by Mike Benson

As long as there are people in the church, there will be conflict.

As long as people sin—and they do (cf. Eccl. 7:20; Rom. 3:23; Matt. 5:23-24; 18:15-17; Mark 11:15-17; 1 John 1:8), as along as two or more brethren have more than one idea on how to carry out a good work—and they will (cf. Acts 15:36-41), and as long as all communication in a congregation is less than absolutely accurate and perfectly timed—and it is (cf. Acts 6:1; 15:2, 7), there will be conflict (cf. Matt. 20:24; Mark 9:34; Luke 9:46; 22:24). It “is a part of church life that must be faced from time to time by every normal congregation [Edison, When Lines Are Drawn, 18-19]. “Disagreements are inevitable. Expect them” [Russell, Making Things Happen, 69].

How do you respond to that reality? I appreciate one author’s insight into this issue:

"In 1986 I was hiking with three friends in the Beartooth Mountains in southern Montana. It was early in the summer, and the streams were still swollen from melting snow. Ten miles into the mountains, we came to a stream where the bridge had been washed away. The water was deep and icy cold. There was one place where we might have been able to cross by leaping from rock to rock, but it would have meant risking a fall into the rapids.

As we stood there trying to decide what to do, three different perspectives surfaced. One person saw the stream as a dangerous obstacle. Afraid that one of us might fall in and be swept away, he wanted to turn back and look for another trail. Another friend saw the stream as a means to show how tough he was. He wanted to wade straight across, even if that meant we would be wet and cold for a few hours. But the two of us saw the stream as an interesting challenge. We studied the rocks leading to the other side and determined where we would need additional footing. Finding a fallen tree in the woods, we laid it across the largest gap between the rocks.

At this point, our two friends began to cooperate with us. Working together, we managed to get one person over to the other bank. Then two of us stood on rocks in the middle of the stream and the packs were passed to the other side. One by one, we jumped from rock to rock, receiving support from the person ahead. Before long, we were all on the far bank and we were perfectly dry and exhilarated by our accomplishment."

It’s been my life-long observation that we tend to view conflict in much the same way that these four men looked at that mountain stream:

. For some, it is a hazard that threatens to sweep us off our feet and leave us emotionally bruised and bloodied (cf. Matt. 25:18). It must therefore be avoided at all costs.

. For others, it is an obstacle that must be “strong-armed” and “man-handled” with a firm, heavy-handed, authoritative approach (cf. Matt. 20:25).

. For a few, it is an opportunity to solve common problems in a way that honors Jesus Christ and offers benefit to the church-body at large (Acts 6:5, 7; 15:6, 25).

Dear Christian, let me suggest that you engage in a little self-introspection (1 Cor. 11:28). How do you approach “the deep, icy-cold stream” in your congregation? Do you try to steer away from it? [That’s “peace-faking”]. Do you try to aggressively conquer it? [That’s “peace-breaking”]. Or do you try to build a bridge through and over it? [That’s “peace-making”].

Give it some thought.

“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Rom. 14:19). “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (Jas. 3:18).