This would have been a great book for all Christians to read in the summer of 2020, when the pandemic was raging, but it was not released until 2023, after the benefits of hindsight could take effect. Sometimes we need time to pass for our vision to become clear on a matter, and Jamie Dunlop provides considerable clarity about how we in the church can and should pursue unity over the various secondary disagreements we hold.
Of course the problem is that often our disagreements are rooted in deeply held convictions about hugely important topics that might seem primary, so those with differing opinions become "the ones who drive you crazy.” We ask ourselves — "how can we go to the same church with people who think like that?" But Dunlop does a good job showing that our priority should not be to settle all disagreements or to prove ourselves right (at least on secondary matters), but to showcase God's glory through the unity of the church. Societal concerns should move to the background while church unity should be shifted into the foreground (p.61).
The most essential insight from this book, for me personally, was that disagreements in church life are not actually a distraction from “real ministry," but the main event of ministry – the opportunity to love those with whom we disagree in a way that exalts Christ's love for us. The most important thing in the midst of disagreement is not actually to be proven right on the issue of wearing masks or using preferred pronouns or whether to vote for Donald Trump. “If everyone agreed on all these matters, church would be a lot easier. But easy love rarely shows off Gospel power.” (p.6).
During the political and pandemic disputes of 2020, it sometimes felt like church unity (more broadly speaking, not necessarily at New Life) shifted into the background while societal concerns became the main event. Thankfully the Lord is patient with us so we can regroup, humble ourselves and hopefully be better prepared for the next issue that challenges the unity of Christ's bride.