BIBLICAL PEACEMAKING PRINCIPLES N T C h r istian S c h o o ls Over the Top Conference 2013 P h o ebe va n Bentum
CONFLICT What springs to mind when you think of conflict? Is conflict good or bad? How do you respond to conflict?
UNDERSTANDING GOD S VIEW OF CONFLICT What does the Bible teach us about God s: Nature God is a relational God Work The gospel is about reconciliation Directions God commands us to demonstrate love and unity
UNDERSTANDING GOD S VIEW OF CONFLICT One way of looking at the Bible is that from the fall of humanity in Genesis 3 onwards, the whole Bible is about broken relationships or conflict, and what God has done to heal and restore them.
RESOLVING CONFLICT GOD S WAY The Bible provides us with a simple yet powerful system for resolving conflict. For the rest of this workshop we will be exploring together: The opportunity in conflict A biblical framework for resolving conflict Getting to the heart of conflict
THANK YOU TO PeaceWise www.peacewise.org.au Peacemaker Ministries www.peacemaker.net The Peacemaker Ken Sande
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO CONFLICT Radically different approach to conflict Conflict provides opportunity to: Glorify God Serve other people Grow to be like Christ How can I please and honour God in this situation? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
THE FOUR G S OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION Glorify God How can I please and honour God in this situation? Trusting God, Obeying God, Imitating God Get the log out of your own eye How can I show Jesus work in me by taking responsibility for my contribution to this conflict? Matthew 7:5 the log and the speck Attitude or action Requires getting to the heart Gently Restore How can I lovingly serve others by helping them take responsibility for their contribution to this conflict? Consider overlooking Focus of restoration: if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. Go and be reconciled How can I demonstrate the forgiveness of God and encourage a reasonable solution to this conflict? Forgiveness and reconciliation: example of Christ
GETTING TO THE HEART "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:1-3) Conflict arises from unmet desires in our hearts
IDOL WORSHIP IDOL: Something apart from God we strongly pursue (or worship ) that we think we need in order to be happy.
IDOL WORSHIP The progression of an idol: I desire I demand I judge I punish To whatever we look for any good thing and for refuge in every need, that is what is meant by god. To have a god is nothing else than to trust and believe in him from the heart To whatever you give your heart and entrust your being, that, I say, is really your god. Martin Luther
UNCOVERING HIDDEN IDOLS Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. What other than God do I love, fear or trust? Psalm 139:23-24
CURING THE IDOLATROUS HEART Replacing idol worship with the worship of the one true God Repent before God Sin is what you do when you are not fully satisfied in God (John Piper) Fear God The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) Love God Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37) Trust God Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) Delight in God Whom have I in heaven but you? and earth has nothing I desire besides you. my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:25-26)
AN ONGOING JOURNEY Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. - James 3:18