Conflict in Community

Matthew 18: 15-17 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Jesus offers us methods for dealing with conflict within the church. Perhaps it’s not surprising, but his strategy relies heavily on communal support and input. While Jesus’ initial call is that we attempt to resolve conflict one on one, he quickly encourages us to seek council in our community.

When you think about conflicts in your own life, how have you brought your community into those? I don't always bring my community into conflict in healthy ways. Sometimes I just want people to take my side or to listen to me complain about the person I am in conflict with. But in today’s passage, Jesus encourages us to bring others in for the sake of their council and for establishing a solution supported by the community.

What might it look like to bring your community into conflict the way Jesus is talking about in Matthew 18?