Article

5 Questions for Resolving Conflict in a Church Plant

Tony Merida

Though conflict remains present in world today, Christ has equipped us with the ministry of peacemaking. Here are 5 ways to engage the conflict in your midst as you seek to instill gospel truth and peace.

Where Conflict Abounds

Preparing to plant a church? Prepare to deal with conflict. And I don’t mean in three years—I mean on your core team. Before you launch. And after that, too. In every season of ministry, we’ll be laboring to bring unity, harmony, and reconciliation to our friends, families, churches, and communities.

But we aren’t alone, and we aren’t hopeless. The Prince of Peace is with us as we seek to be peacemaking planters and pastors. And one day, He will end all conflict and crush Satan under our feet. Until then, though, we need resources and methods for dealing with conflict. Here are five practical questions to present to those who come to us for counsel and care.

1. Me First: Is there a log in my eye?

When we’re in conflict with others, the tendency is to point out all that’s wrong with them while avoiding our own sins. But Jesus said to first consider our sin and failure (Matthew 7:1-5). Pride compromises our ability to see accurately; once pride is removed, we’re better able to assess the other person’s actions. Clearer vision often leads us to consider their offense as a speck compared to our log, as well as to have the right heart in helping them remove it—free from anger or resentment. We’re likely to realize we, not they, are the major contributor to the problem.

2. Minor: Can I overlook this offense?

Some matters should be overlooked. How much better would it be if we lived out this proverb: “A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11)? So many conflicts could be resolved if we mercifully overlooked minor offenses. So, when should we overlook an offense? This requires discernment, but here are some questions to consider:

  • Was the act done unintentionally?
  • Is it an isolated incident and not a recurring one?
  • Was it insignificant?
  • Did it harm others or the offender?
  • Did it harm the witness of the church?
  • Is it non-moral or moral? Meaning, is this action due to simple differences in personality or preference, or is it due to overt sin?

3. Major: Does this offense require the process of restoration?

A major offense is any offense in which a person’s action dishonors God damages your relationship, hurts others, hurts the offender, or disrupts unity. These actions call for a restoration process. At Imago Dei Church, we often talk about the need to have awkward conversations. Some call this confrontation, but we should remember that if there’s been a major offense, the goal is not to confront or rebuke (though we may need to do that), but to restore (Galatians 6:1). When we need to have an awkward conversation, our attitude should be one of grace and love—not harshness and anger—because the goal is to see restoration and renewal (Matthew 18). 

4. Material: Does this offense require restitution related to property, money, or other rights?

Sometimes conflict extends beyond personal relationships into material issues. So, certain actions will need to be included in the restoration process. If you’re at fault and need to restore someone’s money or property, I’d encourage you to remember Zacchaeus, a little man who experienced a big change. Jesus declared salvation had come to Zacchaeus’s house (Luke 19:9), and one evidence of this grace was Zacchaeus’s response: “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much” (Luke 19:8). Zacchaeus was ready to do more than apologize; he was ready to pay people back four times the amount he’d extracted from them!

5. Mediation: Does this offense require another party to assist in peacemaking?

Paul wrote to the Philippian church about 10 years after he planted it. He loved this great church, but even great churches have conflict: “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:2–3).

Not much is known about these women or the cause of their strife. The issue doesn’t seem to be doctrinal, but relational. In asking for help, Paul shows the importance of others assisting in the reconciliation process. Paul also reminds everyone that these two sisters should be reconciled because their “names are in the book of life” (verse 3). The common faith and hope of two believers should both spur and shape the restoration process.

May Christ’s Peace Abound

In preparing for ministry, many aspiring planters give a lot of time thinking about preaching and leading mission. But it’s important that attention also be given to the ministry of peacemaking for the good of the church, the good of our witness, and the glory of God. And while we engage in this work, we take comfort in the fact that the Prince of Peace is with us, and one day soon, there will be no more conflict in our homes or in the streets.

This article was previously published here.

Meet the Author

Tony Merida

Vice President, Planter Development Send Network

Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, N.C, and is the Vice President of Planter Development for Send Network. He also serves as a Board member for The Gospel Coalition. Tony has written several books including, The Christ-Centered ExpositorLove Your Church, and multiple volumes in the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series. He’s happily married to Kimberly, and they have five children.

More Resources from Tony

Get our best content in your inbox

We send one email per week chock full of articles from a variety of Church Planting voices.

Name