Havoc in Heaven: Manageable Conflict
Evaluation of Creation as excellent was doubtlessly true of heaven. Since God is pure, holy, and good, everything around Him shares that status. Glimpses of heaven from scripture suggest it’s an exquisite place of splendor, majesty, and grandeur that finite minds can’t comprehend (1 Corinthians 2:9). Yet, ironically, sin began in heaven around God’s throne.
Created beings are all free moral agents endowed with the power of choice. Its exercise caused havoc in heaven and problems on earth. Two simple words with a common center caused it—s-i-n and pr-i-de. Lucifer drooled: “I will ascend . . . I will raise my . . . I will sit enthroned . . . I will ascend . . . I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14). His deceptions got sympathizers—one third of the angels. Open conflict ensued. Michael and His angels fought against him and his angels. Disharmony and havoc replaced heaven’s peace, harmony, and tranquillity. Lucifer and his angels were cast out.
If havoc started in God’s presence, should we be surprised to find it in church? Yet conflict in heaven doesn’t justify conflict in church. It shows sin’s heinous nature and the devil’s intent and influence. What can this teach us?
After Creation, there was nothing to hurt or destroy; no fading leaves or dying flowers; no stinging bees or biting ants; no ferocious animals. Lucifer entered the scene. Using the beautifully winged serpent with its dazzling golden scales gleaming in the sunlight (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 53), he deceived our foreparents. Capitalizing on the I in sin, he promised they’d be like God. They listened to wrong created desire. Doubting God; believing the lie resulted in fading flowers; ripening and falling leaves; change in the animals; nakedness; fear of God; dying animals, and loss of their Eden home. Tranquillity vanished; conflict developed between their sons; Cain killed Abel.
After the Flood, Babel created havoc. In the wilderness, conflict marred the unity in the community—complaints caused Moses to strike the rock in disgust instead of speaking to it; Miriam plotted against Moses; Nadad and Abihu offered strange fire; Aaron made the golden calf. The devil didn’t spare Jesus and His disciples. They had conflicts about who was the greatest; Judas stole from the treasury and betrayed Jesus; Peter denied Him; at His arrest, all forsook Him and fled. Thomas doubted His resurrection. After Pentecost, their ideal society was marred by Ananias, Sapphira, and the bigotry of Hebraic Jews who discriminated against Hellenists. Corinth had a four-way faction featuring Paul, Apollos, Peter, and Christ.
Thus, conflict is neither new nor unexpected. Yet it shouldn’t be condoned or neglected, for it wreaks havoc in any community. Are there biblical principles to assist in managing conflict?
Paul’s solution to the Corinthian conflict can help with conflict management. First Corinthians 1:1-12 gives insights to his approach. It shows that we should:
Commend before condemning
Before addressing the issues, Paul built rapport with the church, finding things for which to legitimately commend them. He identifies them as those sanctified in Christ Jesus “called saints.” He calls them saints despite knowing their problems, deep divisions, and immorality. A word of commendation can break barriers and establish common ground.
Thank before censuring
Though their deplorable state required censure, Paul didn’t censure them. Despite their problems, he thanked them for their work and the difference the gospel made in their lives. He assured them of his prayers for them. Too many spend more time condemning than commending. Words of thanks do break down barriers.
Express love before employing harsh words
By what Paul did, the Corinthians saw that he genuinely loved them. People will bear with, and support leaders who sincerely love and appreciate them. To succeed at conflict management one must express genuine love, care, and concern before uttering harsh words, avoiding the latter, if possible.
Appeal in the name of Jesus rather than our own or the church
Many conflict managers and leaders make appeals in their own name or the church’s. Paul neither appealed in his own name or on his own behalf. Christ is the head of the church. People love, respect, and cherish Him. Appeals should be made in His name. It is great; it is above all names, and is the only one before which every knee will bow and every tongue confess. It is worthy, appealing, inviting, and uniting. Only a calculated and callous person would refuse an appeal made on His behalf or in His name.
Be calm and diplomatic rather than dictatorial
When he introduced the first problem, Paul did so tactfully, with finesse, and in a winning way. He employed a winsome and endearing approach straight from the heart. This is detectable in his use of the verb parakaleo, “to beseech” or “entreat,” which he employs as he moves from commendation to rebuke. It is his opening word, and it sets the tone for what follows (Conzelmann, 1975). He is exhorting and appealing; imploring and entreating. This is an excellent approach to problem solving.
This approach is consistent with scripture where grace always precedes law. God made the garden for the first pair, then requested obedience. In the preamble to the Ten Commandments, God identified Himself and His liberative actions for Israel before giving the stipulations requiring obedience. We should emulate His approach.
Conflict caused havoc in heaven and on earth. It disrupted unity in communities, but if we emulate the Master’s and Paul’s example, we can manage it and prevent it from dividing and conquering us. Moreover, its reign will soon be over.
BERTRAM L. MELBOURNE, PH.D., former interim dean, and currently professor of Biblical Language and Literature at Howard University School of Divinity, also interim pastor, Rockville and Gaithersburg Seventh-day Adventist churches in Maryland.
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