Today’s readings: 1 Corinthians 1-3, Psalm 134
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
“There is an ideal profile for dealing with conflict. And your profile is by no means ideal.”
Ugh! Those were hard words. The consultant we had engaged to help us grow our church was not afraid to tell it like it is. I’m not sure he had the best manner of dealing with conflict himself, but what he said about me was true. My way of dealing with conflict was a mixture of avoidance, rationalization, denial, and inner turmoil. Not a good way to deal with conflict!
Another church. Another time. Another pastor. The call committee asked the candidate, “How do you handle conflict?” “I don’t allow it!” he asserted. Several committee members saw that red flag, but the interview continued, and eventually he was called to that congregation. It didn’t take long before things went badly for him and the church. Although he stayed for a number of years, many members left, the staff was decimated, and his assertion that he did not allow conflict proved painfully misguided.
Another church. Another time. Another church leader. “You say things are better here now that the conflict has died down. Why would you say that?” “Well, they all left.” His solution to conflict was to get rid of people.
There are countless ineffective ways to deal with conflict. But the foundation for genuine reconciliation is the grace of God in Jesus. The more we align ourselves with Jesus Christ and see our brothers and sisters in Christ as loved by God and worthy of the same love we have received from him, the better equipped we are to deal with conflict.
The church in Corinth was being torn apart by conflict and posturing. People were choosing sides: Paul, Apollos, Peter. None of these men was meant to be a team captain vying for importance or honor. That place belongs to their Lord and ours. How sad when we fall prey to such posturing, elevating one pastor, teacher, leader, parent, child, sister, or brother over another!
There is no church on earth where there is no conflict. We all struggle from time to time to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). Despite that, we can enjoy these gifts as we return to Jesus in repentant faith, and to our brothers and sisters in humility and love. This is the gift of the Holy Spirit and the blessing of Jesus’ cross in our lives.
We are people of the cross. And there we find our true hope, joy, life, and unity in his love for us and for all people.
Follow the Word is a daily Bible reading and devotional ministry of St. John Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas.
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