Conflict is not a stranger to the Christian life. Though we are reconciled to God, we still live in a fallen world, among imperfect people, and carry the weight of our own imperfections. Within the Church, the presence of conflict is not a failure of faith—it is an opportunity to express it.
As a pastor who has walked alongside many through seasons of tension and misunderstanding, I have learned that conflict need not be feared. Rather, it can become a sacred space where grace is practiced, humility is grown, and unity is forged.
Let us consider three biblical truths that can guide us as we seek peace within the body of Christ.
1. Pursue Peace with Humility
Paul’s words in Romans 12:18 set the tone:
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
This is not a passive suggestion—it is an active calling. We are not responsible for the responses of others, but we are absolutely responsible for our own. The Christian does not wait for peace to find them; they pursue it.
In the midst of conflict, our posture matters. Are we willing to approach one another not with entitlement, but with empathy? Not with assumptions, but with listening? Humility invites the other to be heard. It lays down the sword of self-justification and picks up the towel of service.
True peace is never achieved by force—it is cultivated through grace. And grace begins with humility.
2. Embrace Conflict as a Means of Growth
We often imagine unity as the absence of disagreement, but Scripture offers a richer, more resilient picture. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us:
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Sharpening requires friction. Transformation requires tension. Conflict, then, is not always a sign that something is wrong—it may be a sign that something is growing.
When we engage one another with truth and love, our differences can refine rather than divide us. Disagreements can deepen relationships. Honest conversations can forge trust. Through the refining fire of conflict, the Church is made stronger, more compassionate, and more Christlike.
So let us not flee from hard conversations. Let us enter them prayerfully, ready to be sharpened and sanctified.
3. Listen Before You Speak
If we are to be a people marked by peace, we must be a people marked by listening. James 1:19 offers this timeless wisdom:
“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Conflict often escalates not because of its content, but because of our response. We rush to defend, to explain, to correct—when we ought first to hear.
Listening is an act of love. It says, “Your voice matters to me.” It disarms defensiveness and invites understanding. When we make space for others to speak, we create space for God to work.
Let our words be few, and our ears attentive. Let our conversations be safe havens of respect and restoration.
A Call to Unity
Conflict is not the enemy of unity—division is. And division takes root when we neglect the hard work of reconciliation. But when we face conflict with humility, treat it as a means of growth, and communicate with grace, we become builders of peace.
Psalm 133:1 casts a vision worth pursuing:
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”
May our churches be places where unity is not assumed, but actively pursued. Where disagreements do not divide us, but deepen our dependence on Christ and on one another. Where the presence of conflict becomes a stage for the gospel to shine.
Let us be known not by the absence of struggle, but by the presence of peacemaking.