It was a particularly frustrating...
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It was a particularly frustrating church meeting. Nancy and Mary Jane had been friends
for years but their friendship was in jeopardy that night. The two friends found
themselves holding opposite positions. Uncharacteristically harsh words were spoken.
Someone heard Nancy say in the parking lot that she did not know how she could
continue attending the same church as Mary Jane.
Word of the contentious meeting spread throughout the congregation the next day. The lay leader said something had to be done and called people to meet that night. A group of fourteen gathered in the sanctuary. The lay leader told of the situation and the need to resolve the issue immediately. "The church cannot continue with this amount of tension," she said. The group prayed for over an hour.
A friend of Nancy's said she would go speak with her. Someone else volunteered to talk with Mary Jane. Each would try to get them to see the part they played in the conflict with the hope of resolution.
The next day, the two women apologized for their behavior at the meeting. Mary Jane said she was wrong and didn't intend to hurt Nancy's feelings. Nancy said maybe she took the comments too personally. The two prayed and then hugged.
By the next Sunday, Nancy and Mary Jane sat in the same pew. Their issues had been resolved.
The apostle Paul knew from personal experience the destructive nature of conflict in the church. He pleads, "I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord." Paul also asked a friend to intervene on his behalf. To keep the church on track we have to be proactive in resolving differences.
Word of the contentious meeting spread throughout the congregation the next day. The lay leader said something had to be done and called people to meet that night. A group of fourteen gathered in the sanctuary. The lay leader told of the situation and the need to resolve the issue immediately. "The church cannot continue with this amount of tension," she said. The group prayed for over an hour.
A friend of Nancy's said she would go speak with her. Someone else volunteered to talk with Mary Jane. Each would try to get them to see the part they played in the conflict with the hope of resolution.
The next day, the two women apologized for their behavior at the meeting. Mary Jane said she was wrong and didn't intend to hurt Nancy's feelings. Nancy said maybe she took the comments too personally. The two prayed and then hugged.
By the next Sunday, Nancy and Mary Jane sat in the same pew. Their issues had been resolved.
The apostle Paul knew from personal experience the destructive nature of conflict in the church. He pleads, "I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord." Paul also asked a friend to intervene on his behalf. To keep the church on track we have to be proactive in resolving differences.
