Week 8: Conflict - Anton Folz March 12th 09

Week 8; Conflict
Anton Folz
March 12th, 09

Conflict is an unavoidable truth and aspect of human life and interaction. Whenever people are together and a part of the same organization or family, there will inevitably be some sort of conflict at some point or another. Within the Christian Church, conflict is also present and provides a divisive and potentially devastating effect on church members if left unresolved and allowed to gain momentum. As can be seen in the biblical text, conflict is also not a new thing in the Christian Church, but instead it is something that people have had to deal with and work through since the very beginning of mankind. So with this, theological understanding and insights can be drawn regarding interpersonal conflict, and how it might be resolved. Below is an annotated list of insights about theological considerations on the issue of conflict between people.
1. Firstly, there is this idea that a human is in a terrible situation when they are conflict with other people. Not only is that relationship marred and possibly at risk, but their relationship with God is also effected. Jesus teaches that if a man is sacrificing and realizes that he is not right with a brother, then he should leave the sacrifice there, go make amends, and then come back and sacrifice. Thus it seems that true worship of God is not possible without right relationship with other humans.
2. Next we see that people are in dire need to resolve interpersonal conflict for their own sake. Jesus teaches that when a man is being taken to court to settle a debt and man should make every effort possible to resolve the issue without the court system so that they might not be placed in prison, and left to die. Jesus makes the point that interpersonal conflict is best resolved without getting legal systems involved when possible because of the repercussions that might ensue.
3. We also see that leaving conflict unresolved causes negative effects on our relationships with others. Jesus teaches that a man should not go to bed at night still mad with another person because that has the possibility to foster even more strife, possibly even to the point of hatred.
Thus in conclusion, it can bee seen and noted that the Bible is quite one-sided on this issue of interpersonal conflict. It seem to suggest that all efforts should be made to attempt to resolve and restore relationships rather than tear them apart or allow them to go unchanged. Jesus himself modeled and taught that fact that Christians are to turn the other cheek when struck and to love even their enemies. Relationships so very important that they affect us, people around us, and even our ability to worship the Lord. Conflict must be minimized in the Christian Church, and when present, it must be resolved.