As we head into the last months of the year, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect.
Have you been sustained by God’s peace this year? Or has relationship conflict been a source of trouble and heartache?
Discord with others can be extremely distressing.
When we feel defensive or on the receiving end of negative emotions, we can easily forget how God wants us to act.
Dr. Stanley was well acquainted with the unsettling challenges that often arise between people, and the way they can tear apart churches and damage communities.
We hope his words of wisdom below will encourage you to be a beacon of God’s love for those around you.
I recall a conversation I once had with a woman who told me she was having trouble finding a good church in her area. It wasn’t because there weren’t enough to choose from, but there was dissension and division in all the churches she knew about.
This disunity is the sad reality for many churches today. Perhaps your church is struggling in this area, and you don’t know what to do to help people settle their differences and live in unity.
I believe most conflicts in churches are relational, not theological.
One member is offended by another. This group wants to direct the church one way, while another wants it to follow their agenda. We can see these conflicts within believing families and the larger body of Christ, too.
The root cause is failure to behave in a way that honors Christ and maintains the unity of the body.
Life in the kingdom of God should be the warmest of environments for believers living in a hostile world.
But whether in the church or in the world, we’re called to be peacemakers. That’s why Peter wrote a letter to Christians who were experiencing persecution. After giving instructions regarding how to respond to various situations in the home and the world, he gave them a practical pattern of living:
“To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing” (1 Pet. 3:8-9).
I’d like to look at this passage from two perspectives.
First, what do these verses say about how we’re to respond to one another as believers?
Christians relate to each other on a deeper level than with those in the world. We have a common life in Christ and are indwelt by His Holy Spirit. So, there are some aspects of 1 Peter 3:8-9 that only apply to relationships between believers.
For example, the word harmony means “to be of one mind.” But we’ll find it impossible to be of one mind with people who aren’t surrendered to Christ.
On the other hand, believers may not agree on every issue, but with minds set on Christ, we can live in peace and harmony with one another.
The Holy Spirit will do this challenging work within us as we seek Him. Only then will we be able to do what Peter says next—don’t return evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead give a blessing by speaking well of, and doing good to, your offender.
While serving as a pastor and denominational leader, I faced a lot of opposition over the years. I could have retaliated and defended myself, but in the most intense circumstances God gave me the grace to trust Him for the outcome. Often, He encouraged me to remain silent and let Him work.
If God gave me the grace to be humble and kind to my opposition, He can do the same for you when everything within you wants to throw insults back at those who insult you.
Second, let’s look at 1 Peter 3:8-9 from the perspective of responding to unbelievers.
Even though we can’t have unity with unbelievers, we can treat them with the grace that we’ve received. Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.”
Sympathy, compassion, love, kindness, and humility are more effective in winning someone to Christ than are rudeness, insults, anger, and harshness.
You must remember that you are Christ’s representative on earth. How will unbelievers understand His forgiveness if you hold grudges? How can they grasp the greatness of His love for sinners if you can’t show them love?
Don’t fear mocking, reviling, or being mistreated. Your witness is magnified when you’re willing to suffer for Christ’s sake. See these hardships as an opportunity to let Christ shine through you into a dark and hostile world.
So, whether you’re interacting in the church or in the world, let others see in your behavior, attitudes, and words—a life transformed by Christ.
We’re grateful for Dr. Stanley’s reminder about the love of Christ and the Spirit’s power to overcome our problems with His peace. We pray these words will help you live out the rest of 2024 as a peacemaker.
Till next time, God bless you.
For His Glory,
Your Friends at In Touch Ministries