Conflict in the Bible

One of the major tasks of a leader is to resolve conflicts. In a church there may be conflict between pastor and staff, between pastor or staff and laity, or between laity and laity. Skills in conflict resolution can be identified, taught, and learned. Possible relationships in a group equal the number of people in the group times that number minus one. Example: six people in a group have 6 x 5 = 30 possible relationships. The more relationships that exist, the more possible conflict areas.

Conflict in the Bible

Examples of conflicts
Great Church Fights is the title of a book by Leslie B. Flynn. He says, “Instead of majoring in communion, the church has often muddled in contention.” His book has 11 chapters, and ten of them are descriptions of conflicts in the church:
Chapter 2 – Fiction Frays the Fellowship, Acts 6, Widows feeding
Chapter 3 – Changing Culture or Timeless Truth? Acts 15, Circumcision
Chapter 4 – When Co-Workers Clash, Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas
Chapter 5 – A Fight over Spirituality, Romans 14, Meat to Idols
Chapter 6 – Following the Real Leader, 1 Corinthians 1, Paul, Apollos, or Peter
Chapter 7 – Banishing in Order to Bless, Matthew 18:17; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:11–12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; and Titus 3:10
Chapter 8 – Bigger than Big Personalities, Galatians 2:1–21 Peter and Paul
Chapter 9 – We Are Our Brother’s Keeper, Matthew 5:23–24
Chapter 10 – Ladies Have a Heart! Philippians 4:2–3, Euodias and Synthche
Chapter 11 – Curing the Boss Complex, 3 John 9–10, Diotrephes

Other biblical examples of conflicts would include David and Saul in 1 Samuel 20, the pay for workers in Matthew 20:1–16, Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38–42, who is greatest in Luke 22:24–27, anointing of feet in John 12:1–8, and going to court in 1 Corinthians 6:1–8.

Teaching on conflict in the Bible

The Bible has much to say about conflict. Jesus prayed that all believers might be as one, and therefore avoid conflict (John 17:11). “Be at peace” is used in some form in Ephesians 4:3; Romans 12:16, 18; 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:13; Mark 9:50; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 3:8, 11. Warnings of continuous conflict are given in James 4:1 (wars and fightings among you), and Galatians 5:15 (biting and devouring one another). Christians are told to do everything without complaining or arguing (Philippians 2:1–4). Christians are to be slow to anger (Ephesians 4:30) and not to let the sun go down on wrath (Ephesians 4:26). Jesus even said that one should not present a gift to God when angry, but go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer gift (Matthew 5:23).