Peace and Conflict Resolution

Surely the title sounds like something from a workplace seminar. However, understanding peace and resolution of conflicts is paramount to lead a joyful and stress-free life during our sojourn here on earth. Further, the peace which we obtain from the LORD is distinct from the peace offered by the world and as such what we learn from the Bible about peace and about resolving conflicts might often seem to be counter-intuitive to the contemporary wisdom of the world.

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

We who believe in the name of Jesus Christ to save us from sin, through His blood, receive forgiveness and the companionship of the Holy Spirit through whom we are adopted as children of God. Additionally, one of our tasks as children of God is to be peacemakers.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:14-17

We can understand the biblical traits of peacemakers from a few examples from the Bible. In Genesis chapter 13, we have a conflict between the herdsmen of Abraham (Abram at this point in time) and the herdsmen of Lot (Abraham’s nephew). However, this is quickly resolved.

Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord. Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. Genesis 13:1-12

Both Abraham and Lot did not want the conflict to increase and cause a rift between them. As with a lot of problems, this conflict too was initiated by outsiders. While it might seem like they had reasonable cause, it is clear that they did not want to resolve it themselves. On the other hand, when the news reached Abraham, he did not want to waste time letting the issue tip over. But rather, he quickly called Lot and suggested a way to settle. To Lot’s credit, he too did not want to have a rift between his uncle and him, so he was ready to do what was required to maintain peace. From this whole interaction, we see that conflicts often arise from an external source or due to external meddling. To resolve it, the conflict has to be looked at from an internal perspective, with both parties who are ready to maintain peace. It often requires someone to initiate the effort and be willing to let go and not look at “losses”. Now this is where the biblical traits for peacekeeping differs from the worldly wisdom. Contemporary advice typically is less about compromise and more about settlements. Further, taking a compromise is often thought of as being weak. Abraham is definitely not weak here. He offered Lot to take his pick first, and Lot chose what he thought to be the best of the land. Still Abraham did not quarrel with this pick. Neither did he counter by distributing the same piece of the land “equally”, such that both of them could have some part of the river. Abraham stood by faith and was ready to suffer what the world terms as a loss. Thus, Abraham demonstrated how to resolve an externally triggered conflict by internally dealing with it through complete faith in the LORD.

Conflicts tend to pop up when there is a large number of people as well. This is what we see in the early church in Acts chapter 6. As the number of disciples multiplied, there arose a conflict relating to food, which is understandable.

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 6:1-7

Here again we see that the resolution to this conflict was obtained by prayer and by the leading of the LORD. Since the issue was caused by negligence, the apostles ordained and instituted proper personnel to ensure that there was due diligence in the serving of food. This way no one was left out and everyone was happy. Further, the apostles were particular about the people who were chosen for this and they were appointed by the people itself. Thus, the solution was not external, but internal. This is why though the role of the seven was only to “serve tables” they went on to do much more and were utilized by the LORD to benefit many more.

Lastly, let us look at internal peace, that is, the peace we have within ourselves. Inner peace in contrast to external peace is inherent to ourselves and doesn’t have anything to do with others. However, inner peace can be disturbed by both internal and external factors. The Bible’s answer to maintain this inner peace is simple and straightforward. This is perhaps best encapsulated in the parable of the workers in the vineyard.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” Matthew 20:1-16

This parable uttered by Jesus Christ revealed that the salvation, represented by the wage of workers, is same for everyone who believes in the name of Jesus Christ. All will be forgiven of their sins if they confess and are washed in the blood of Jesus Christ which will grant them entry into heaven. There is no hierarchy here. (But those who strived to bring more people to the LORD will be rewarded accordingly.) Now if we treat the parable to be a story about the workers, we might feel that it is unfair that everyone got the same wages. However, as stated by the landowner, there is no unfairness. Everyone who came to work agreed to the price and the landowner was just generous. Additionally, given that the payment was “day’s wage” the workers who were hired late during the day were probably worried about how they would be feeding themselves and whatnot. With that taken into account, it is clear that the landowner is more than fair in that he wanted them to not starve and now it seems as if the other workers would feel better if their colleagues just struggled. Sadly this is the nature of inner peace. The more we look into others the less inner peace we have. Everything is under the control of the Almighty. So if something feels unfair to us, it would serve us better to be empathetic and think about it, since it is allowed by the LORD. Oftentimes it is better to not look at others so as to not lose our peace. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that we should be ignorant. Indeed, there is a better way. It is through the gift of peace left for us by Jesus Christ.

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:25-27

We have a unique peace within ourselves given by Jesus and this peace cannot be taken away from us. We also have a Helper, the Holy Spirit, to remind us of things and to make us understand and clarify things which trouble us. Each of us embodied with this perpetual peace can ensure that our homes, streets, villages, towns, cities, districts, states, countries and ultimately the whole world has true peace as well.

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

Let the grace of the LORD guide us to this reality soon and may we rejoice at his presence in a world without conflict, a world which only knows peace.