Introduction
The Church, as well as its leadership, has not been spared from conflict despite it being such a genuine aspect of daily life. The highest echelons of character are touched by religion. It has the power to inspire both long-term peace and war.
Despite being overstated in many instances, religion contributes to violent conflict in many regions. Conflict is a regular feature of churches in every religion across the United States, even if it is frequently discussed in undertones (Antes, 2021). Conflict can provide an opportunity for concentration, reinforcement, and regeneration if acknowledged as unavoidable and possibly even beneficial, rather than being buried in the whispers of parking lot scheming and mobile conversations. Conflict highlights the social aspects of religious life, specifically that actual humans are unique and possess varying worldviews.
Nevertheless, clerics typically have yet to handle the issue of conflict well. Both organizational abilities and extensive administrative strategy understanding are necessary for effective conflict resolution, but neither has historically received much attention. The modern Church is so open to conflict that resolving controversies creatively is no longer a choice but a requirement. Due to various aspects related to the nature of religious institutions and people’s relationships with them, religious conflict can be significantly more harmful than disputes in other groups.
Conflict also highlights the challenges that independent groups of faith face in articulating, upholding, and expressing their most fundamental convictions and principles. However, religion may also catalyze peaceful conflict resolution, civil rights protection, governance legitimacy, and reunification and stabilization of a fractured society (Johnston et al., 2021). It is a wellspring of bigotry, human rights abuses, and extremist violence.
Two historical sources were selected to explore the most effective and constructive approaches to resolving a delayed disagreement. The first source is “The Sermons of John Wesley – Sermon 23 – Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on The Mount: Discourse Three”. The second is “The Sermons of John Wesley – Sermon 65 – The Duty of Reproving Our Neighbor”.
The two articles were preferred because they offer Biblical guidance on avoiding conflicts and restoring church peace. The first piece outlines the interpersonal skills necessary to mend rifts caused by a lack of conflict in the church setting. The second piece promotes the facts of conflict in interpersonal interactions. These sources suggest that forgiveness and educating others on righteousness are essential aspects that believers should understand in relation to the congregational relationship issue.
Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on The Mount: Discourse Three
“Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on The Mount: Discourse Three” was given by John Wesley on 26th August 1739. This is Wesleyan Standard Sermon number 18, and the third of 13 lectures based on the Sermon on the Mount. The talk explores Jesus’ teachings on the rewards of having a pure heart, seeking peace, and facing hardship to do what is right.
It is stressed in Matthew 5:8-12, “Blessed are the pure in heart: For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: For they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, persecute you, and falsely say all evil against you, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: For great is your reward in heaven: For so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you” (Wesley Center Online, Sermon 23).
The article aims to address the challenges that arise in people’s interactions. The Beatitudes are discussed. It is said that they are “a picture made by God’s holy hands” of the lifestyle meant for humanity.
Message from the Source
This talk explores the significance of “Blessed are the pure in heart,” arguing that people must consider the foundation of that love. Jesus emphasizes the purity of the Spirit across his preaching, not just external deeds. A fascinating description of how the sincere in heart “see God” is given in the Sermon, which claims that people will see Him through faith, via their close friendship with Him, His existence in the world, His provision for human needs, and most thoroughly through His laws. Matthew 5:33–37 provides an example of people who are not sincere in their hearts and need to rely on promises. It also serves as an example of someone with a pure heart who can be entrusted with their words and has a strong feeling of God’s existence everywhere.
Based on this lecture, Jesus’ message changes with the phrase “Blessed are the Peacemakers…” from concentrating on the type of person humans should be to the sort of activities they should do and say.According to the Sermon, peacemakers are not just those who try to prevent and resolve strife and struggle; instead, in a broader context, they help others whenever they have the chance by attending to their basic requirements and, when appropriate, their religious wants (Wesley Center Online, Sermon 23).
The discourse then turns to a discussion of Jesus’ comments on tribulation, stating that, contrary to what one might hope and assume, not everybody is fond of those who lead lives like those depicted in the Beatitudes. Righteous people are persecuted because the practices of the world are fiercely opposed to those of God. This talk discusses various afflictions, some more severe than others. However, it also states that no matter what hardship someone experiences, it must not cause them to forfeit their modesty, compassion, or kindness to others.
The Sermon refers to Jesus’ teachings on picking up the other cheek and choosing to repay evil with good after giving an accommodating section on some practical methods. The misuse of Jesus’ remark to signify something he never intended has caused significant damage, and this Sermon offers a helpful correction that relates to more than just financial goods in this setting. Jesus begins by talking about heart-based religion before moving on to instructions for action.
Peacemakers engage in all sorts of good to preserve the Spirit’s oneness in connection with harmony. Pacifists benefit everyone to the maximum capacity of their abilities. In the modern Church, Christians should work on ensuring peace in the Church: if they can benefit human souls, they will be happier. Those who consistently put their faith and compassion into practice are blessed.
The Duty of Reproving Our Neighbor
The sermon “The Duty of Reproving Our Neighbor” was given by John Wesley on 28th July 1787. The Sermon explores the obligation placed on humans, the things they are to reprimand or correct, and the things they are to correct. Because of the commandment, “Thou shalt not suffer sin upon him,” sin, or rather the sinner, is what people are called to correct (Wesley Center Online, Sermon 65).
Individuals must try to persuade others of their errors and guide them in the right direction. Love calls on people to caution others about sin and any mistake that, if continued, would inevitably result in sin. To warn people of each wicked deed and every error that leads to bad will be their continual endeavor if they genuinely love their fellow as themselves. However, if people want to save time, they must rarely criticize someone for a debatable issue because there will be much to discuss on all sides.
Message from the Source
The Bible’s Old and New Scriptures demonstrate how much more concerned God is about how people think and behave on the inside than just how they behave on the outside. People could not have damaged somebody if they abstained from taking revenge, acting selfishly or evilly, or talking hurtfully about someone. However, according to God, people cannot even harbor feelings of hatred or the desire to harm another person. God tells individuals to refrain from wishing bad things to happen to others or considering ways to hurt them. People seriously harm themselves when they harbor hatred in their hearts.
God also commands individuals to care for other people’s actions in conjunction with their own to effectively assist others in changing from wrongdoing to doing right.The Bible commands individuals to advise others about the adverse effects of their conduct on one another and themselves, since the ill deeds or remarks of others can cause significant harm.In some instances, Christians may be required to inform the relevant agencies of others’ evil deeds (Wesley Center Online, Sermon 65). Humans may feel terrible for not doing more to support justice and assist victims if they cover up or remain silent about wrongdoing. People can fight for the execution of justice without harboring hatred in their hearts.
Regarding “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ response was founded on a fundamental belief regarding God’s character: God sends rain and sun on the just and the unjust alike. Therefore, Christians are to encompass both friends and foes in the neighborhood. The lesson is rooted in the belief that God controls relationships with all of humanity’s enemies; thus, it is not only about dispositions or individual relationships.
Coffman supports this theology by stating that the Mosaic law achieves its highest point and is very close to meeting the magnificent standards Christ sets. Israel’s major failing concerning these laws stemmed from their incorrect interpretation of the word “neighbor,“ which they interpreted to mean just a fellow Jew. Coffman links the story of the Good Samaritan in response to this issue and intends to resolve it (Study Light, 2022). Moses aims to avert this excessive zeal by demonstrating how they can best subdue it, not by stimulating sin via their complicity or acquiescence, while they are far from conversing wickedness.This is because several, under the guise of carefulness, are not only strict moderators of others but further erupt in an open declaration of their deficiencies.
As per Calvin, since faults are perpetuated by quiet unless everyone is anxious to rebuke them, people who suffer from the sickness of complaining are inclined to oppose; thus, their ardor in denouncing and screaming against them (Study Light, 2022). Moses, however, makes a more practical suggestion: rather than publicizing the sins of adventurers, they should reprimand them privately. In contrast to a well-controlled enthusiasm, which considers the welfare of someone ruining themselves, whoever wins in the shame of his colleague provokes his downfall as far as it exists. As a result, Christians are instructed to correct wanderers and to avoid viewing their fellow Believers as rivals.
Analysis of the Two Sources
From the first Sermon, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.“ Wesley outlines and specifies the traits of a Believer pursuing a life as a follower in His Sermon upon the Mount. The gospel of Matthew describes Jesus instructing His followers while seated on a mountaintop, surrounded by throngs of people.
The beatitudes, a term established over the span of church doctrine to capture the Spirit of Jesus’ Discourse on the Mountain, are covered in Wesley’s Sermon. In this talk, Jesus is laying forth the standards for a believer within the Kingdom of Heaven. In the framework of Matthew 5:9, peacemakers are people who advance God’s harmony. Jesus says that people who trust Him and sincerely seek to promote peace will earn the lasting benefit of being referred to as God’s offspring because they emulate the Father’s nature of harmony and peace. This message is crucial in the fight to keep peace in the Church by helping to resolve any issues that may arise.
The two sermons affirm each other from different angles and instill the importance of peacemaking and restoration. The subject of bearing animosity and correcting a neighbor is covered in the second discourse. However, reprove can imply arguing, censuring, rebuking, defending, rectifying, or justifying in biblical contexts. When God serves as the one who corrects, it may imply pardon. It is challenging to detest somebody when one has a connection with them. Relationships nowadays may be ill-defined, and individuals may occasionally be asked to judge someone they have yet to meet.
Nevertheless, at the very minimum, individuals should consider many of those they criticize as members of the same family as God. Reproving a friend openly, with a forgiving attitude, and in a spirit of humility that comes from realizing that everyone is guilty of sin (Renz, 2022). This might be the same holy job to which believers are presently being called, and it promotes church harmony.
Conclusion
According to these sources, believers need to understand that practicing forgiveness and teaching others about righteousness are essential for addressing issues within the congregation. The two sermons exhort Believers to live in harmony with each other and those who are not Christians. Passion for benevolence, tolerance, and kindness in interactions with colleagues is the ordinary meaning of loving neighbors. This view is correct, of course, as complying with what is appropriate is the simplest way to prevent hurting others. People can seek peace in every situation because of the regenerating blood of Christ.
Christians are supposed to act in light of eternity despite their changing conditions, regardless of interpersonal conflict, financial difficulties, illness, trauma, or persistent suffering. Christians are judged on their behavior in traffic, how they react whenever a friend has injured them, and how they behave when an act is undertaken that they disagree with.This is because Christ’s strength and existence in the center of human strife bring peace, not the lack of struggle or sorrow. To live in the fruit of the Holy Spirit amid daily difficult situations, believers must adhere to Jesus and His message. Believers must be quick to pardon because Christ forgave them for all their transgressions through His life, death, and resurrection.
Bibliography
“Leviticus 19 – Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible – Bible Commentaries.” StudyLight.org, 2022. Web.
“Wesley Center Online: Sermon 23 – Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on The Mount: Discourse Three.” The Wesley Center Online. Web.
“Wesley Center Online: Sermon 65 – The Duty of Reproving Our Neighbour.” The Wesley Center Online. Web.
Antes, Peter. “Religious Fundamentalism – a Misleading Concept?” Religious Fundamentalism in the Age of Pandemic, 2021, 251–62. Web.
Johnston, Erin F., David E. Eagle, Jennifer Headley, and Anna Holleman. “Pastoral Ministry in Unsettled Times: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Clergy during the Covid-19 Pandemic.” Review of Religious Research 64, no. 2 (2021): 375–97. Web.
Renz, Monika. “Introduction: What Is Reconciliation, and What Is Forgiveness?” Forgiveness and Reconciliation, 2022, 1–13. Web.