Living with four teenagers, I’m constanly resloving conflict and culitvating peace. It’s not easy, believe me! That’s why I have the page on peace dog-eared in Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life.” As I was reviewing it again today, I thought to myself… This is too good not to share! So, I’m sharing it with you today. I pray it bring PEACE to your relationships!
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who work for peace” – those who actively seek to resolve conflict. Peacemakers are rare because peacemaking is hard work…
Peacemaking is not [merely] avoiding conflict … Sometimes we need to avoid conflict, sometimes we need to create it, and sometimes we need to resolve it. That’s why we must pray for the Holy Spirit’s continual guidance …
Peacemaking is also not appeasement. Always giving in, acting like a doormat, and allowing others to always run over you is not what Jesus had in mind…
Seven Biblical Steps to Restoring Conflict
1. Talk to God before talking to the person [James 4:1-2]
2. Always take the initiative [Matthew 5:23-24]
3.Sympathize with their feelings [Philippians 2:4]
4. Confess your part of the conflict [Matthew 7:5]
5. Attack the problem, not the person [Proverbs 15:1]
6. Cooperate as much as possible [Romans 12:18]
7. Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution [1 Peter 3:11]
We can reestablish a relationship even when we are unable to resolve our differences. Christians often have legitimate, honest disagreements and differing opinions, but we can disagree without being disagreeable … God expects unity, not uniformity, and we can walk arm-in-arm without seeing eye-to-eye on every issue … This doesn’t mean you give up on finding a solution. You may need to continue discussing and even debating-but you do it in a spirit of harmony. Reconciliation means you bury the hatchet, not necessarily the issue.
I see conflict among Christians even more so today than in the past. Resolving this often means turning one’s back and leaving the situation with little to no thought of reconciliation instead of utilizing the Biblical concepts you listed.
Just this week I experienced this on one of the other Proverbs31 blogs written by Melissa Taylor. After politely expressing my concern for her situation and asking several questions, she erased my comments and I am no longer able to comment. That is completely her right as a blog owner, but it does show me how she handles honest questioning by a reader.
Great synopsis! As a women’s ministry leader-ish-type, I deal with women and conflict–yikes!! I just had a run-in with a girl, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, basically followed these principals–hooray for me doing it right!! 🙂 We ended it on a “degree to disagree” note and that’s ok! I can’t be BFFs with EVERyone!!
Anyway, I sent this to some other ministry leaders who have to deal with women and conflict, too. Thanks for passing it along!
this sounds like a book that might help me ,,, I suffer with depression and anxiety would love my name to be entered in the drawing for a free book
if not can i find it at a christian book store?
This is such a good reminder for all of us!
I see conflict among Christians even more so today than in the past. Resolving this often means turning one’s back and leaving the situation with little to no thought of reconciliation instead of utilizing the Biblical concepts you listed.
Just this week I experienced this on one of the other Proverbs31 blogs written by Melissa Taylor. After politely expressing my concern for her situation and asking several questions, she erased my comments and I am no longer able to comment. That is completely her right as a blog owner, but it does show me how she handles honest questioning by a reader.
I hope she reads your blog post.
Thank You Micca!! Love and need it!! Blessings, Barb
Great synopsis! As a women’s ministry leader-ish-type, I deal with women and conflict–yikes!! I just had a run-in with a girl, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, basically followed these principals–hooray for me doing it right!! 🙂 We ended it on a “degree to disagree” note and that’s ok! I can’t be BFFs with EVERyone!!
Anyway, I sent this to some other ministry leaders who have to deal with women and conflict, too. Thanks for passing it along!
this sounds like a book that might help me ,,, I suffer with depression and anxiety would love my name to be entered in the drawing for a free book
if not can i find it at a christian book store?