“For The Sake Of Peace…!”

“For The Sake Of Peace…!”
We are in the heat of a conflict which started like child’s play towards the end of 2016. Since then till now we have had lots and lots of seminars, workshops and conferences on conflict resolution. Also within this period a number of NGOs and Peace and Conflict Resolution institutes have sprouted up. Yet, in the midst of all these, the conflict is taking an upward trend.
I agree with the statement that “conflict resolution is a way for two or more parties to find a peaceful solution to a disagreement among them…When a dispute arises, often the best course of action is negotiation to resolve the disagreement.”
Negotiation has as goals:
#”To produce a solution that all parties can agree to.
# To work as quickly as possible to find this solution
#To improve, not hurt, the relationship between the groups in conflict.”
You negotiate with your opposition so as to come to an agreement that benefits all parties. Conflict resolution through negotiation produces a win-win result.
Generally, as social beings conflict is a part of our daily lives. Conflicts arise in the homes between spouses, parents and children, siblings, work mates, school mates, friends, community and community, etc. These conflicts are always generally solved through negotiations.
When I was at the PTS, Kumba, we became so elated when we were informed that Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle was to come give us a talk. We were bracing ourselves to hear the jargons of law and logic and the many fallacies etc. To our surprise his talk centred more from the Bible as the great book of law.
The church of Christ stands out as a model arbiter in negotiating in conflicts for a peaceful solution.
Paul was pained to hear that the Corinthian Christians took their disputes to the ungodly for judgment. Meanwhile they are the ones to judge the world. He raised the question which we too are guilty of, “Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?…”
Paul suggests that “if you have disputes…appoint as judges even men of little account in the church”(I Cor.6:1-8).
It is indeed shameful when church people take brethren to the law courts and even cause some commoners to be imprisoned on trumped-up charges.
Jesus gave the christians a model and procedure to follow to resolve conflicts with those who offend us. Between the two of you, show him his fault, and “if he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” Failure to listen to you, let one or two others accompany you to bear witness that you tried. If he still does not concede, tell it to the church and if he is still adamant, “treat him as you would treat a pagan…”(Mt.18:15-20).
Long before Jesus’ physical presence, Abraham demonstrated what it takes to resolve a conflict through negotiation.
Abraham and his nephew Lot had become so wealthy in livestock, such that the land where they were couldn’t provide enough grazing for their livestock. Their shepherds were always quarelling. Abraham said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarelling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left”(Gen.13:1-12).
A self-centred and greedy person would’ve selected first. But Abraham a man of peace asked Lot to choose first. Lot chose the best. It was “well watered like the garden of the Lord;” but it was a bad choice. The inhabitants were evil – Sodom and Gomorrah!
Christians are the light of the world. We must shine the light of Christ by being examplary, because the mere fact of having lawsuits among us means we have been completely defeated already.
My friend, as a Christian it is better to be wronged or to be cheated than to make a lawsuit against a brethren. Worst still do not wrong or cheat a brethren. Seek peace as an outcome of justice born in righteousness and truth.
Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit help me so that in any conflict situation I should follow the path of negotiation without being egoistic. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!