim that it is the “supreme source and only normative standard for Christian doctrine" (“inspired, inerrant, and infallible”) (30).

Putman takes up the first question in Part 1. This part is divided between descriptive and constructive chapters, with the first two describing why we disagree. Chapter 1 uses the resources of general hermeneutics, or the act of human interpretation, to answer the question; Chapter 2 discusses special hermeneutics, the act of reading the Bible. In these chapters, he identifies part of the source of disagreement in the space present between the text to be interpreted and the interpreter; bridging this gap provides many opportunities for human fallibility to act. In Chapter 3, he begins the constructive element of his argument by arguing that theology involves abductive reasoning, the same sort of reasoning involved in the scientific method. Because abductive reasoning involves a creative jump from the data before the theologian to theological formula, there is significant room for human creativity and for disparity in the theological doctrines or hypotheses presented to explain the data. He summarizes abductive reasoning, in contrast with deductive and inductive reasoning, as the process of forming a hypothesis about the case or minor premise. Deductive reasoning proves a hypothesis and inductive reasoning tests it. He argues that abductive reasoning moves from a rule (the major premise of a syllogism) and result (the conclusion) to a hypothesis concerning the specific case (the minor premise). He illustrates it with this syllogism:

Rule. – All the beans from this bag are white.
Result. – These beans on the table are all white.
⸫ Case.—These beans are from this bag.

Abduction, like induction, makes inferences based on observation. Unlike induction, however, abduction works with a less complete set of data. It offers an explanation of the data—in this case, the beans that are white possibly come from the bag of all white beans—but it cannot prove that explanation or even show its probability. In contrast to strong inductive arguments, abductive arguments are weak arguments. (104)

He summarizes his methodological application of abduction in this way,

The theological task is more like abductive reasoning—like guesswork—than deductive or inductive logic. The abstraction of theological content from historically contingent writings and placement of such content in systems necessarily requires creative arrangement. Theology also involves reasoning backwards from Scripture and going back and forth between biblical texts and our conjectures about what they mean. (105)

Chapter 4 & 5 employ the tools of social psychology, particularly the model of Jonathan Haidt, and discusses the influence of bias on theology.
Part two, consisting of Chapter 6 - 8, concludes the book on a prescriptive note, addressing the question, what should we do? In chapter 6, he uses the tools of recent philosophical discussion concerning “epistemology of disagreement” to present practical advice for wrestling with disagreement and encouraging epistemological virtue, namely humility, over vice. Chapter 7 discusses issues around what Albert Mohler has called “theological triage,” the prioritization of different doctrines for “theological boundary-making.” Chapter 8 is arguably the best chapter of the book, concluding the book by looking at the disagreement between Whitefield and Wesley and suggesting the posture we ought to take towards one another in theological disagreement.
The reading level and issues raised are suitable for a student at the end of a robust bachelor’s program or a higher level of theological education. Master and Graduate students would particularly benefit from the issues raised within. Putman writing style is clear and offers a concise and helpful overview of his argument in the introduction, managing to summarize and lead the reader through the book’s argument without sounding repetitious. The prescriptive element of the book is aptly summarized on the final page,

The frailty of human interpretation should give us pause from interpretive pride and theological arrogance. It should also remind us of our great need for God’s much greater grace in helping us understand the message of Scripture. Because we are recipients of God’s grace, we should extend the same courtesy to those with whom we disagree. Love and patience should characterize our interpretive disagreements as imperfect readers of the Bible. (266)

Despite the clarity with which Putman writes and the proficiency which he demonstrates in handling a wide range of sources, his approach to theological method and so theological disagreement should concern the reader.

Evaluation

I was saddened (and morbidly pleased) by the end of Part 1 to see the thesis presented in the introduction of my book The Gift of Reading – Part 2 argued so persuasively. In that book, I argued that contemporary hermeneutics and theological method inevitably leads to scepticism. By arguing that Biblical clarity concerns the text alone, that the space between the text is riddled with difficulties, and that theology is fundamentally abductive—concerning itself with possible explanations for a truth laying behind the text—Putman shows that Evangelical hermeneutics and so theological method are utterly untenable, at least he does so if their goal is the realization of the purpose which God gave Scripture, the equipping of His people for life before Him. If this is not the goal of theology, then a lot of us are wasting our time. The sort of methodology Putman proposes is practically functioning in most Evangelical theologies and is explicitly argued on the scientific analogy by writers such as T.F. Torrance and Allister McGrath (the latter’s work in this regard is cited by Putman several times). A significant reason this method is adopted is exemplified by Putman’s approach. By seeking a thoroughly multidisciplinary approach to theological method, he makes the most important theological issue a non-theological issue.
That is, the most important question in theology is, how do we do theology? If we get the answer wrong here, we could end up with Feuerbach, Harnack, Barth, or any number of novel approaches. Theological method, whether it is implicit or explicit, is determinative in significant ways of the outcome of our theology. If we begin with a theory of knowledge that rules out the knowledge of God, apophaticism will dominate; if our ontology is essentialist, an impersonal doctrine of God and Chalcedonian Christology (for good or ill) will be the result. If our method identifies the goal or norm for theology to be a reality behind the text, in mind of God or the human author, significant space is made for human error. If the analogy adopted for theological construction is that of science and abduction, theological disagreement is not only a descriptive reality but an inevitable byproduct of Scripture and the theological endeavour. If theological method is so significant for the product of theology, how can we treat it as non-theological or a sub-theological discipline (in which theology is one of many approaches correlated)? The truth is that we cannot; we must not. Our churches and schools cannot afford this to be our approach.

Conclusion

Disagreement exists; part of the reason for this is surely human sinfulness and limitation. Another reason not often discussed is genuine plurality, where several practically exclusive but theoretically coherent applications or ideas exist. (E.g. one could argue that the Bible is intentionally ambiguous on the ecclesiastical structures in order to facilitate the use of the best model for a particular situation; Presbyterian and Episcopalian church governments might be biblically defensible and yet neither could function at the same time and in the same sphere.) What may be the biggest source of disagreement is the lack of cohesion and agreement on the presuppositions and method of theology. What ought to shock us is that these disagreements are rarely brought directly before the Word. In my series “God’s Gifts for the Christian Life” I have attempted to move towards this goal, presenting my own attempt to formulate a framework and method of exegesis and theological method rooted in the Bible. There I claim that clarity and sufficiency are not Biblical doctrines about the text of Scripture alone; instead, they concern the whole economy of revelation, the provision of a clear, sufficient, and inerrant text in the context of a Spirit-filled Church. God has given a covenant document that is sufficient to achieve its goal of changed lives. This is the space we need to explore in theological method, how God has made provision for His Word to fulfil its purpose. As long as methods are grounded in the shifting sands of academia, theological disagreement will remain not only a descriptive reality but a necessary result of our practice.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to find the first section of this book (why we reach different positions) more engaging than the second (how to deal with our disagreements), but the whole thing's worth a read. The first section should give us both cause for epistemic humility and enough understanding to provide grounding for intellectual charity to each other.

The second section deals with overcoming differences in theological positions. The lessons from Whitefield and Wesley are encouraging, and the ways to think through tiers of doctrine are clear and helpful. I found the chapter on when we should change our minds to be less compelling, in part because I think the "Better Interpretive Position" is a little problematic, partly because most of us not in academia are essentially dealing with our peers on most topics (or would have little understanding on each other's positions as we work through real-life scenarios) and partly because it drifts toward an appeal to authority fallacy.

Even so, there's plenty of valuable thinking here (and throughout the book, including Putman's work on abductive reasoning), and I hope it gets the reading it deserves.

One note: in case the book's subtitle doesn't give it away, the book is targeted specifically at evangelical readers. Putman doesn't really address broader disagreements, as he focuses on internal division within a certain circle (this feels like a useful and realistic approach to me, but anyone looking for help crossing other divides might not find what they're looking for).

[Amelia and John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Putman gives a pretty extensive treatment of theological controversy and the reasons for why we disagree.

I was a bit caught up on what he offered as best practice. He definitely gave the best accounts for what makes something primary, secondary, etc., but what one is to do when faced with a disagreement of any of those levels is a bit more vague. Things were definitely more descriptive than anything.

I also wonder whether doctrinal taxonomies will be enough for Christians who are coming to terms with quite serious disagreements that are also theological but are more political. I also wonder whether this "agree to disagree" mentality is suited for real life disagreements that aren't just between two disembodied users battling it out in the Internet.

[Jack Hayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate this book a lot. This book would be put to good use in congregations. It is clear and succinct and well organized and it could act as a bridge for churches work through theology together. However, I’m unsure of the role of an interpreter in Part 1. For instance, I have emotions, biases and reason but I don’t understand their role in interpretation. Especially, because grammatical-historical or author centered reading is the best. Am I supposed to just be aware of them and try to negate them? In the end, though let’s de-escalate our truth values, listening well to others, and our own motivations.

91% Doctrine’s divisiveness does not need to divide

[Vanjr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough about how good this book is, how well it is written, how well researched or how necessary it is to read for those who call themselves Christians. This is no "theology lite" and it is written in both a humble and authoritative manner. It is particularly useful for those in the online world of social media where criticism is usually harsh and humbleness absent.
I do not need to summarize it or tell you what it is about. The title is accurate, except to say that it would be useful to those who consider themselves non-evangelical Christians imo.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It is one of the best Christian books I have read over the last 5 years.

[Josh Olds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emo Philips was kind of a weird, surreal type of comedian in the 1970s and 80s. He was famous for his use of paraprosdokians—a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence, phrase, or larger discourse is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. This is all relevant because one of his most famous jokes goes something like this:

I saw a man on a bridge about to jump. I said, “Don’t do it!” He said, “Nobody loves me.” I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?”

He said, “Yes.” I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?” He said, “A Christian.” I said, “Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?” He said, “Protestant.” I said, “Me, too! What denomination?” He said, “Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?” He said, “Northern Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?”

He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.” I said, “Me, too!”

Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.” I said, “Die, heretic!” And I pushed him over.

Why We Disagree
When Doctrine Divides the People of God is an in-depth look into what causes that division, what can be done about it, how we can avoid it, when we should embrace, and how to move on despite our differences. In comprehensive fashion, Dr. Rhyne Putman leads readers on a journey of understanding our differences; determining how, if, or when they matter; and planning how to move forward.

The first part of Putman’s book covers the reason we have theological disagreements. How can we all read the same book and come away with vastly different interpretations on issues big and small? Putman offers five reasons:

We read imperfectly.
We read differently.
We reason differently
We feel differently.
We have different biases.
Each one of these chapters is a goldmine in understanding the root cause of major and minor differences in church doctrine. Sometimes, the value of tradition leads to a different interpretation. Other times, cultural biases come into play. Occasionally, particularly on minor doctrines, a certain translation or version of Scripture can create differences in interpretation. Through all of this, Putman takes on the role of subjective observer. His role is not to correct readers on their theology, so that the areas of difference are turning into areas of agreement, but rather show where these differences are rooted so that they can then be substantially debated and discussed.

For the lay level reader, whose theological foundations may be somewhat lacking or who may never have considered the rationale behind competing interpretations, this section of the book is sure to be eye-opening.

Dealing with Disagreements
The second part of the book covers what we should do about these disagreements. Putman offers three questions to ask, along with three answers:

When should we change our minds?
When should doctrine divide us?
How then shall we disagree?
I very much appreciate that Putman begins this section by calling readers to inward reflection on when should change. So much time and effort is spent on getting “the other” to change that we ever rarely reflect on when or if we should change—instead doubling down on outdated ideas and ill-formed theology.

The section on when we should divide is also informative. Putman uses a system of triage, dividing doctrines into three different tiers: matters relating to orthodoxy, doctrines in which there is a clear right/wrong interpretation, and matters of opinion. The first tier is what unites the Church as a whole. The second tier is what unites (or divides) denominations. The third tier is usually exclusive to local church practices.

Conclusion | When Doctrine Divides the People of God
My only criticism of the work is that, despite being a book on finding unity in diversity, the book’s language can be one of division and exclusion. For instance, the book’s subtitle is An Evangelical Approach to Theological Diversity. This seems to imply that diversity within evangelicalism is to be moderated and considered, but that the diversity of faith traditions outside of evangelicalism are not supposed to be included in the fold. The back cover copy continues this emphasis by stating “As evangelicals, we desire to be biblical…”

This may be because Putman knows his primary audience will be evangelicals, but the book’s lack of clear discussion about developing relationships with those from mainline Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox traditions is probably the only thing the book is lacking.

Overall, When Doctrine Divides the People of God is a stellar breakdown of why laypeople and theologians alike come to different ecclesial opinions and theological interpretations. It is a necessary book that teaches us how to engage with those who think differently and challenges us to have well-backed reasons for our own beliefs. It also reminds us that theological diversity on non-essential issues is a strength not a weakness.

[Anthony Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

What are we to do about the differences that are seen within the Christian faith? Do we seek to find a common ground, or do we just write off those who do not line up with us in our narrow views? These are some of the questions that are addressed in Rhyne Putman’s new book, When Doctrine Divides the People of God.

I thought that the title was an interesting choice at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked the title. The very things that are to set us apart from those outside of the faith have many times also seemed to create pockets on the “inside” of the faith.

This book is broken up into two main sections. The first section deals with reasons that we come to have these differences of opinions about various doctrines. While Putman does not focus so much on the particulars of the doctrines themselves, this section is helpful to the reader to see where each person may be coming from.

The second section of the book deals with what we should do in light of seeing these differences of opinions. Putman seeks to address topics such as When should we change our minds, or When should doctrines divide us? This section is good to help us see that just because a person may come to a different stance does not always mean that they are wrong and not part of the family of God.

One thing that stood out to me in this book was that this book was written more as a textbook or a doctoral thesis. This was not so much of a sit-down and read. Putman includes hundreds of sources in this work. That is not a bad thing (I actually appreciated it myself). It is something that a reader should know diving into this book. This is going to be more of a scholarly read. It is a good read, but it is very scholarly.

I would encourage people who are genuinely concerned making sure that the diversity that we see in the family of God is kept in its proper boundaries to check out When Doctrine Divides the People of God. Putman has put together some great resources to show that just because a person may not see every sinlge point as we do, this does not mean that they are not our brother or sister in Christ.

[Clayton Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tradition, norms, practices, and doctrines have all divided the church at one time or another. Before Christ left the earth, He commanded His disciples to show love for one another. Unfortunately, the church has not often lived up to that command. Putman attempts to set in place a pattern to follow when two believers, two denominations, or two churches come to loggerheads over the issue of doctrine.

Putman’s first few chapters take some careful reading and study to get through, but it is worth the effort to follow his logic, knowing that he will come to some practical recommendations later in the book. He begins with some observations on hermeneutics and the contribution of exegesis. From there, he deals with the issue of how we reason differently, and the role of emotions, tradition, belief, and confirmation bias in our interpretation of Scripture.

In part two of the book, he takes up the issue of changing our minds, and where we should set boundaries in our disagreements. He finishes with recommendations for a process of handling doctrinal disputes, after providing some helpful lessons from the life of Whitefield and Wesley.

Having recently participated in an examination of the issue of women in ministry, I found the book helpful, wishing I had read several of the chapters before the discussion started. I would highly recommend the book to anyone, or any church, dealing with issues that could potentially divide. There is a host of bibliographic material listed in the back of the book, taking up many pages, that would be helpful for further study.

I am thankful that Crossway provided me a copy of the book for an unbiased review.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is less about doctrines that divide and more about why people end up in different places theologically and exegetically. Thus it is mostly about hermeneutics and epistemology, with a little sociologically thrown in. If anything it seems like a long preface to a discussion of divisive doctrines, instead of being the discussion itself. It is directed at people interested in the process of doing theology, not necessarily those looking to study or debate the doctrines themselves. So I'm a little surprised that it was published by a popular-level press such as Crossway; it reads more like something you'd find from Fortress or Eerdmans or Westminster John Knox.

But don't get me wrong--what Putman has to say is good and useful. He clearly understands the process of reading Biblical texts and fitting them into one's theology (which happens a lot more than the other way around). He has read extensively in the field. He is optimistic for progress but is not a naive ecumenist. He is a big too strong on the topic of believers' right to read and interpret Scripture for themselves (something I agree with, but in balance with other factors), though his view is probably the norm in his Baptist tradition.

I don't think the typical layman needs to read this book. I am curious to see what Putman writes next, though. To apply this to specific debates and points of disagreement could be a very interesting and, one hopes, helpful exercise.

[The Bold Movement · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Rhyne R. Putman

Endorsements: Gavin Ortlund, Bruce Riley Ashford, Timothy George, Ben Witherington, Daniel Akin

Pages: 314

Publisher: Crossway

Publication Date: 2020

Price: $24.99

This is a very well-written book, especially for those who don’t have a strong theology background or who want a deeper understanding of theological principles. Putman does an excellent job of explaining the basic theories and concepts in a way that is understandable, readable, and interesting. In addition to the author’s technical descriptions, he uses several examples throughout the text to reinforce the information.

Starting with the foundation of our biblical belief systems, Putman wants the reader to know that we may not agree with everyone, and that is okay as long as the Bible remains center stage. He even includes how grammar and spelling in the ancient writings have led to many disagreements, as well as doctrinal and theological disputes.

Putman does a wonderful job explaining how to “argue wisely” while remaining faithful to our calling. Disagreements happen throughout the body of Christ, as shown by the divisiveness between Wesley and Whitefield, but we are responsible for ensuring that we are open to others’ ideas and beliefs as long as it is based on Scripture.

[John Muriango · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did God really answer Christ’s prayer of unity in His Own Church of which He is building? The short answer is YES! Why done is His Christ’s Church divided?
In this book, the author diagnoses the reasons which make Biblical Evangelical believers sometimes to disagree on some specific teachings of the Bible, what this means to us as believers, and also helps us in coming up with ways that may minimize the disagreements.
What I loved best about the book is the taxonomy of stratifying doctrine under three tests of; hermeneutical test, Gospel test, and the praxis test. This division will grant us the skills and wisdom as to know when and how we may disagree amicably with other believers in a way that glorifies God.
I really wish I got a hold of this book back in 2012 when there was a great theological shift on my life, but as God would have loved it, He used that shift to help mature in the faith, and also love even more other believers that I may not see eye to eye on some doctrinal issues.
I encourage all to get this book and glean its nuggets of wisdom packed within it’s pages.

[Chris Townson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in late 2020 and early 2021 and just picked it up again. It is a great study on theological diversity and Christian Unity. As the Universal Church, our theological diversity does not always have to divide us, and when it does, we should strive to handle those differences in a manner that honors the Lord. Dr. Rhyne Putman is a brilliant mind and scholar who truly loves the Lord and the local church. This shows through in this work, and the reader should gain a greater perspective of how God-loving evangelical Christians can come to different doctrinal beliefs, and how we can potentially deal with those differences in a godly and humble way.

[Tim Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential boom for our divided times. This book will be helpful to church leaders and members alike as they seek to navigate the challenges of doctrinal division.

This volume is unique in its approach. Many books navigate what to do when Christians disagree or how to manage disagreement. This book answers those questions, but only after first giving a balanced understanding of why Christians disagree. This understanding will help churches navigate these waters more humbly and carefully.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albeit not perfect, this is a very good book about why Christians have different beliefs and convictions, and how we should approach them. Somehow, the book puts advanced words into much of what more simple thinking I've done on the matter. I've wanted to read a good book about differences in beliefs, as many Christians, including me, have encountered them on good and bad terms. So, a refreshing reminder that it does not need to divide us.

[Traci Rhoades · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy howdy, this book is good. You won't read it quickly and it's a crazy amount of citations, but it's a broad look at how we got our doctrinal divisions in the first place. History and scholarship and theology on every page. If you've wondered about the relationship between the Bible and church tradition, this book will help. A great work to be explored again and again.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily the best theology book I read this year. Putman tackles the reasons for theological disagreement—differing hermeneutic approaches, ways of reasoning, emotions, biases, and limitations. Then, he addresses why we might change our minds, matters of theological triage, and matters of character in disagreement.

[Josh G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-researched and very insightful. I appreciate how the author pulls together multiple disciplines to supplement the biblical witness and to show why we disagree and divide over doctrine(s) in the church. The sections on confirmation bias were especially helpful. He also offers practical insight into how we should approach division and disagreement.

[Nate Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that seeks to examine the reality as to why there are doctrinal differences between believers though they may hold to the same principles and abilities. The purpose is so that we are not unaware that these conditions exist, but being equipped with this knowledge, we can approach differences in ecumenical manners without sacrifices doctrinal truths and convictional beliefs.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who wonders why there's so many demoninations should read this book.

[Brennan Penner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great study of how we shape our views on life and how this can shape our value of doctrines. Detailed analysis and helpful practical application. A deeper study of Mohler’s theological triage application.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In such a divisive culture, this was a really excellent read to explore when we should put aside our differences for the sake of our unity in Christ and when it matters to stand up for core doctrine and not move aside. It is a tough dichotomy to navigate, and this book guides you well. Highly recommend.

[Steve Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5–5 stars

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[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The challenges of interpretation do not prevent the Presbyterian teenager, the Methodist soccer mom, or the uneducated Baptist layman from ascertaining the larger narrative of Scripture summed up in the good news of Jesus. The Spirit often provides these interpreters with a fuller understanding of Scripture than even the most erudite of professional theologians and biblical scholars, those who may be able to grapple with the historical complexities of the Bible but fail to see how its message applies to their own lives.

Despite this promising start, this was a tough one to wade through. I was expecting a more accessible treatment of the subject but felt like it read a bit more like a doctoral thesis. Maybe the “Methodist soccer mom” in the quote above could finish this book but I’m not sure about the “uneducated Baptist layman”. All joking aside, I know what he is driving at in the quote but I’m not sure that “Methodist soccer mom” is the best example these days given that she may also be a published author and teaching hermeneutics at the local seminary. But I digress…

At the end of it all, I felt like there was excessive time spent on the theory behind why we disagree (chapters one to five) and not enough time on what to do about it (chapters six to eight).

There are some good reminders here (mainly chapter eight): be charitable; value our “interlocutor” as a person; be quick to listen; exercise grace and patience; be humble; don’t let our emotions get out of control; and glorify God.

But chapter six (when do we change our mind?) and to a lesser extent, chapter seven (what should divide us?), were unsatisfying for me. In chapter six the author outlines an extensive checklist to answer the question of what we should do when we encounter disagreement with another believer on matters of doctrine. By asking the question, “am I epistemically superior or inferior to my challenger?”, we can then determine what to do. This seemed like an odd approach in a book promoting humility. This also left me with more questions than answers given our unparalleled access to brilliant scholarship from committed Christians across the theological spectrum.

Chapter seven deals with the concept of doctrinal triage which is a helpful concept and could be really useful in a church setting (assuming of course that going through this process does not result in more division!). However, I believe we intuitively triage already based on the topics covered in chapters one through five and are prone to elevate secondary and tertiary matters to the “first tier” by appealing to the authority of Scripture. Obviously Biblical authority is a primary matter but how do we guard against unintended “triage creep”?

In summary, I believe I went into this book with the wrong expectations and as a result found it unconvincing and incomplete.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

We live in a very divided age. Yet, this should not surprise us because, wherever there is human civilization and at least two differing opinions there will inevitably be divisions. In any given society there will be division politically, socially, economically, ideologically, morally, and religiously, etc. Unfortunately, the division doesn’t stop with the culture at large, there can even be divisions among professing Christians on a theological level. This is what Rhyne Putman discusses in his new book When Doctrine Divides the People of God (Crossway, 2020). He takes an in-depth look at what causes theological divisions among Chrisitians, and what can be done to help believers disagree peaceably.

As an alumnus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, I am thankful for Rhyne Putman’s work through When Doctrine Divides the People of God. I am glad to see the fruits of his labor. As a member of the NOBTS family, I can vouch for the fact that there are a variety of theological views represented on the faculty, but I learned a great deal from each one. NOBTS is known among the six Southern Baptist seminaries as the most practical in regards to our training of students. The main goal is to equip the next generation of leaders and send them out to fulfill the Great Commission. For that reason, I saw a spirit of “we are in this together” as Dr. Putman argued for in the book. I am a better person today as a result of my beloved seminary. I am thankful that Dr. Putman is part of the NOBTS family and has done an excellent job of representing the seminary well. I appreciate his guidance on how to disagree in a spirit of brotherhood and charity.



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