Ministry in Times of Conflict (Galatians 6:1-5)

Written by Phil A. Newton

Church conflict—those two words can turn the stomachs of those who have seen its damage. Even now countless numbers of churches are embroiled in conflict. During church conflict the Christian witness is shattered, and the joy of worshiping with the body of Christ is sapped.

 A number of New Testament epistles deal with conflict. First Corinthians addresses one problem after another; Philippians deals with an underlying disunity; and Galatians focuses on the effects of doctrinal disunity, which ultimately evolves into practical conflict. The ancient Gauls (hence, Galatians) migrated from the area of modern-day Turkey into France, Scotland, and Ireland. The Galatian region was known for strong-minded, rugged, and often brash people. Conflict could arise full force from them like a geyser. Addressing their misunderstanding and misapplication of Christian doctrine, Paul got at the root of the church’s conflict. He left the church a clear pattern to use in dealing with conflict.

Take Discipline Seriously (v. 1)

The mention of church discipline in most congregations is met with fear and skepticism. Yet such reaction belies a failure to understand the nature of discipline in the New Testament. Most discipline never reaches the final stage of expulsion from church membership (Matt. 18:15-20). Discipline is chiefly restorative not punitive! It takes shape through exhortation, counsel, instruction, admonition, and accountability. The implications of discipline can be found in each member’s understanding personal responsibility to the church. The church must understand and accept its responsibility to restore through biblically based discipline those who have broken fellowship because of sin.

Mark Dever has pointed out five reasons for having church discipline:

• For the good of the person disciplined.
• For the good of other Christians, as they see the danger of sin.
• For the health of the church as a whole.
• For the corporate witness of the Church.
• For the glory of God, as we reflect His holiness.[1]

The process of discipline in Matthew 18:15-20 alerts the believer to give attention to his or her own spiritual life before proceeding to help a fellow Christian. Too often excuses are made such as, “I’m just not spiritual, and so I cannot help someone else.” But Paul’s logic is that a Christian is either capable of helping someone to deal with sin issues (discipline) or is personally in need of discipline. Discipline requires the gentle concern of one Christian for another in applying the Word of God to a need, and holding a fellow Christian accountable until he or she is able to stand strong spiritually. Thus, Paul warned the restorer to “watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” (v. 1).

Bear Burdens Faithfully (vv. 2-3)

Everybody has burdens. Burdens come in any number of shapes and sizes. Christ compels us to put His love into action as we sense that others are facing difficulties. Often those who cause conflict in the church have been living under the strain of burdens that they have borne alone. Their anger and aggressive behavior may stem from bearing their burdens alone. Being part of the body of Christ reminds us that none of us is self-sufficient. We are never to become isolationists in the church (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32; Eph. 2:19-22; Phil. 1:27). God has placed us in the body to bear one another’s burdens. The present-tense verb bear reminds us that burden bearing is to be a regular part of our lifestyle in the church (v. 6). We need one another. The self-sufficient mind exaggerates one’s capacities for facing life’s demands.

Examine Yourself Carefully (vv. 4-5)

Where do conflicts generally arise in the church? When believers fail to examine their own lives in light of Scripture, they cause conflict by pointing out flaws (or perceived flaws) in others. So Paul exhorts us to examine ourselves carefully. To examine our work is to examine all that we do! Examination implies testing to verify value or condition, based on a word meaning “inspecting the purity and content in metals.”

Paul’s implication is that we are to use Christ as the standard for our lives. The result is producing the fruit and evidence of a new nature in Christ as we submit every facet of our lives to the control of the Holy Spirit. This is strictly a self-examination. He does not tell us to compare ourselves to others, but “in regard to himself alone” (v. 4). We are to examine ourselves by the right standard, which is found in the law of love in Jesus Christ alone.

Leon Morris pointed out, “If we are concentrating on ironing out the imperfections in what we are doing, we are unlikely to be critical of what other people are accomplishing.”[2] Every Christian must take care of his or her part in the church (v. 5). The result is that church members will be dependable in responsibility, thus preventing divisive conflicts. This means that Christians must take care of personal spiritual disciplines, exercise individual gifts in the body, contribute to the financial needs of the church, and participate in declaring the gospel in the community and world.[3] Martin Luther expressed that “Christians must have strong shoulders and mighty bones, that they may bear flesh, that is, the weakness of their brethren.”[4]

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Return to the Introduction: Ministry in Times of Crisis (A Sermon Series)

1. Ministry in Physical Crisis (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43)
2. Ministry in Natural Disaster (Acts 27:13-28:10)
3. Ministry in Times of Conflict (Galatians 6:1-5)
4. Ministry to Persecuted Believers (Acts 12:1-17)

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