CHRISTIANS IN CONFLICT
"Having the same conflict" Philippians 1:30
Edward Proffitt, Th.D.

 

First Corinthians is a very practical book. It does not give much
space to doctrine but, it sure deals with life. First Corinthians
meets the Christian in a day-to-day relationship with other
believers. The book deals with morality, malice, money,
bickering, backbiting and spiritual babyhood. The book also
deals with conflicts that call for court action, for believers
going to court.

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In Chapter 6 the writer begins with a question about lawful conflicts.
"Dare any of you having a matter against another, go to law before
he unjust" (1 Corinthians 6:1). Now remember this is being written

to Christians, so just think of the testimony before others (Christians and non-Christians) cannot get along.

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Think of the loss of blessing when Christians are in conflict. Think
about the crippling of all soul winning efforts when Christian's use
their energies in conflict. Nathan the prophet spoke to king David
after his sin. The words are startling, yet there was much truth in it:
"Because by this deed you have given great occasion the enemies
of the Lord to blaspheme".  When wrong, are being wronged there
should be a proses to extinguish the conflict.

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1st Corinthians 6:7 tells those in conflict, "Why do ye not rather accept the wrong". In the acceptance of the wrong there is a diffusing of a bad situation. Jesus had opportunity and power to fight back, but He didn't: "Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:23). Not always but sometimes it is better to let another have what is rightfully ours, just to diffuse the bad situation, especially as a Chrisian.

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The Biblical reason for doing this is found in the life of Jesus Christ:
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but
made Himself of no reputation and being found in fashion as a man,
He humbled self, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross"(Philippians 2:5-8).

There are many conflicts that do and will take place, even in the life of a Christian. Times of conflict seems to push a button in all of us and cause us to clamor into a wrong mode. We always want to be right and express that rightness regardless of what expense and who gets hurt. If we do not take wrong, we do not glorify God. So, being Christlike, taking wrong will glorify God. So, a concluding question is, what are our areas of conflict and:

           HOW ARE WE DEALING WITH THEM???