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Strife and conflicts among God’s people abound in both the Old and New Testaments – even between the leaders appointed by God. The Early Church did not enjoy total harmony among Christians and so it should not surprise us that there continues to be strife and conflict among Christians today. We have seen Churches break up with group of members leaving with their leader or Elder/Pastor to form another church. Such break ups cannot be pleasing to God, especially when anger, hatred and pride still remains in the hearts of the people on both sides of the split. The Apostle Paul warned against such in Christian behavior and he put discord, dissensions and factions on the same level of sinfulness as sexual immorality and idolatry. These people in strife and conflicts will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). This is a very stern statement from the Bible for Christians to seriously consider and rectify and should not be taken lightly.

Paul gave Timothy, a young Church leader, this stern advice: “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:23- 26). These admonitions from Paul to Timothy, obviously are indicative of many quarrels and conflicts among Christians in the Churches.

Paul himself had several occasions of conflicts and differences in opinions with Peter and James in the matter of circumcision (Galatians 2:1-10) and fellowship with the Gentiles Christians (Galatians 2:11-21). Paul, with his strong conviction and forceful personality, might have appeared confrontational. Paul in rebuking Peter was factually clear that he opposed the action but not the person. He criticized the wrong actions of Peter as hypocritical but did not call Peter a hypocrite. Peter was struggling between being Jewish and sticking to the Jewish dietary fellowship laws and the freedom he has from these requirements in his new Christian faith. Peter showed great humility as he accepted Paul’s reprimand. He was willing to be corrected. God’s people must be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. When Christians handle matters of strife and conflicts it will be good to consider St. Augustine’s recommendation: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity (love).” The Bible has this simple teaching for us to apply in our dealings with people: “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” (Proverbs 13:10)