Posts Tagged ‘Matthew 18’

Is “conflict” a bad word? At first glace, it may appear to be: conflict often results in injury and personal discomfort. However, is conflict necessary?  Can there be such a thing as healthy conflict?  It amazes me to see how many individuals will avoid conflict at any cost.  Now, please do not misunderstand what I am trying to communicate, I am not a fan of unnecessary conflict.  However, reconciliation and forgiveness will never take place where conflict is non-existent.  God clearly instructs us, at times, to be confrontational!

Matthew 18:15-17   Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

It is really that simple.  Have you been hurt by someone?  Has someone offended you?  Go to them – talk to them about it with the desire for mutual forgiveness and reconciliation.  Avoiding conflict will only lead to greater problems and difficulties in the future.  Again, there is always the possibility that the offending party will not have a forgiving spirit or cooperate with reconciliation; Jesus clearly lays out steps 2 and 3 in the above passage.

However, no matter what the end result is; doing the right thing is always the right thing to do!  God, the Creator who understands us infinitely better than we do ourselves, has commanded us to engage in healthy conflict.  Let’s follow His words and wisdom!