Conflict Resolution

Went to Bible study this evening. Our teacher was ill, so we didn't carry on with her syllabus. Instead we watched a tape of Charles Stanley preach on dealing with conflict. Serendipitous.

He mostly dealt with interpersonal conflicts and gave as a scriptural example Paul's conflict with Peter in Galatians 2. For myself, in my predicament, the matter spoke to me insofar as being a spiritual Jew in a Gentile world where one's sense of holiness is immersed in many a vulgar circumstance. The issue of loneliness came to the fore - no one at church has ever asked me to share in any social life inclusive of watching these games; I don't finagle to invite myself. Feel out of place for the vulgarities in a bar but it's nothing I can't handle.

But the issue of hypocricy comes to the fore. And then what the preacher called a "divided mind" under the circumstances. Well, it's not that complicated, but I do wish I had more of a domestic life such that I didn't have to go out to see the games. Yet I do like the sense of community one has in sharing a group experience. Even so, I do sense the double-mindedness of it and the spiritual instablity consequent.

Dr. Stanley says that conflict is inevitable...

but our response to it is our choice.

He offered Ephesians in resolution:

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Don't be too hard on yourself?
I like people; maybe I'll lead some of them to Christ.