Conflict, may it never be…

caleb

13 years ago

by David Keen

Where has the desire to avoid conflict, and tension in our relationships come from? A heartfelt desire to keep peace? Because peace is the most important thing, of course… Get the end, no matter the means, right? Or has the desire to avoid conflict, come from a lazy heart and/or a fear of admitting you have no defense, no foundation, no ground to fight from in the first place? So lets just keep the peace, because I’m too afraid to find out the truth. Too afraid to change. Of course that’s not how we rationalize it in our heads. We just shove it away, to the back of our heads. Let it hang in our heads for but a moment, then realize the implications of finding out, much less accepting the truth. And let those implications shuffle that thought away.

I’m not speaking of conflict in the sense of, “Ah, Jim, you ate my piece of cake, gosh darnit!” I am referring to things of much greater weight. Things of eternal weight. Not that Jim eating your piece of cake doesn’t require a different response than, anger, malice and resentment. It should elicit a much different response, out of a good root. But the root that causes the response of love to Jim. Should also cause a response that stirs up, provokes, and just in general, rustles the feathers of those around you, who disagree with you on matters of great weight. World views. Views on God. Should we just say, “Oh, you’re an atheist? That’s neat. Oh, those are some interesting thoughts. Oh, your Baptist? Your Pentecostal? Your Calvinist? Your Arminian? Oh, that’s neat. That’s a cool perspective.” I submit to you, that we should not have this response. But our response should be grounded in love. And on top of that, truth. And on that, grace. And that, meekness. Along with every other fruit of the spirit. But sometimes love is harsh. It’s blunt. To the point. Other times it’s subtle and meek. We should use wisdom to know, when to speak out harshly. Sarcastically. Satirically. And we should also use wisdom to know when to be gentle and soft.

Conflict, disagreement, and contention are there for a reason. A very good reason. They are not at God’s standard (Mind you, I am not at God’s standard either. No one is, or can be. Short of Jesus Christ, he was… But thank God His grace is sufficient for our wretched sins.). Not my standard, not my truth. God’s. They aren’t just in conflict or disagreement with me. They’re arguing and disagreeing with God’s position. And God’s position is reality. Not the ones that man wills up with his mighty power.

We, as the Church. The Bride of the Bridegroom. The Salt of the earth. Should stand on a firm and solid foundation. The foundation of truth. The foundation that Abraham saw in the distance. The foundation that John the Baptist spoke of. The foundation that Paul the Apostle expounded on. Christ and Him crucified. This is not some small thing to be taken lightly. It defines humanity. It grounds us, and allows us to answer the tough questions, the very real questions that many people have. Know where you are in Christ. Understand where you are in Christ. And live life, in the reality of where you are—in Christ. I say these things in love. To the best of my abilities. But in all things, I thank God that His grace is sufficient for my sins, and yours. May we imitate Him in that grace. Amen, so be it.