In times gone by, God’s people resolved their differences in-house before God. Today, we resolve matters in public before courts of law and other forums. This order has changed in modern times.
The changed order
In the past issues were resolved by the Holy Spirit but today, it is by man through our fallible wisdom. We were a community in the past but today, we are individuals. We were one body in Christ but today we are separate members in or outside Christ.
We feared God in the past but today without reverence. We were content with little in the past but today, we want everything. In the past, we believed God and exercised faith in him to meet our needs but today we disbelieve God as capable. In times past, we showed love and forgiveness but today we are vengeful with hateful venom. Christians were Christ-like in times of old but today Christians are only religious and not Christ-like any more.
The differences between the past and today’s Christians are very contradictory and opposite. The trajectory shows we have abandoned God, his values and ethics. The purity of Christian tradition and culture has ceased to be relevant in today’s world. Churches are now places of social convergence rather than worship. Christianity is claimed rather than conferred. Now, Christianity is by association rather than by conversion of the soul. Christians lived for the sake of Christ Jesus in the past but today for ourselves, family and loved ones only. This list of changes is by no means exhaustive.
These and many more events or examples confirm that the shift is not ordinary. It is a phenomenon that cannot be sufficiently explained to man’s ordinary understanding. We are essentially spiritual beings clothed in body form. Conflicts manifest to attack our spiritual fabric and foundations leaving the empty shell called the body. If the flesh were as important as the spirit or soul, we would not leave it behind after death. We must therefore understand the source, nature and forms or types of conflicts from a biblical perspective.
Sources of conflicts
Conflicts are bound to happen anywhere; among any persons or groups. Conflicts could be predicated on truths or untruths. Conflicts have been with us since creation, Genesis 3:11-19. Paul acting under the influence of the Holy Spirit competently identified conflicts as spiritual in nature. Ephesians 6:12 says we are not contending against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. These are Satan’s army for conflicts and disputes. Their weapons of warfare include conflicts or disputes for divisions everywhere.
Characteristics of conflicts
These can be gleaned from Romans 16:17-18. They include creating dissensions and difficulties; opposing biblical doctrine of Christ; serving our own appetites; deceiving the hearts of the simple minded; dividing the body of Christ; and disrupting our peace and salvation with God. Titus 2:3 says as for you, teach what befits sound doctrine. Any other doctrine must be rejected, 2 John 1:10. Do we teach what benefits sound doctrine of righteousness or rather conflict God’s word with what pleases people from whom we expect favours?
Types of referenced conflicts or disputes
- Affliction and health issues: e.g. between Job and his household, Job 2:7-9
- Aversion for Christian aliens: e.g. between the alien converts in Asia Minor, 1 Peter 2:16
- Betrayal and utmost bad faith: e.g. between the serpent, Eve and Adam, Genesis 3:1
- Breach of trust: e.g. between Adam and Eve about the forbidden tree, Genesis 3:12
- Christian disunity: e.g. the church at Corinth, 1 Corinthians 7:21; 2 Corinthians 3:17
- Doctrinal differences: e.g. Jesus and Jewish leaders, Mark 15:13; Luke 23:21; John 19:6, 15
- Family disputes, headship or birth rights: e.g. between Jacob and Essau, Genesis 25:31
- Freedom and liberty: e.g. among Paul’s new converts in Galatia, Galatians 5:13
- Friendship conflicts and disputes: Between David and Jonathan, 1 Samuel 19:1-2
- Inheritance and lineage: e.g. between Isaac and Ishmael, Genesis 17:20-21
- Insubordination: e.g. between Sarah and Hagar, Genesis 16: 5-8
- Marital rivalry: e.g. between Peninnah and Samuel’s mother, Hannah, 1 Samuel 1:6
- Parental favoritism: e.g. between Joseph and his brothers, Genesis 37:28
- Power struggle: e.g. between Lucifer against God, Revelation 12:7-9
- Rivalry and jealousy: e.g. between Cain and Abel, Genesis 4:8
- Royal hood or public power rivalry: e.g. between Saul and David, 1 Samuel 18:8-9
- Slavery, abuse and violation: e.g. between Egyptian task masters and the Jews, Exodus 5: 15-18
- Spouses conflicting opinions: e.g. between Job and his wife, Job 2:10
- Xenophobia: e.g. Moses and the murdered Egyptian, Exodus 2:14
We pray that the Lord will open our eyes to see and our minds to identify the characteristics of conflicts in all situations. Let our dependence on Jesus Christ for understanding, direction and resolution, shall be genuine and total to the glory of the Lord. No matter the nature of conflict which we contend with, Jesus Christ is ready to intervene and will give us testimonies to the glory of God.
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, we approach your throne of grace today to lead us in our conflicts and disputes. Clothe us in your mercy in times of conflict. Lead us to accept the purpose of conflicts and grant us the grace to succeed in resolving same through Lord Jesus Christ our blessed king, Amen!!
