Yesterday in the church planting class I'm taking Alexander Strauch taught on conflict resolution in the local church. It was superb. The outline of his latest book If you bite and devour one another served as the outline for our discussion yesterday.Here are some helpful points he mentioned:
Knowing that there WOULD be conflict, Jesus said…
1. Go to the brother to whom you have offended -- Matt 5:23-24
2. Go to the brother who has sinned against you -- Matt 18:15-17
**You take the initiative. When someone has hurt you, YOU take care of it.
Lessons from the Church at Corinth:
THEME: Act in Love!
The pastor and the church leadership can and will set the attitude of the Church. How do you make sure you set the correct attitude?
Set the attitude of your church by:
1. By teaching
2. By your own attitude
3. By confronting the sinful attitudes straight up -- talk to people.
Lessons from the Church at Philippi:
Theme: Act in Humility, NOT Pride
Lessons from the Earliest Jewish Churches:
Theme: CONTROL the anger, tongue & criticism
Lessons from the Church at Galatia:
*Key Principle: Act in the Spirit, not in the Flesh
If we as believers can strive with all of our might and with full dependence on the Holy Spirit to live in these ways while implementing these key principles & themes, I trust that will prevent *some* conflicts in the local Church. But when conflicts do arise, let us be very faithful to act in the Spirit, not in the flesh.
James 3:13-18 — Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic (ἐπίγειος, ψυχική, δαιμονιώδης). 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
