DEALING WITH CONFLICT
Romans 4:9-12
* What comes to your mind when you hear this word; Conflict. For the normal person, the very word brings about some physiological changes which correspond to apprehension and stress. Perhaps your heart races, your blood pressure raises a bit, maybe your hands begin to sweat a little, and (depending on the level of these) your skin may “flush” a little. There exist a couple of reasons why just the mention of this word possesses such a response. One reason might be because we approach conflict like we do a sporting event, with a declared winner and a devastated loser. (Our culture has attempted to take away the concept of “losing”, but it is a humanistic attempt which will never take the sting out of losing.) While many other reasons exist as to why we get so stressed at the prospect of conflict, please allow me to mention only one more. Many, it appears, expect to live life without conflict. Incredibly, some seem to believe that “my life should go so smoothly that if I do right, there should never be a problem.” Now, if they don’t believe this, certainly the attitude with which they approach conflict says this is their belief. Because, when conflict comes along, most of the time, we want to ignore it, minimize it, or sweep it under the rug, and hope it will go away and will not grow. Know what I have discovered? Conflict, left unattended, is the most prolific and self-perpetuating of any of life’s experiences. Conflict can be compared to James’ teaching on the tongue. “One little spark (of the tongue) can grow into a wildfire.” So it is with conflict.
* As we continue in our Romans study, we find Paul attempting to teach (particular) the Jewish believers in Rome about salvation and he was having quite a time with them about this thing of salvation. For you see, they had been taught (it was their tradition) that it was through circumcism that the Jewish man would be saved and now Paul was saying that a people were justified (that is, made right before God) by something else. When you add to this scenario that the churches in Southern Galatia were also being infiltrated with those who still believed in Judaism (called judaizers) Paul had the prospect of a real conflict on his hands. Turn with me to Romans 4 and let’s read verses 9-12.
* While it is true that these verses are not normally used to teach about “conflict”, I believe without stretching the point one iota, that we can discern a lesson from Paul about handling difficult situations or dealing with conflict. Let’s read.
* Conflict comes in all sizes shapes and forms. We are a “Baptist Church” and by history and tradition it has been proven that we can get crossed up over the most trivial thing. I read a story about a woman who changed churches because a new woman convinced the hospitality group to change where they placed the pie for the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner.
* We Baptist are known to go to war over things which are equally unimportant (I.E. the color of the carpet, placement of the piano, lights, rooms, styles of music, pews or chairs, choirs or praise teams, and more). The interesting thing to me is this; most of that which we are willing to engage in conflict about has little meaning for eternity. People can be saved on any color carpet, under any type of lighting, whether Jennifer sits on the left, right, or center stage, choir or praise team, these things really do NOT MATTER in light of eternity. (There are many more, very personal things which could be named and be true).
* The conflict which should fill our time is conflict which has eternal value. This is the conflict we see in our text today. In effect, Paul shows us how to deal with conflict. As an aside, conflict (whether trivial or fundamental) must be handled. Conflict which is ignored and left alone will ultimately grow to the point of being a divisive problem. Paul knew this.
* Let see the 3 steps Paul took in dealing with this problem.
1) Ask the Difficult Questions. Generally, people don’t mind the easy questions. Those are the ones which can be easily answered, are non-threatening, or even non-challenging. When the difficult questions begin, many want to scatter like a flock of birds.
* Paul begins like a “Perry Mason” or “Matlock” asking questions which are` at the very heart of this “Faith-works” issue. He asks, “Can only people who are circumcised be saved or can God’s grace actually extend to those who are uncircumcised?”
* We need to understand how serious this issue was (and is) for the Jewish believers and ultimately extends to all people. This was not a “color of the carpet” type of issue. It was a “how to be saved” or “how to miss hell” issue. This controversy struck at the very heart of the doctrine and theology of salvation. Jewish history records the Rabbis making these types of statements; “no circumcised man will ever see hell,” or “if you’re circumcised—that’s it. You’re prevented from hell you’ve got it made” or “Circumcism saves from hell.” By teaching and tradition, this was almost a concept (as John McArthur says) of “salvation by surgery.” Every boy baby was to be circumcised when he was 8 days old and that was it, salvation was based on what we read in Genesis 17. For the sake of you not just taking my word for it, turn to Genesis 17 and let’s read verse 10-11. Notice the word “covenant” in verse 10. What is a covenant?
* The word comes from a Latin word which means “to come together” or to “agree”. It may even be linked to the word “convene”. In an oversimplified way, I say this, “Contracts are based on law while covenants are based on love.” God made covenants with His people, gave them His word, loved them deeply. There are at least 6 major covenants in scripture.
* We don’t have time to cover all of them. Just to name the ones which come to mind I’d mention names like Adam, Noah, Moses, David, Abraham, and then, of course, the New covenant. All of these consist of God making an oath with His people.
* In Genesis 17 we are told that circumcision is only a “sign” of God’s covenant with Abraham, it is NOT the covenant. Abraham believed God which resulted in his justification (that is, he was made right and righteous before God). As a sign or demonstration of his faithfulness, in chapter 17 God required him (and his descendants) to be circumcised. Remember this, it was only as a sign. Obviously, this is pre-Jesus days, in a time when the world looked “toward” Calvary where one day things would change. (NOTE: It is interesting that Jesus, being a Jewish man, had nothing to say about circumcision. In fact, outside of one instance in John 7 – I do not find that the word “circumcision” ever fell from His lips.) It seems to me that “if’ this act were to be the determining factor in gaining heaven or hell that Jesus, God’s Son would have spent a little time explaining it.
* Back to our text. The tough, divisive, and challenging, question is now laid out there. Paul recognizes there is conflict in the body and something must be done. So courageously, like a man, he steps forward and verbalizes what no one Jewish believer wants to hear. Can a man go to heaven who is not circumcised? Candidly, they probably are thinking that this subject is better not discussed. Yet Paul knows that any conflict which is not dealt with will ultimately become a cancer which will eat away until death comes. Have you picked up on this principle yet? Many times in our lives and certainly in our church families, we prefer to “live and let live”, “go along to get along”, and “don’t rock the boat”. The thinking is peace is the absence of conflict. But when, just below the surface, there are always problems waiting to erupt, there is no peace, there is no health, and the truth is, “conflict may grow instantaneous into war.” Through this doctrinal issue, Paul is teaching us how to handle conflict. We begin by not being afraid of the difficult questions. So we ask them. But, don’t stop there.
2) Answer the Difficult Questions --Paul has laid forth this difficult question & now he begins to answer it. After asking the “who can be saved” question, he begin with the words “we say.” Truthfully, almost every translation uses this verbiage, but the implication is more than just about “speaking.”
One version says, “We have been saying this” and the Greek word means “this has been laid forth.” This concept of “believing and accounting” is not just what we say, but rather, what the Holy Scripture has laid out there. Paul is attempting to bring to light a recognized source of authority so that his readers would be on the same page and “FORCED” to see, understand and accept the truth. KEY POINT: For us to appropriately deal with conflict requires everyone to be open to TRUTH, not just their truth.
* This past week I was talking with a young black businessman in town who is Seventh Day Adventist by profession. He is a constant searcher and was reading the book of Mormon. So he inquired about my beliefs with respect to Mormonism. In my opinion they are a cult which uses just enough truth to confuse people. I concluded my comments with the thought that I always seek to discover what a group believes about Jesus and then make my determination based on this concept. After this, my friend made an interesting statement. He said, “The only problem I have is people who say ‘you must do it my way’ or you will go to hell.” At this point I began a series of questions about His beliefs concerning the Bible. For you see, we must have a common basis of belief or we will not communicate. Too often we cannot find answers to difficult questions because we are not speaking the same language. This was brought home to the men last Wednesday night.
* As I was praying this message, it occurred to me that there are at least 2 answers to every question. However, many times there are 3 answers. The right one, the wrong one, and MINE!!
* There also exists the temptation to ask the difficult question and then not truly look for the factual answer. It’s a “don’t confuse me with the facts” type of thinking. It is this type of thinking which creates what is known as a “toxic group”, that is, groups which literally destroy instead of brings life. But let’s finish this thought in our text.
* Paul says, “Who can be saved? For years we have taught that Abraham believed and his faith was credited for righteousness. And this didn’t come AFTER his circumcision, but before. This is the Old Testament teaching. Genesis 15:7 tells us about Abraham’s faith and yet, Abraham is not circumcised until Genesis 17.” Please don’t miss this; Paul says, “Whatever you may think, here is what the Bible teaches.”
* Let’s consider this for a second. Are we more concerned about God’s truth or ours? Do you desire to have OUR way or the right way?
* One of the telling characteristics about our spiritual maturity is how we respond to conflict. To be more concerned about getting our way and not being corrected is a sure sign of immaturity, just like a kid. A spiritually mature person is more concerned about getting it right than being right. This brings us to the last thought. (Recap)
3) Address the Difficult Question. I offer this; there is difference in answering questions and addressing an issue. How do we do this? Let’s get an idea of what Paul did. Verse 10 and following gives us great insight.
* When I read these verses several concepts hit me between the eyes; obedience and submission. God spoke to Abraham, put a calling on his life, and Abraham obeyed. He obeyed because he trusted in Jehovah God. He picked up his family and followed God. And he submitted to the role God ask him to play in bringing his people to faith.
* He was the “Father of all believers” because he had heard the call of God and obeyed the call and then submitted all that he was, knew, and wanted to the nature of that call. Because of this, all who came behind Abraham were to follow in the footsteps of the faith which Abraham showed. Once again, we are reminded, “it’s all about faith.”
* Let’s end by addressing some difficult questions;
* Who can be saved? Anyone who feels the tug of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They can die to self and live to Him just like Abraham did.
* What does it mean to be saved? It literally means that you are saved from the eternal punishment of hell itself and given a new destination in heaven. It means that you have been changed from the inside out. Think about this; Jesus came to die for me. He died for my sin and then rose from the dead so I can be made right or justified before God. Jesus tells me that if anyone would follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his own cross, and follow after me. Have you ever truly thought about this? I want to be saved? So I begin by denying myself. I then put myself to death. Then HE resurrects me to follow after HIM. If there is no death in my life, then there can be no resurrection for my life.
* The conflict which exists today in each of us is this; am I saved? Will I go to heaven? Do I have a personal relationship with the savior?
* This, my friends, is a conflict which must be dealt with or the implications will be eternal death. What will you do?
