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[[topics_collection_vi|| Topics Collection vi ]]
======Secular View versus Faith View IV - in Trouble ...======
Thursday, Oct 9, 2014. When we read the biblical New Testament letters, we are
typically faced with sentences like
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor 1: 3) But what about this peace, when you are in the middle of a conflict?
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**Problems need to be addressed ...**
We have to acknowledge that conflicts cannot be avoided. Jesus had them all the time.
And also today, where ever you look, there are quite severe conflicts on all levels
of life. They exist between the political parties, but also within the parties. They
are there between the media, but also within each of the corporations. They exist
between companies, but also on all levels of their processes and hierarchies. Let
us note first that conflicts are universal. Conflicts are bound to come.
In the middle of our conflicts we hear the word of peace, which the Apostles and
and angels, but also Jesus himself tells us.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
(John 14, 27)
Our first main conclusion is that this peace does not mean that we will not face
conflicts. We will get into trouble, at least occasionally. Sometimes it seems to us
that trouble will never end. But that is not true - trouble will end. The biblical
statement is that it will not end until God has fully established his kingdom. And
we are in the middle of this process, not yet at its end.
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**But now: what? ...**
>
How do we act when we are in trouble. I was in a meeting yesterday, where the leader
of the meeting was in trouble. He felt attacked by other people in the meeting and
felt under pressure when facing the central managment board. So he started the whole
meeting in some kind of "attack mode", using his words to heavily shoot around in
all directions, speaking figuratively. During the meeting we were able to smoothen
out some of the difficulties, and I think that he was quite happy about a constructive
three hours. I had a word with him when we left - he still felt hurt. Unfortunately
he did not see that he also contributed to this by his own words and behavior.
We are called to peace. Jesus is quite strong with his demand that we should love
our enemies, that we should not fight back. On the other hand, he demostrates very
clear ability to address problems and to get into discussions himself. Following
his example is a balancing act, between giving in, letting injustice happen, and
between addressing the problems and fighting for the better.
I am not sure how you do your things. For me it is quite difficult to find this
balance. I feel bad when I speak up. On the other hand I cannot remain completely
silent - it is just impossible to me. I am willing to do whatever it takes to help
the others, but I cannot completely compromise my ideas of quality and progress.
How are you handling these things?
(Roland Potthast)
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