Finding the Right Hills to Die On by Gavin Ortlund: A Book Review
In a time where people seem to be disagreeing on everything and taking it personally, it’s important for the church to be unified. We certainly have our disagreements, but how should we handle them? What disagreements are worth separating over? Where should we agree to disagree and continue on together? Gavin Ortlund helps us consider these questions in his new book titled Finding the Right Hills to Die On.
In the book, Ortlund suggests four categories labeling them as first through fourth-rank doctrines. He says:
First-rank doctrines are essential to the gospel itself.
Second-rank doctrines are urgent for the health and practice of the church such that they frequently cause Christians to separate at the level of local church, denominations and/or ministry.
Third-rank doctrines are important to Christian theology, but not enough to justify separation or division among Christians.
Fourth-rank doctrines are unimportant to our gospel witness and ministry collaboration.
Throughout the book, Ortlund helps us think through how to decipher what doctrines fall where. He borrows a term from Albert Mohler, referencing this as "theological triage" or assessing what is most important and where it should fall in order (borrowed from the idea of medical triage).
Ortlund doesn’t want to tell you what to put where, but says, "I’m trying to get at the whole way we go about theology, in both forming our convictions and then navigating life and ministry in light of them. I sincerely hope that this book will help you as you form your own convictions about theological triage should function in your life and ministry.
The book is broken into two parts. Ortlund first tackles why this subject is important and in part two discusses how it works. In the end, he gives us all a needed call to theological humility.
If you’ve never encountered this topic, I think Finding the Right Hills to Die On would be a great starting place. If you have encountered them, Ortlund’s book is a brief and accessible reminder. In an age where pressure mounts against the church, Finding the Right Hills to Die On is a helpful call for us to be unified as much as possible.
You can pick up your copy of Finding the Right Hills to Die On on Amazon (affiliate).
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Crossway in exchange for a fair and honest review.
