The Unknowns

On the last day of our Baltimore Mission Trip, I went to Washington, DC with some members of our team to return the equipment we had borrowed. John McCarthy, former teammate of Scott Bray at the Univ. of South Alabama, operates a Summer Baseball Camp in DC that has been featured on the Today Show and National Public Radio. He allowed us to borrow equipment for our Baseball Clinics.

While we were in DC, “Johnny Mac” gave us a rapid, adrenaline rushed 2-hour tour of a few sites in the area. We visited the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and Arlington Cemetery.

While in Arlington Cemetery, we visited the Tomb of the Unknowns. The tomb holds the remains of soldiers “known but to God” from past Wars. The tomb is guarded 24-hours-per-day and 365-days-per year by specially trained members of the 3rd United States Infantry (The Old Guard).

As a teenager, I had visited the Tomb of the Unknowns, but last week the experience was much more profound. The fanfare and solemnity of the Changing of the Guard led me to acknowledge the debt I owe to all the soldiers who have given their lives for our freedom. Furthermore, I was led to remember the “unknown” persons who have enriched my life and ministry.

Numerous individuals minister in our church without any acknowledgement. They do not desire recognition. They serve God obediently and sacrificially. Praise God for the “unknowns” who pray for our church and me on a regular basis. So, today I prayed that God would continue to guard and protect the unsung heroes of our church as we seek to impact the world through Jesus.

Living as a Peacemaker

Following are excerpts of my sermon on handling church conflict yesterday, based on the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 18:15-20.
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As a teen, I heard one of the speakers at our Mississippi Baptist Evangelism Conference tell the story about a church who was preparing to build a sanctuary. They were almost finished, but hit a snag when they discussed the portraits of Adam and Eve that were to be painted on a mural in the foyer. One half of the church opposed the painting of Adam and Eve if they were rendered with belly buttons. The other half insisted they should be painted with belly buttons. Reportedly, the church split over this “important” theological question.

Yes, Churches experience conflict. However, we must use God’s word to address our problems.

As outlined by Peacemakers International, when conflict occurs there are two types of responses:

1. ESCAPE RESPONSES

• Denial (1 Samuel 2:22-25)
  
• Flight (1 Samuel 19:9-10)
  
• Suicide (1 Samuel 31:4)

2. ATTACK RESPONSES

• Assault- Many people respond by trying to intimidate, verbally attack, or impose professional or financial damage upon a person. This never helps.
  
• Litigation- Lawsuits damage relationships. (Matt. 5:25-26)
  
• Murder- Some people harbor so much hate that they lose control and kill the person with whom they are conflicted. Even if they don’t kill a person physically, Jesus taught they are still guilty of murder. (Matt. 5:21-22)

Matthew 18: 15-20 teaches us to practice P.E.A.C.E. I've developed the following acrostic.

Profess Your Concern

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

This should be done privately and lovingly. Problems in the church should be solved involving the fewest people possible.

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Establish the Truth
16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

Deut. 19:15 states the importance of two or three witnesses. By verifying the facts, many problems can be solved. Christians should not deal in assumptions or preconceived impressions. Look at the facts.

Alert the Congregation

17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

The Bible forbids a Christian suing another believer.

I Cor. 6:1-8 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Crave God’s Will
19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Expect God’s Presence

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

In context, God can help even the smallest congregation handle conflict. God is big is enough to solve any problem, as long as the individuals involved desire to be in a right relationship with God.