Causes of church conflict

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us

is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 

…  Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind,

but associate with the lowly Do not be wise in your own estimation” (Romans 12:6, 16).

How should we view church disputes?  Why are churches that should be loved fighting each other?  What are the causes of the conflict in the church?  One of the causes is the failure to acknowledge diversity.  In other words, there is conflict in the church because it does not accept the fact that there are people with various gifts in the church.

Often when we look at a couple's dispute, we say: 'You and I are just different, but not wrong.'  However, when I actually think about the relationship between husband and wife, it seems that there are many times when we say ‘You are wrong’ rather than admitting and accepting the fact that ‘We are just a little different’.  As a result, the couple quarrels and fights.  Likewise, all human relationships are quarreling and fighting each other because they think 'you are wrong'.  Even in the church, the reason why we fight and quarrel when we look at human relationships is that we treat each other with the thought and attitude of ‘You're wrong’ even though we are just different.  Among these thoughts and attitudes, there is a bitter root of arrogance saying, ‘I am right’.  In other words, because there is a deep-rooted thought that ‘I am right, you are wrong’, we criticize and eventually even slander the other person.  After all, the deep cause of contention is pride.

In Romans 12:16, the apostle Paul exhorts us to be the same mind toward one another and do not be haughty.  The reason why we cannot be the same mind is because of our arrogant mind.  In other words, we quarrel and fight each other because we pretend to be wise ourselves.  If you look at yourself with your own eyes and think, ‘I am wise’, then you look at the other person with the attitude ‘I am wise and you are foolish’, so there is no choice but to have a dispute in the church.  “Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (Jam. 3:15).  “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast about it” (v. 14).  If you boast, you are denying the truth (v. 14).  What is the wisdom spoken of in the Bible?  Look at James 3:17 – “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”  If we truly have God-given wisdom, as peacemakers in the church (v. 18), we must be considerate (v. 17).  However, if we fail to acknowledge the various gifts the Lord has given to each of us and judge and criticize the gifts given to other members based on ‘my gifts’, there will inevitably be conflict within the church.

The church is one.  Because of Jesus, the church has become one.  There is unity in the church, which is the body of the Lord.  At the same time, there is diversity in the church, which is the body of the Lord.  The members who received various gifts gathered and made one body in the Lord.  Therefore, we have a responsibility to maintain unity in diversity.  That responsibility is that we must all be of one mind.  How can we all be of one mind?  There is only one way.  In other words, we all have the mind of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:5).  With a self-emptying and self-humbling heart, we must acknowledge the various gifts the Lord has given to each of us.  And we must strive to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit by making full use of the various gifts given to each of us in peace and tolerance with the wisdom from above (Eph. 4:3).