Assignment 4

Conflict Resolution

Assignment 4 Week 4

Reading:  Matthew 10:16, Romans 12:20-21, Matthew 18:15-17

As you have seen, tough love plays a key factor in winning the lost to Christ in the environment of urban society.  Jesus faced the scribes and the Pharisees with tough love calling them “white washed sepulchres (or tombs) which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness.  He had the right to judge because He was in all points sinless.  In essence he said their religion was dead and He defied being a respecter of men as they were - Matthew 23:27.  John the Baptist faced Herod and Herodias with tough love saying that it was not lawful for Herod to have and marry Herodias, who was Herod’s brother, Philip’s wife - Mark 6:18.  Although these persons were authority figures, their lives were offensive to God because of their sin.  This direct opposition to men’s sins showed them their sin and when an individual is faced with the truth about himself, it will bring one of two responses.  They will either repent and change their lives or reject this truth and go deeper into sin and self indulgence.  Thus there is not only a battle within but a battle without because once this change takes place, the individual will also have to deal with his own spiritual weaknesses and temptations and conflict between himself and the people he used to practice sin with. 

 You may also have to deal with conflict resolution in the volunteer ranks, between your ministry and others, between your ministry and other local organizations and the list can go on. 

1.  The strategy God designed for the church (we are the church – we as believers) is to not only take care of the poor, but to minister to our enemies as well which will communicate God’s love to them causing them to want salvation.  With regard to these verses, write a paper on how we are to put this into practice as opposed to how enemies were to be dealt with in the Old Testament which was a different covenant and dispensation.  See Romans 12:20-21. 

2.  Let’s suppose a local benevolent organization was jealous over all the resources that you were receiving and voiced its opinion making up lies about you in the community.  What biblical process would you invoke to repeal his gossip?  Name a chapter and verse and why you think it applies.  What initial response would you have and what would you do to resolve any sin of hatred and bitterness within your own heart for this organization that would restore your relationship with God after learning about this?  What actions would you take or not take to publicly restore your good name?

3.  Many benevolent organizations are accused of enabling the indigent and poor to continue in their addictions because they don’t have to spend their own money on food but can use it for drugs or alcohol.  These organizations are also blamed for the rise in crime as well because the added factor of free food enables many indigent to sell the food to purchase the drugs which brings more demand for greater drug traffic.  Write a paper on how you would answer a wealthy benefactor who wants to donate funding to your organization and yet hesitates because of these issues.  Your answer depends on whether he will make the donation.  Would you compromise your convictions agreeing with him completely in view of plentiful funding or serve him a full plate of tough love by stating the eternal purposes for distribution of food?  (Tough love in this case means you stand your ground and with Christian ethics completely operate your ministry with integrity and honesty before God.  He is unable to buy you off by getting you to side with his issues.

4.  You will be responsible to keep peace at all times on your property and you will most likely have an opportunity to develop good public relations with the police and/or sheriff department of your town when you are in this type of ministry.  How will you go about communicating your ministry and your future needs for their services?

5.  Explain in your own words how Jesus justified harshly treating the moneychangers and why he was so angry that he overturned the tables at the Temple.  How do you think the scribes and Pharisees viewed this type of behavior and what was their reasoning?  (Matthew 21:10-13). 

6.  Explain why Jesus treated the woman caught in the act of adultery with compassion instead of tough love.  (John 8:3-11)

7.  Explain why the judgment of the scribes and Pharisees was improper towards Jesus when they observed him eating and fellowshipping with sinners and publicans.  (Matthew 11:16-19).  Biblically explain why Jesus said that the publicans and harlots would get into the kingdom of God before the scribes and Pharisees, who were the religious leaders of the day.