Conflict: Can it be avoided by growing or mature believers?
Did Jesus avoid it? Did the apostle Paul? Did the twelve apostles? Does anyone avoid it who’s currently serving as an honorable representative of Christ? Let’s look at how things were in the apostle Paul’s life—
2 Timothy 3:11-12
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me [Paul] at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Then we have the bottom-line answer to our question—
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. [Emphasis added]
Should we expect things to be different in our lives today? Here Paul’s not talking about conflict over temporal matters but spiritual ones. Some of our Lord’s last words on Earth were a plea for unity in place of conflict among His people.
John 17:11
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. [Emphasis added]
Doesn’t the apostle Paul tell us we are ambassadors for Christ in what we believe and in how we conduct our lives?
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors [PRESBEUO = representatives] for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [Emphasis added]
The last place we need conflict is with our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our first step in all this is to be sure we’ve been reconciled to God by faith in His provision for our salvation. That’s another way of saying we need to first be heaven–bound. Furthermore, as good ambassadors we’re to be followers of the apostle Paul as he was of Christ. And please remember that when Paul was saved, he at that time was confident he had already been serving and pleasing God as a faithful Pharisee.
Philippians 3:4-6
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching [KATA = according to] the law, a Pharisee;
Had Paul been sincere in his beliefs? The Scripture tells us he was so confident about what he believed and how he was living that he was even persecuting people who didn’t agree with him.
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. [Emphasis added]
After he was finally saved, he still wanted people to follow his teaching, but he wasn’t going about it at all the way he had before. He took on an entirely different message that he was given by special revelation through the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. That message had never been revealed before. For that reason, that message is called a mystery, a secret that had been held in the mind of God.
Ephesians 3:2-6
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is GIVEN ME [Paul] to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known UNTO ME the mystery [MUSTERION = secret]; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand MY knowledge in the mystery [MUSTERION = secret] of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was NOT made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: [Emphasis added]
It is because of this special revelation that Paul exhorts all these others to follow him and his teachings.
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Be ye followers [MIMEOMAI = mimic or imitate] of me, even as I also am of Christ. [Emphasis added]
Today it is the apostle Paul who serves as the primary example for us in this. To follow Paul is to follow Christ today. It is Paul that Christ has put before us as His example for what we’re to believe and how we’re to live.
1 Corinthians 4:16
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. [Emphasis added]
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. [Emphasis added]
This teaching of Paul for us today doesn’t come from Christ’s earthly ministry but His heavenly ministry. It is this that is His message for us today.
2 Corinthians 5:16
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh [speaking of His earthly ministry], yet now henceforth know we him no more. [Emphasis added]
We’re to live by Paul’s teaching, even in what he rightly speaks of as his gospel to distinguish it from Peter’s.
Romans 16:25
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [Emphasis added]
For more information about these two distinctly different gospels, please see my articles about this—
Gospel: Is OUR gospel in “the four gospels?”
Gospel: Where did Paul get the one he preached?
Gospel: Which one is ours today?
Again, Paul tells us we’re to be followers of Christ today from His heavenly ministry rather than His earthly one. This is so important because the heart of His message is now channeled to us through the writings of the apostle Paul. His message is quite different from what the twelve apostles and others had been teaching.
2 Corinthians 5:15-16
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
We have the details of this happening in what we speak of as “the gospels” but the details and the explanation of it all is what we find in Paul’s writings.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh [speaking of His earthly ministry], yet now henceforth know we him no more. [Emphasis added]
Christ’s ministry “after the flesh” is to do with His teaching in the time of His earthly ministry. The meaning of verse sixteen is simply not understood by many people today, even pastors. We could even say “the mystery” remains “a mystery” to them. Traditional incorrect thinking and teaching has kept it hidden. Such was the case in Paul’s time even as it still is now.
1 Timothy 6:20-21
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. [Emphasis added]
Paul and many others have suffered greatly because of such opposition to the truth. And most of the opposition typically comes from “religious” people.
2 Corinthians 1:6-7
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation [PARAKLESIS = comfort or encouragement]. [Emphasis added]
This speaks of the blessings we’ll gain through such suffering. Continual suffering in this life now is common for believers who are truly growing and for those who have already become spiritually mature.
Again, 2 Timothy 3:10-13
10 But thou hast fully known my [speaking of Paul] doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Then he tells us we need not think things will get better regarding this.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. [Emphasis added]
I have other articles on this website that address all this and more. Here are the names and links to them—
Suffering: Should we expect it because we are believers?
Suffering: Will we as Christians somehow escape it?
But we need to realize that conflict can occur even between mature believers. The conflict and resultant division that once occurs between Paul and Barnabas is a perfect example of that [Acts 15:2]. There are numerous examples of that kind of thing in the Scriptures. In fact, division is such a problem with God’s people that Jesus even prayed about it in the time of His earthly ministry.
John 17:21-23
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect [TELEIOO = brought to maturity] in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. [Emphasis added]
Again, division among believers is a common thing that we all need to work to avoid, trying to be sure we’re not the cause of it. The solution to it rests in staying focused on our learning and application of the things we learn from Scripture. There wouldn’t be a solution offered for it if we were incapable of rightly addressing it ourselves.
Romans 15:5-6
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. [Emphasis added]
Yes, it is only Christian maturity that produces Christian unity. Otherwise, believers are as subject to conflict with one another just as with unbelievers, even though it is usually regarding different matters. Believers can think and act just like unbelievers when they allow their sinful nature to control them.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 And I, brethren [clearly telling us he’s addressing this to the saved people in that church], could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal [ones being controlled by their sinful nature], even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? [Emphasis added]
Almost the whole book of 1 Corinthians is about all the carnality and the resultant conflict that existed among the believers of that church. The moral and doctrinal issues at the heart of it were many. Why should we think things would be any different with so many believers today? Paul then tells them what they need to do to correct the problem.
Colossians 3:12-17
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels [SPLANCHNON = affection] of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing [ANECHO = bear with] one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity [AGAPE = impersonal love], which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. [Emphasis added]
It is this that is the meaning of being “filled” with the Spirit and “walking” in the Spirit. Sometimes Paul uses different terminology to explain the same thing.
Ephesians 5:17-18
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled [PLEROO = fully influenced] with the Spirit; [Emphasis added]
For more information about this “filling” of the Spirit and the activity of “walking” in the Spirit, please see my article about it—
Holy Spirit: What does it mean to be “filled” with Him?
Galatians 5:15-17
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh [SARXZ = flesh, used metaphorically here for one’s sinful nature].
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. [Emphasis added]
This is a major part of why we’re commanded to get our thinking under the influence of the Bible rightly divided.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = Be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
To do otherwise breeds confusion and conflict. Will this conflict between believers ever end? It won’t be in this life here, but we can and should certainly work for it. If we won’t, we’re contributing to the problem.
In this article you’ve seen what we’re told to do. As hard as it may seem to be, we just need to make the applications. We can’t control the thinking of others, but we can control our own and certainly work to influence that of others. So, as disappointing as it all can be, we need to be making an ongoing effort to do our part in bringing about peace and harmony in all.
Romans 12:17-19
17 Recompense [ANTAPODIDOMI = pay back as an equivalent or get back] to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath [ORGE = anger]: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [Emphasis added]
And don’t forget that we’ll be rewarded for such when we get to Heaven. Otherwise, we’ll be deprived of what could have been. Here are some links to some other articles on this website about all this—
Rewards: For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?
I hope you’ll be diligent in all this, so you’ll qualify for the eternal rewards that come with such diligence.
