Good read as to how to discuss and handle Christian differences in beliefs without anger or separation. Should be read before discussions and problems start. Recommended.

This is not light summer reading, but it is really important reading for relationships since none of always have it all right, ever. The gist of the book can be summed up with this quote from it: "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." This work is extremely well documented and researched. Putnam includes double-digits-worth of citations in every chapter, which are well themed to guide the reader into what are the root causes of why we read, interpret and understand the same words so differently. Putnam ties in lots of early church history and disagreements that took place between early church fathers. He says one thing we can learn from them is: "In my own life and from what I have seen in the lives of Whitefield and Wesley, continual, heartfelt prayer for one another, even for those who have wronged us, can change our disposition toward them, making us more empathetic to them and more concerned about their well-being." Or as Putnam quotes Wesley, love should be the equalizer in any of our disagreements - “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?"

The author starts from the basic premise of evangelical Christianity. He doesn't focus on doctrinal differences among Catholicism and Orthodox brothers and sisters. It's a decent place to start. Great explanation of scholarly terms and an in-depth breakdown of where we agree and where we don't and possible factors attributing to both.

This book is full of references and probably better at an academic level. I read it as the topic of ecumenism is of particular interest to me.

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.