Yahshua – Jesus Christ is the peacemaker model to imitate, but our world faces –on daily bases– problems such as divorces and children’s custody, frauds, abuses, money lawsuits, wars, etc. Conflict begins in the heart but Jesus treats our hearts. He says “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ”John 14:27. This statement has a background that is not natural to our way of treating others. Jesus is saying that His peace is different to the one in the world. Jesus also teaches the “Beatitudes” of which, the seventh, tells us: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9, for which, one must have learned the other beatitudes, especially the sixth, a pure heart. The Christian must therefore be an active peacemaker, and therefore the Church must know and be prepared, in each of its members to deal with conflicts in a Biblical way, with the resolution of the conflict in mind, in the love of God for the neighbour. Although the tendency is to see conflict as a problem, it really is an opportunity to glorify God through an authentic and merciful treat to others. First of all one must cast away the beam in the eye and then peacefully restore with reconciliation in mind. Even though not all conflicts are solvable, nor all fights are worth dealing with, it will be the Holy Spirit who will guide us if we place ourselves in His hands. Let us see how to become good peacemakers because we already are in peace and reconciled with God through the Cross of Jesus Christ.

 

HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS

The Christian peacemaker must follow four objectives: To glorify God through his attitude, to cast the beam out of his eye, to restore humbly, and to reconcile. Some Bible Texts that help us in these, known as the four beams of peacemaking: 1Corinthians 10:31 To glorify God. Matthew 7:5 Cast away the beam of your eye. Galatians 6:1 Restore humbly. Matthew 5:24 Go and reconcile.

First of all is to identify and reach the heart of the conflict. The conflict, against what we may think provides opportunities. First listen, but to know how to listen is an art to learn. If one is part of the conflict one must assume his part of guilt, reach those affected and confess, ask forgiveness sincerely, which in itself is a compromise to change attitude and of restitution. Follow the rule known as “SODA”: Stop – Observe – Decide – And Then Act. Follow some norms, commandments, rules which provide order, because live without them is chaos.

There are three basic attitudes before a conflict: of peace, of escape and of attack. Those who run away from conflict may even deny it, escape, and in extreme cases suicide. In the opposite extreme we have those who attack, whether through physical or emotional assault, litigation or threat, and in extreme cases murder. The counterweight is in a focused attitude of the peacemaker who sometimes will ignore unimportant facts, reconcile, negotiate, mediate, arbitrate and give account, because his target is peace and the relationship, this is, his style in conflict is resolution. Those who only want to win do not fight for the relationship, as do not do those who retract before conflict, or those who only give the first step but do not resolve, these styles do not resolve the conflict peacefully; in which one do you see yourself?

 

BENEFITS OF RESOLVING CONFLICTS IN THE MANNER OF YAHSHUA

It is interesting to consider that sometimes conflicts are the result of having understood the diversity (work of God) of opinions as a bad thing, instead of an opportunity for new experiences. Also we have to discern those conflicts which are useless and/or those which cannot be ignored. James 4:1-2.

Our behaviour is watched when dealing with conflicts, not only by the church, but at home, by family, children, and husband/wife. It is the model they will learn and do in their lives, their own marriages, at school, etc. If we imitate Christ, we will be more like Him, and as Paul would say “imitate me”. Conflict is also a tool of God to make us more to the image of His Son, like fidelity to a person who does not receive. It may help us to remember the ABC of the conflict is that: the Adversity is the Base of Character.

Peacemaking is a ministry, a stewardship; it is the administration of the conflict in which God puts us with those capacities that He has granted us: The Gospel is the key to efficient peacemaking. To be a faithful steward in conflict we have to be: motivated, informed, strengthen, dependent, and faithful, because God gives us gifts to be able to serve Him in conflicts, through His Spirit.

Peace is the target to seek in conflict. Peace has three dimensions: God loves peace; it is part of God’s character. It is a blessing to who follows Him. God commands that we seek it. It is part of His covenant. And ¡Shalom! Jesus is Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6 (Peace with God, amongst us and inside us) My peace I give to you. Peace comes from God’s justice in our heart. When our life is full of unresolved conflicts and broken relationships, we will have little success sharing the good news of the saving work of Jesus on the cross. This principal is taught repeatedly along the New Testament.

Christian reputation depends on our attitude and on how we love even our enemies, the Christian testimony is in the way we treat others. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9. Satan is the “adversary” creator of conflict and of separation, these are his targets; let us fight like gladiators.

The forgiveness that we have from Christ we must carry and use in conflict for those that fight, so they see how much God loves them so they reconcile. Trust the Lord and do good. The more you understand God’s love and power the more you will trust Him. God is sovereign. God is in control of all. To trust God is a personal decision. God is good. The path is set.

Also Paul gave five instructions to the churches: Rejoice always in the Lord. Be kind to all. Change anxiety for prayer. See things as they are, and see the good in others. Practice what you learn. Evaluate the cost/consequences in the short and long term of not resolving a conflict. People’s rights. Where would we spend eternity if God applied justice without mercy? Jesus did not use His rights on the Cross. Make others see their errors and responsibilities when suitable. The Lord condemns the attitude of one not wanting to lose what we have for peace sake. Be humble at work and in the world before authority and to show the behaviour of Christ for testimony, it will never return empty handed.

Conflict begins in the heart, we must remember. James 4:1-3 and Matthew 15:19 tell us that bad actions come from bad thoughts of the heart. The unsatisfied wishes of our heart can become an idol, something that we anxiously want and for what we begin to hate those that don’t satisfy it. How can one discern when a good wish may be becoming a sinning obligation? You may begin to ask yourself “X ray type” questions: What worries me? What is the first thing in my mind in the morning and the last at night? How would you fill in the empty space: “If only __________, then I would feel happy, realized and safe? What do I want to preserve or avoid against all? Where do I place my trust? What do I fear? When a certain wish is not satisfied, do I fill frustration, anxiety, resentment, bitterness, wrath or depression? Is there something that I wish so much that I could fail or hurt others to have it? Idols demand sacrifices, like when a child is and others don’t adore him, or we demand more from them, etc. To heal the idolater heart with God’s love, repent, fear and trust God. Escape from judgment looking to God only, deliverer from idolatry. His Bible, His Spirit and His Church deliver from specific idolatries during life.

Repentance “metanoia” from two types of sadness: the one coming from the world, due to the loss of someone of something; and the one coming from God in us, the one that produces salvation, and not only that, but salvation from what is holding us here. Confession brings freedom. To examine yourself and seek for help to see one’s sin clearly. Not to use the tong as a weapon, nor complain, talk false or gossip, slander nor talk in vane: watch this. Not to control others. Have word. Not to abuse in authority or to not respect it. Not to forget the Rule of Gold. Not to serve sinning wishes. Inappropriate pleasures, pride or always wanting to be right. To love money or possessions. Fearing man. And the good things that we want too much. To grow to the image of Christ. God wants to help us change. Pray. Delight in the Lord. Study the Bible. Practice, like Paul, Philippians 4:9.

We finish the conflict resolution with a method to control the situation called “PAUSE” which in this occasion stands for Prepare through prayer, information, holy and wise advice, and development of options. Affirm relationships through genuine concern and respect. Understand interest, worries, wishes, limitations and fears. Search for creative solutions through prayerful ideas. Evaluate objectively a reasonable analysis of options.

 

CONFLICT IN FAMILY, CHURCH AND THE WORLD

The Christian peacemaker will always try to resolve conflicts, but the Lord warns us that “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” John 16:33b. But it is not the same to deal with our family, whether all believers or not, nor a conflict with brothers of the church is the same as with non believers used to the way the world treats.

Family is our vital centre, the one that God has placed from the beginning with Adam and Eve, precisely where the enemy attacked to separate us from God. It is therefore our way to treat the wife/husband the first priority together with the children and the parents, and the place for our main testimony and where to give glory to God. This is why traditional family is being attacked in the entire western world, result of being closer to the end times, according to prophecy.

In the church, which is supposed to be a place or company of people within our faith, but it is made of us saints who were sinners that been restored by Christ. In these two places we must have our comfort zone, where to find our friends in Christ, where we should not have conflicts, but reality is different. But if our heart has been regenerated by God, our style to resolve will lead to peace in prayer and growth. We shall not reach to the world to seek peacemaking when God called us to remain in peace amongst us. A united church and in peace is an example of people restored by Christ. Today we live the end times and there is division, but the Great Commission which is God’s plan is reaching its end.

The last thing in this chapter deals with a conflict when violent and the other part with whom we confront is not reasonable, does not want a relationship or wants to hurt, there are two ways to deal by a Christian peacemaker. The first we will focus towards non Christian people. In this situation it is possible to reach to the courts and to law enforcement, we see this in the words of James 4:1. The second we focus towards brothers in Christ, in which case we find the answer for our attitude in words of Jesus Christ: “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you; Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24.

In the world we shall find people that make the effort and search for peace and to resolve, but also we will find those who only want to win and do not care about the consequences and the pain they do to others, and will go to court. Here is where the Christian must lay in God’s hands to deal with it like Jesus Christ would, be humble and try to glorify God, in a peaceful attitude, correct, educated, and call for justice to the Just Judge.

Texts in the Bible. Genesis 13, 37. Proverbs 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 23, 25. Matthew 18:1-35. Acts 15:30-16:5. Romans 8:26-39. Galatians 6. Ephesians 4:6. Recommended book: The Peacemaker. Author Ken Sande, who has a dedicated ministry to resolving conflict and who’s website goes deep into this ministry: http://peacemaker.net

 

CONCLUSION

To be a peacemaker and resolve conflicts in a Christian and Biblical way we must have in mind to glorify God, peace, relationship and to love our neighbour. This must be our compromise. We have seen that by nature we confront conflict as obligation or we try to escape of them, or we do not consider the other part. Jesus Christ, Yahshua, nor came to the Cross by obligation, nor escaped it, because He loves us, because it glorifies God, because He gives us His peace, because He wants a relationship with us, everyday and for eternity because He loves his neighbour, His Church. Jesus Christ is the author of true peace, the true peacemaker. His new Kingdom will be a kingdom of peace and love of God, where there will be no more conflicts. In the mean time let us pray so that our transformed character by the Holy Spirit in the middle of conflict can be used to reconcile, to resolve conflicts, to avoid them and to bring peace to our neighbour and to ourselves, and this way we may give glory to God. Amen.