Conflict

            One of the biggest problems in America these days is conflict. People are often exploiting each other and fighting against each other within the organization.  This is much worse than fighting an outside enemy.  When you're fighting each other, it tears the whole team apart and stops any progress for good to be accomplished.  I have found that most of the time conflict is caused by selfishness.  Somebody wants his/her own way.

            When selfish conflict happens it is often in order for the leader to be angry.  This anger is not a personal reaction.  Nobody is hurting him directly.  The leader is not getting angry and striking back because somebody bruised his ego.  That kind of anger is unacceptable.  He's not striking back in revenge.  His anger is justifiable.  He's often angry at the selfishness of people and how they're exploiting others.  This kind of selfishness usually halts the effectiveness of the company.

            One of the biggest mistakes when it comes to resolving conflict is that people do not go directly to the source.  They go talk to five or six different people in an effort to get several people on their side.  The Bible says if somebody has offended you and you go to somebody else besides him or her first, you have already sinned.  Unfortunately, almost never do people go to the source first.  When a church gets a reputation for being a fighting church, it loses its effectiveness.  The world laughs at churches that fight each other.

            If you are in a church family, Ephesians 4:3 is part of your job description: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace."  For the sake of the Church, I pray you will follow the Scriptures.  The testimony of a church should not be the beautiful buildings and lovely music; instead, it should be how they love one another and obey the Word.