A Commitment to Biblical Conflict Resolution
As
people reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
we believe that we are called to respond to conflict in a way that is
remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict.(1) We
also believe that conflict provides opportunities to glorify God, serve
other people, and grow to be like Christ.(2) Therefore, in response to
God's love and in reliance on his grace, we commit ourselves to respond
to conflict according to the following principles:
Glorify
God — Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others
may do, we will rejoice in the Lord and bring him praise by depending
on his forgiveness, wisdom, power, and love, as we seek to faithfully
obey his commands and maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving
attitude.(3)
Get
the Log out of Your Eye — Instead of blaming others for a conflict or
resisting correction, we will trust in God's mercy and take
responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts—confessing our
sins to those we have wronged, asking God to help us change any
attitudes and habits that lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any
harm we have caused.(4)
Gently
Restore — Instead of pretending that conflict doesn't exist or talking
about others behind their backs, we will overlook minor offenses or we
will talk personally and graciously with those whose offenses seem too
serious to overlook, seeking to restore them rather than condemn them.
When a conflict with a Christian brother or sister cannot be resolved
in private, we will ask others in the body of Christ to help us settle
the matter in a biblical manner.(5)
Go
and be reconciled — Instead of accepting premature compromise or
allowing relationships to wither, we will actively pursue genuine peace
and reconciliation—forgiving others as God, for Christ's sake, has
forgiven us, and seeking just and mutually beneficial solutions to our
differences.(6)
By
God's grace, we will apply these principles as a matter of stewardship,
realizing that conflict is an assignment, not an accident. We will
remember that success in God's eyes is not a matter of specific
results, but of faithful, dependent obedience. And we will pray that
our service as peacemakers will bring praise to our Lord and lead
others to know His infinite love.(7)
1 Matt. 5:9; Luke 6:27-36; Gal. 5:19-26.
2 Rom. 8:28-29; 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1; James 1:2-4.
3 Ps. 37:1-6; Mark 11:25; John 14:15; Rom. 12:17-21; 1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 4:2-9; Col. 3:1-4; James 3:17-18; 4:1-3; 1 Peter 2:12.
4 Prov. 28:13; Matt. 7:3-5; Luke 19:8; Col. 3:5-14; 1 John 1:8-9.
5 Prov. 19:11; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 6:1-8; Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:29; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; James 5:9.
6 Matt. 5:23-24; 6:12; 7:12; Eph. 4:1-3, 32; Phil. 2:3-4.
7 Matt. 25:14-21; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:18; 1 Peter 2:19; 4:19.
Adapted from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict. © 1997, 2003 by Ken Sande. All Rights Reserved.