Of all people on planet earth Christians should be able to handle conflict.
I’ve seen otherwise honest Christian people begin to lie and make untrue accusations just to win an argument. Just to avoid and try to quickly end some uncomfortable conflict.
I’ve felt physical pain when facing conflict with people I love, the stress or anger that my body had over the conflict manifested itself physically.
However, despite this uncomfortable reality about myself, conflict and disagreement is normal and necessary in the kingdom of Jesus. It is healthy and is a sign of maturity. My 16 year old can handle conflict better than my 8 year old who can handle it better than my 4 year old.
We CAN learn to do conflict well and not negatively over react to it. Unity and love lies behind a great deal of conflict and trouble. Jesus engaged in conflict often with both his opponents and his followers.
The early churches had constant conflict, the priceless WORLD OVERTURNING epistles were written to help them get through it. How valuable are these conflict resolution letters from mature Christians.
Any church or family that is not able or willing to handle conflict well can quickly become a lonely Jesus-less place. If leaders feel the need to drive out disagree-ers they may be found to be leading a group yo where Jesus himself is just not welcome.
Often Jesus approaches us through our disagreeable brothers and sisters. Listen to them, engage, don’t drive them away and hate them from afar, don’t gossip about them, assuming they are being immature, hear them out in great detail. Have in yourself the attitude of coming to the truth and ask your opponent to do likewise. So you can come to truth together with humility.
Then grind it out, do the awkward work of conflict with an honest heart. Then on the other side of that, watch Jesus bring in real love and unity.
Church leaders who refuse to face this reality are not really even leading, they are occupying a slot. Perhaps just collecting a salary or occupying a place of dominance that they should not be occupying over people. And the prohibition on conflict keeps them there.
Isolating and/or driving out people who disagree with the leaders is often itself disunity. Because it implies they are Lord of the Christian group. And that is an open affront to Jesus himself, within any group that calls itself a church.
Not with trying hard to love or pretending to be unified, when we absolutely are not.
Confession is a million times more powerful than all the mental mind tricks. And the positive confessions, rebuking of Satan, bible memorizing, great sermons, and spine tingling Holy Spirit feelings and emotions.
The 80s song “every breath you take” by The Police, vocals by Sting is a brilliant example of a love song. I remember listening to it during my youth thinking of crushes and girlfriends.
But now I see a much greater purpose for this song. With a few minor tweaks to the lyrics it could make a wonderful love song from the church to Jesus Christ.
Jesus, when on earth in the flesh spoke of doing nothing except for what he saw the father doing.
“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.” John 5:19-20 ESV
Jesus knew how to watch the father. And now we who live and follow him can learn how to watch Jesus in the spirit.
Are you watching Jesus Christ in the spirit? Do you know what I mean by that? If you do then this song expresses the love you must have for watching him. I am growing in love for Christians because I can see him in their lives, and words, and eyes.
Every breath you take and every move you make Every bond you break, every step you take, We’ll be watching you Every single day and every word you say Every game you play, every night we pray. We’ll be watching you Oh, can you see we belong to you How my poor heart aches for every step you take Every move you make, and every vow we take Every smile you display, every claim you stake, We’ll be watching you
Without you we are lost without a trace We dream at night, we get to always see your face. We look around but it’s you we can’t replace We feel so cold and we long for your embrace
We keep crying, “Jesus, my Lord, please”
Oh, can you see we belong to you? How my poor heart aches with every step you take Every move you make and every vow we take Everything you say, every claim you stake, We’ll be watching you Every move you make, every step you take, We’ll be watching you We’ll be watching you Every breath you take and every move you make Every bond you break, every step you take (We’ll be watching you) Every single day, every word you say Every game you play, every night we pray (We’ll be watching you) Every move you make, every vow we make Every thing you say, every claim you stake (We’ll be watching you) Every single day, every word you say Every game you play, every night we pray (We’ll be watching you) Every breath you take, every move you make Every bond you break, every step you take (We’ll be watching you) Every single day, every word you say Every game you play, every night you stay (We‘ll be watching you) Every move you make, every vow we make Every thing you say, every claim you stake (We’ll be watching you) Every single day, every word you say Every thing you say, every night I pray (We’ll be watching you)
I am looking for someone with musical skill and love for Christ to perform this, email me at collierak@me.com if interested.
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