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REDEEM CHURCH CONFLICT

TURN CRISIS INTO COMPASSION AND CARE

Source: Redeeming Church Conflicts by Tara Klena Barthel & David V. Edling

Susan Buck FL 544/Educ 545: Lifespan Family Education Concordia University – Nebraska February 28,2014

PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES

 To encourage Christians and their churches to redeem church

conflict, turning crisis into compassion and care.

 To instruct Christians and their churches to use the Acts 15 Model

as a biblical response to conflict.

 To help Christians understand the 4 G’s of peacemaking.  To help Christians understand five bad reasons for leaving a

church.

 To help Christians and their churches understand the importance

• f godly conflict resolution.

DEFINITION OF CONFLICT

 Conflict is “a difference of opinion or

purpose that frustrates someone’s goals

• r desires.”

 Not all conflict is bad.  “Sometimes conflict can become

destructive due to elements of sin, worldliness, and spiritual warfare.”

(Barthel and Edling, 2012, p. 16)

RESPONSES TO CONFLICT

 Every person has a preferred response to conflict

somewhere on the Slippery Slope.

(Barthel and Edling, 2012, p. 16)

DEFINITION OF REDEEMING CHURCH CONFLICT

Redeeming church conflict means

“intentional dependence on the humbling and heart-changing grace of Christ’s Holy Spirit by turning relational crisis in the church into compassionate care as you take every thought and deed captive to him” (Barthel and Edling, 2012, p. 17).

IMPORTANT THEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN REDEEMING CHURCH CONFLICTS

 1. Biblical Interpretation: Seek first to know the truth of

God’s Word

 2. Biblical Application: Act faithfully and consistently

with God’s Word as you apply this truth to your situation.

 3. Be careful and pray as you seek counsel from

church leaders and members in applying knowledge gained from this presentation.

(Barthel and Edling, 2012, pgs. 17 and 21)

THE ACTS 15 MODEL FOR REDEEMING CHURCH CONFLICTS

 “In Acts 15 a serious conflict arose in the early church.

God gave those involved great wisdom, and that same wisdom is available to us today” (Barthel and Edling, 2012, p. 15). The Acts 15 model for redeeming church conflict provides the structure for this presentation.

FOUR CORE PRINCIPLES IN ACTS 15

1.

PERSPECTIVE

2.

BIBLICAL RESPONSE

3.

DISCERNMENT

4.

LEADERSHIP

PERSPECTIVE

 See opponents with eyes of compassion, knowing God is

working in us to redeem conflict for His glory and our growth. Don’t lose perspective by taking matters as personal offenses.

 Keep an eternal perspective. View conflict in the context of

eternity, so conflict can be viewed as an opportunity for spiritual growth.

 Seek to glorify God in all you do, remembering that the gospel

is at the core of the redemption of church conflict.

(Barthel & Edling, 2012, p. 229)

DISCERNMENT

 Spend more time listening than speaking.  Ask questions seeking group health versus your personal agenda

in order to advance God’s interests and our holiness.

 Identify the problem and discern others’ heart motivations before

contemplating quick solutions.

 Identify and consider every person and group in the conflict

resolution process, focusing especially on God and His interests.

 Consider underlying motives between and among individuals

and groups. (Barthel & Edling, 2012, p. 229-230)

LEADERSHIP

 Turn away from your own personal agendas and become

group problem solvers. Embrace your responsibility for leadership and followership within your own sphere of influence.

 View yourself as a “shepherd-leader” and “faithful follower”

serving among God’s flock.

 Be compelled by the love of Christ and use biblical truth as your

standard.

 Remember that you suffer and serve for Christ Jesus and

“demonstrate consistent servant-leadership and faithful biblical followership.” (Barthel & Edling, 2012, p. 229)

BIBLICAL RESPONSE

 Trust Scripture remembering that Christ loves His church and He has

paid more for it than we ever will.

 Confess your own contributions to the conflict.  Practice redemptive, corrective church discipline as you hold

people accountable for their sinful words and behavior.

 Forgive one another.  Ask this question: “Will this particular answer to this specific conflict

lead to final resolution or generate more conflict?”

 Understand that “true resolution requires clarity and finality.”

THE FOUR GS OF PEACEMAKING

 Glorify God. How can I please and honor God in this situation?  Get the log out of your eye. How can I show Jesus’s work in me

by taking responsibility for my contribution to this conflict?

 Gently restore. How can I lovingly serve others by helping them

take responsibility for their contribution to this conflict?

 Go and be reconciled. How can I demonstrate the forgiveness

• f God and encourage a reasonable solution to this conflict?

(Barthel and Edling, 2012, p. 171).

5 BAD REASONS FOR LEAVING A CHURCH

1.

“I’m not being fed.”

2.

“It’s getting too big.”

3.

“I don’t agree with everything that is being preached.”

4.

“My needs aren’t being met.”

5.

“Unresolved conflict.”

Source: 5 Really Bad Reasons for Leaving a Church, Retrieved February 19, 2014, from http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2014/01/28/five-really-bad- reasons-to-leave-your-church/30623

IS THERE HOPE TO REDEEM CHURCH CONFLICTS?

 YES!  “We are comforted in knowing that Jesus understands our

• suffering. He knows what it’s like to be betrayed, attacked, and

abandoned by his closest friends – by Christians. Jesus is with us in

• ur church conflicts. He is sovereign over our church conflicts.

We can pick up the cross of our conflicts and suffer well – God will give us the grace we need. God give us himself. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our times of need” (Hebrews 4:16). (Barthel and Edling, 2012, p. 226)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

 “Is it possible that conflicts have grown in your church because real

relationships, deep true fellowship in the Lord, have never developed? What could you do to encourage others in your circle

• f influence to move beyond the commonplace superficial

friendships that characterize so many churches?” (Barthel and Edling, 2012, p. 206).

 Reflect on the 5 bad reasons for leaving a church. Have you ever

left a church for a “bad reason?” Explain if you feel comfortable doing so.

 How has Acts 15 and our discussions brought you renewed hope for

your church?

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

 Barthel, T. K., & Edling, D. V. (2012). Redeeming church

conflicts: Turning crisis into compassion and care. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.

 5 really bad reasons to leave your church. (n.d.).

• OnFaith. Retrieved February 19, 2014, from

http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2014/01/28/five- really-bad-reasons-to-leave-your-church/30623