How Should Christians Resolve Conflicts?

 

HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS RESOLVE CONFLICTS? 

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

Conflict resolution is a critical issue of concern for the body of Christ. Conflicts vary from leadership related to congregational or interpersonal conflicts. The Bible provides a number of exhortations and guidelines on conflict resolution. Matthew 18 outlines steps for the resolution of interpersonal offences within the Christian community. 

In Acts 15, a major conflict between the Jewish and Gentile churches was resolved under the historical Jerusalem Council. The two church communions came together to discuss and address issues that stood between the Jewish church and the Gentile church. 

Elsewhere in Scripture, we learn that Paul and Barnabas sharply disagreed over John Mark accompanying them in a missionary journey in view of his conduct in a previous missionary assignment and this saw the two temporarily splitting up (Acts 15:36-41). It appears that the two ministers subsequently reconciled because Barnabas and John Mark are later mentioned as being in the company of Paul (Galatians 2:9, 13; 4:10). We are not privy to how this conflict was resolved. 

1 Corinthians 5 reveals that moral conflicts involving believers should be mediated by the congregational leaders. The Corinthians were apparently unable to resolve this conflict and Paul was compelled to pronounce himself on the matter. The responsibility of church leadership in resolving congregational conflicts is also implied in 1 Timothy 5:19 that relates to accusations of sinful conduct touching on a Christian elder. The Bible provides a higher threshold of two or three witnesses in this context. This is perhaps intended to avoid malicious accusations against elders given the sensitivity of their roles. 

A conflict of opinion appears to be contemplated in the case involving two women leaders in the church of Philippi (Philippians 4:2-3). The issues behind the conflict are not disclosed in this context but Paul asks the unnamed Philippi elder or overseer to reconcile the two women. We can only conclude that the matter was brought to Paul's attention perhaps because of its gravity and the fact that it may have been overlooked by the leadership. 

The Corinthian church conflict was partly precipitated by divided loyalties in the congregation. Sections of the congregation were reportedly allied to Paul, Peter, and Apollos, respectively. Those allied to Peter perhaps consisted of radical Jews that questioned Paul's apostolic authority (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:5-33). Paul defended his apostolic authority on a number of occasions. He was commissioned by Jesus as an apostle to the Gentiles while Peter, John and James were in charge of the Jerusalem church. 

Apollos was a visiting evangelist who was instructed in the way of Christ by a faithful Jewish couple, Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus (Acts 18:24-28). He later left Corinth in circumstances that appear to be linked to the Corinthian conflict. The fact that he was reluctant to return to Corinth despite Paul imploring him to do so is perhaps instructive of this (1 Corinthians 16:12). 

It took Paul's apostolic intervention to contain the Corinthian conflict. He wrote two New Testament Letters to the Corinthians. Paul reminded the Corinthians about the preeminence of Christ in the church and the fact that church ministers were merely stewards of God's grace (1 Corinthians 3:1-17; 4:1-2). This exhortation is amplified by Peter when addressing Christian elders (1 Peter 5:2-4).

Paul's second Letter to the Corinthians reveals that the conflict had yet to fully dissipate even though it had been considerably buttressed. Some emotional wounds were yet to heal. Paul was conciliatory in his tone and this could be evidence that his first Letter was fairly harsh (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:2-12). 

As regards doctrinal conflicts, Scripture reveals that they are to be resolved within the authority of Biblical doctrine. Christian doctrine should be exclusively developed from the revelation and authority of Scripture. No matter how finely they may be written, non Biblical writings cannot inform Christian doctrine. Similarly, no Christian leader can speak the mind of God outside the authority of Scripture.

Elsewhere in Scripture, we learn that Paul excommunicated two heretics in Ephesus in the hope that they would cease to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:20). Other passages of Scripture reveal that heresy and apostasy would be a defining feature in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-9; 4:1-5; Jude 1:1-19). Christian communities should therefore guard their doctrine and should refute false teaching at the earliest opportunity (Jude 1:3).

CONCLUSION 

Scripture requires that Christian conflicts should be resolved for the sake of the unity of the body of Christ. We are to forgive one another and to mind one another's welfare. God reconciled us in Christ Jesus. He took the initiative in providing the atonement for our sin such that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). 

We too should seek to be reconciled to our brethren whenever we offend them and forgive those that offend us. In all circumstances, the authority of Scripture remains paramount in Christian conflict resolution.

Colossians 3:12-13 says "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do (NKJV). 

Shalom 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2023