Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
November 28, 2001 Randall Caselman
Let Us Choose Unity
Division and disunity are everywhere we turn, causing unheard of damage. They destroy our families, divide churches, rupture relationships. Conflict can destroy a country and bring the world to war. Are unity and peace possible?
Yes! Consider: Jesus prayed for peace, unity among believers. (John 17:21) He said,
Love your enemies. (Luke 6:27) Paul said that
if it was possible, to live in peace with all men. (Romans 12:18)
God has called us to peace. (I Corinthians 7:15)
We are to be of one mind, to live in peace. (II Corinthians 13:11)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. (Galatians 5:22)
We are to live in peace with each other. (I Thessalonians 5:13) Paul told Timothy to
flee evil desires and pursue peace. (II Timothy 2:22) We are to
turn from evil, do good, and seek peace. (I Peter 3:11) Christians are supposed to
make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2)
If peace and unity are so important to God, how can we resolve our conflicts?
1. EXAMINE SELF. We must never be the cause of conflict. Listed among the sins that God hates most is sowing discord among brothers. Some are simply conflict-minded. They don't get along with their wives, children or working companions. Why does it surprise us when they cause trouble in the church? Trouble spots in our world are kept hot by conflict-minded men. Their motive is impure. Their intentions are to make trouble--so they do. We must be changed people. Pursue peace! Be a David: "Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me." (Psalm 139:23-24)
2. PLACE YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF OTHERS. There are always two sides to any disagreement. We must be big enough to see the conflict from the position of others. We must do unto others as we would have them do unto us. We must consider others to be better than ourselves. We must place the interest of others before our own. We must love our enemies, do good to those who persecute us and despitefully use us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely. We are to have the same mind in us that was in Christ Jesus. Living out these attitudes would resolve most of our conflicts instantly, wouldn't it?
3. ALWAYS CORRECT IN PRIVATE. Disunity is infectious! Conflicts grow because we spread the virus. We involve others, our children, the church, working companions, and other nations. As we involve others, we have a tendency to inflate truth, slant the facts, gossip, even lie to improve our position. No! If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. (Matthew 18:15) We have no right to spread conflict until we have privately confronted our offender. We must stop trying to explain scripture, and just submit to it. God has called us to peace, unity and a love of the brethren.
4. LEARN TO TAKE CORRECTION. This is tough for us. Sometimes it is not easy to take instruction and criticism, but it is a part of our learning experience. Solomon wrote, "Whoever loves discipline, loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding." ( Proverbs 12:1 and 15:32) When we are wrong, we must take the hit. Be big enough to admit our mistake. When someone corrects, complains, criticizes; pause, gain your composure and say "Thank you."
5. PRACTICE PREVENTION. There is no need for our differences to become conflicts. The 14th chapter of Romans was written to keep peace in a bi-cultural church. Paul said not to offend a brother. Don't violate your conscience or his, even if you are right. Being right, winning an argument, can be wrong when we cause others to stumble; or by winning the argument, cause conflict and division. Jesus spoke of losing life in order to find it. Paul tells us to submit to one another. Lose the argument--win the war! Save a brother. Keep a friend.
God has called us to be peacemakers, peacekeepers. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God." Choose unity--Resolve to be a peacemaker!
Randall Caselman
