Robust Unity

I used to think that one way to have a more unified team was to somehow avoid conflict. Then I heard this statement:

“A pastor who avoids conflict has a bigger chance of experiencing a church split.”

I was surprised and a little incredulous by what I learned this at the Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, in Fresno California.

When you are in doubt about how God wants you to respond to a certain relationship situation, here is God’s council. (I copied this list from Contagious Disciple, by Watson J., & Watson P.).

COMMANDS FOR LIVING IN COMMUNITY (“ ONE ANOTHER” PASSAGES)

1. Accept one another. (Rom 15: 7)
2. Agree with one another. (1 Cor. 1: 10; Phil. 4: 2)
3. Bear with one another. (Col. 3: 13)
4. Remember that we belong to one another. (Rom. 12: 5)
5. Consider one another as better. (Phil. 2: 3)
6. Do not break faith with one another. (Mal. 2: 10)
7. Build up one another. (Eph. 4: 29; 1 Thess. 5: 11)
8. Do not be a burden to one another. (Gal. 6: 4– 5)
9. Carry one another’s burdens. (Gal. 6: 2)
10. Do not compare yourselves to one another. (Gal. 6: 4– 5)
11. Have equal concern for one another. (1 Cor. 12: 25– 27)
12. Confess your sins to one another. (James 5: 16)
13. Do not covet one another’s spouses. (Ex. 20: 17; Deut. 5: 21)
14. Do not desire one another’s property. (Ex. 20: 17; Deut. 5: 21)
15. Let no debt remain outstanding to one another. (Rom. 13: 8)
16. Do not allow stealing, lying, and deception to be a part of your relationships with one another. (Lev. 19: 11)
17. Do not devour or destroy one another. (Gal. 5: 15)
18. Be devoted to one another. (Rom. 12: 10)
19. Discipline one another. (Matt. 18: 15– 17)
20. Do good and share with one another. (Heb. 13: 16)
21. Build up one another with your faith. (Rom. 1: 11– 12)
22. Encourage one another. (1 Thess. 4: 18; 5: 11; Titus 1: 9; Heb. 3: 13; 10: 25)
23. Spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Heb. 10: 24)
24. Do not envy one another. (Gal. 5: 26)
25. Judge one another fairly. (Lev. 19: 15)
26. Do not do anything to cause one another to fall. (Rom. 14: 21)
27. Fellowship with one another. (1 John 1: 7)
28. Forgive one another. (Matt. 18: 21– 35; Eph. 4: 32; Col. 3: 13)
29. Serve one another with your gifts. (1 Cor. 12: 7; 1 Peter 4: 10)
30. Give to one another. (Prov. 3: 28; Luke 6: 30; 17: 3– 4)
31. Greet one another. (Rom. 16: 16; 1 Peter 5: 14)
32. Do not hold a grudge against one another. (Lev. 19: 18)
33. Do not grumble against one another. (James 5: 9)
34. Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward one another. (Deut. 15: 7)
35. Do not plot harm against one another. (Prov. 3: 29)
36. Live in harmony with one another. (Rom. 12: 16; 1 Peter 3: 8)
37. Do not hate one another in your hearts. (Lev. 19: 17)
38. Honor one another above yourselves. (Rom. 12: 10) 39.
39. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4: 9)
40. Have humility toward one another. (1 Peter 5: 5)
41. Do not do things that will hurt one another. (Rom. 14: 15)
42. Be full of goodness, complete in knowledge, and competent to instruct one another. (Rom. 15: 14)
43. Do not charge one another interest on personal loans of money or goods. (Deut. 23: 19)
44. Do not judge one another. (Rom. 14: 10, 13; 14: 13; James 4: 12)
45. Be kind to one another and everyone else. (1 Thess. 5: 15; 2 Tim. 2: 24; Eph. 4: 32)
46. Do not lie to or about one another. (Ex. 20: 16; Deut. 5: 20; Col. 3: 9– 10)
47. Look after one another’s interests. (Phil. 2: 4)
48. Do not gloat over the destruction of one another, or boast about your good fortune when others are in trouble. (Obad. 1: 12)
49. Do not look down on one another. (Rom. 14: 10)
50. Love one another. (Lev. 19: 18; Matt. 22: 36– 39; Mark 12: 28– 31; Luke 10: 25– 27; John 13: 34– 35; 15: 12; 17; Rom. 13: 9; Gal. 5: 14; 1 Thess. 3: 12; 4: 9; 2 Thess. 1: 3; Heb. 13: 1; James 2: 8; 1 Peter 1: 22; 4: 8; 1 John 3: 11, 23; 4: 7, 11– 12; 2 John 1: 5– 6; see also 1 Corinthians 13: 4– 13)
51. Have mercy and compassion for one another. (Zech. 7: 9)
52. Be openhanded with one another. (Deut. 15: 11)
53. Be patient with one another. (Eph. 4: 2)
54. Be at peace with one another. (Mark 9: 50; 1 Thess. 5: 12– 13)
55. Pray for one another. (James 5: 16)
56. Do not provoke one another. (Gal. 5: 26)
57. Rebuke one another so you don’t share another’s guilt. (Lev. 19: 17)
58. Be reconciled to one another. (Matt. 5: 23– 24)
59. Show respect to one another. (1 Peter 2: 17)
60. Gently restore one another when caught in sin. (Gal. 6: 1)
61. Do not seek revenge against one another. (Lev. 19: 18)
62. Seek the good of one another. (1 Cor. 10: 24)
63. Serve one another. (Gal. 5: 13)
64. Do not slander one another. (James 4: 11)
65. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. (Eph. 5: 19– 20)
66. Do not steal from one another by stealth, force, trickery or deceit. (Lev. 19: 13)
67. Do not put stumbling blocks or obstacles in one another’s way. (Rom. 14: 13)
68. Submit to one another. (1 Cor. 16: 15– 16; Eph. 5: 21)
69. Do not take advantage of one another. (Lev. 25: 14, 17)
70. Teach and admonish one another. (Col. 3: 16)
71. Make sure there is a good reason to testify against one another. (Prov. 24: 28)
72. Do not think evil of one another. (Zech. 7: 10)
73. Speak truth to one another. (Zech. 8: 16– 17)
74. Do not plot evil against one another. (Zech. 8: 16– 17)
75. Wait for one another. (1 Cor. 11: 33)

Watson, David; Watson, Paul (2014). Contagious Disciple Making: Leading Others on a Journey of Discovery (p. 166-168). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.