In the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis, I hoped that the “we’re all in this together” nature of the pandemic would bring a welcome change in the rancorous tone of our polarized world. Maybe the common enemy of COVID-19 would spark a new spirit of solidarity and unity—if not in the wider culture, then at least in the church.

That was wishful thinking. Sadly, the pandemic has only heightened society’s social media-fueled propensity to constantly bicker, judge, and rage against one another. Rather than using this opportunity to practice humility and “slow to speak, slow to become angry” restraint (James 1:19), many have done the opposite—even within the church. This last week I observed an uptick in the number fights online between Christians with varying opinions and convictions regarding the pandemic. The weeks ahead promise to be even dicier as churches contemplate gradual re-opening, with congregations split on whether or not they feel comfortable gathering in person yet.

Against this backdrop, Gavin Ortlund’s “4 Ways to Disagree Graciously with Other Christians” is a timely and helpful guide for maintaining unity in the church amid disagreement on disputable matters. “The unity of the church was so valuable to Jesus that he died for it,” Ortlund reminds us. “If we care about sound theology, let us care about unity as well.”