A leader in the church or home must deal with conflict. I have been reading Pursuing Peace, by Dr. Robert Jones. And I recently had the opportunity to hear him conduct a seminar on this topic. Here are a few of my notes. I hope to get him on the podcast soon to talk more in-depth. – Chap
God is a peacemaker, bringing us peace. Here are four different ways God pursues peace with references only from Romans. Many more verses could be cited. God pursues:
- First, vertical peace as seen in Romans 1:7, 2:9-11, 3:1,7 5:1-2.
- Second, internal peace as seen in Romans 8:6 and 15:13.
- Third, horizontal peace as seen in Romans 12:18, 14:19.
- Fourth, eventually global peace as seen in Roman 16:20.
There are three perspectives for viewing human conflict.
- First, conflicts are inevitable, therefore expect them.
- Second, conflicts are sinful, therefore resolve them. (I would add usually sinful.)
- Third, conflicts are opportunities, therefore seize them.
Pleasing God is the key to walking through conflict. There are different truths we can think about:
1. Failure to please God by you or the other person, or both, is the ultimate cause of all conflict.
2. This goal of pleasing God keeps you focused on God and not on the issues or the other person.
3. In Christ, this goal is always doable, no matter what the other person does.
4. This goal will pace your efforts. (By this, Dr. Jones means the person who avoids conflict will move toward it and the person who loves to fight will slow down.)
5. God might bless your efforts.
6. If you both please God, God will bring about full reconciliation.
7. Even if the other person does not seek to please God, you can experience God’s comfort and blessing.
8. You must continue your commitment to please God even if the other person does not or if the relationship gets worse.
9. When this goal of pleasing God governs you, the other person’s sins, offenses, and failures become opportunities, not obstacles, to please God and grow as a Christian.
If you want more depth, buy the book. It’s good!
