Faith, reason, and the educated Christian Creationism - College and ...

notes, or doing a project. A conciliator
prays, counsels, and assists the student
through the process.
Another example: A church elder is
involved in an adulterous affair. One of
the parties seeks conciliation. There is
prayer, Scripture study, paperwork, and
a goal to bring glory to God, serve others,
and grow to be more like Jesus. This
more complicated process includes
counseling, confession, repentance, forgiveness,
and redemptive discipline.
With support and understanding, relationships
can be healed, marriages
saved, and the community of believers
strengthened.
■ What kind of cases do you see most frequently?
Because I am involved with training
for Young Peacemakers, I provide in-service
training for faculty, parents, students,
and churches. I also conduct
practicums to equip others to be trainers.
I often deal with disruptive behaviors
of students and help schools design
rules and processes to promote peace
and positive relationships. Peacemaker
Ministries has developed a curriculum
for grades 2-6 and is completing one for
grades 7-9. I also work with families facing
divorce, estate settlement, or workplace
issues. We also draft conciliation
clauses for contractual agreements.
■ The seminar seems like something we
could all benefit from. Is it recommended for
assistance in our private lives?
Exactly. The seminar opens with the
“slippery slope” concept, explaining how
people react to conflict with escape or attack
responses. Scripture offers resolutions
beginning with overlooking an offense
(Proverbs 19:11), through the
steps of Matthew 18:15-20, and ending
with redemptive church discipline by
“treating the offender as an unbeliever.”
That last step means that the person
“doesn’t get it,” and we start all over.
■ Tell us what you mean by conflict.
Dialogue 15:3 2003
We define conflict as a “difference in
opinion or purpose that frustrates someone
else” as described in James 4:1-2.
The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John
16:8) and a conflicted person will realize
that genuine peace may be found only
through Jesus Christ.
■ How do you educate people about reconciliation
in a troubled congregation?
We begin with a seminar and invite
all members and require leaders to attend.
We also invite non-attending and
former members. Concurrently, we may
also have a Youth Peacemaker program.
We then schedule interviews and encourage
reconciliation through mediation.
We usually have a board meeting
to discuss the ongoing application of
the principles. We like to end with a
church family “Celebration of Reconciliation”
that includes communion. I
write a spiritual report detailing the process,
list recommendations, and keep in
contact during the year to support and
encourage accountability.
■ How do most people respond to the process?
I know churches and organizations
that have peacemaking seminars and
small groups to train members. They
encourage confession, repentance, and
forgiveness to heal relationships. Each
leader and member is held to a high degree
of accountability.
We find that most need information
and direction about this process and are
grateful when they experience God’s
peace in relationships. Christians should
be encouraged to take unresolved conflicts
to the church family.
■ Peacemaking also has political aspects.
How can citizens anywhere in the world
bring these principles into use in their secular
communities?
When people study God’s way of
dealing with conflict, they immediately
find opportunities to address issues.
Micah 6:8 gives an answer to a Christian
citizen’s role: “To do justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God”
(NIV). War and conflict in the world
had its root in Lucifer’s assault against
God’s government. God urges His followers
to seek peace. The Great Controversy
model shows how God deals with conflict.
He did not abuse His authority. He
offered reconciliation. Through Christ,
He gave us the ministry and message of
reconciliation. We are His ambassadors
(2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Peacemaking principles are crucial in
every aspect of life. A common source of
conflict is rebellion against authority in
the church, government, family, or
workplace. All legitimate authority has
been established by God for the purpose
of maintaining peace and order (Romans
13:1-7). When a person in authority
instructs you to do something that
you believe is unwise, unfair, or sinful, it
is appropriate to make a respectful appeal
and negotiate solutions (Esther 7:1-
6; Daniel 1:6-16).
If our witness is to be effective, we
should have something to show the
world that it does not possess. In His
Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spelled out
the differences between worldly troublemakers
and Christian peacemakers. The
Golden Rule is still valid: “‘So in everything,
do to others what you would
have them do to you’” (Matthew 7:12,
NIV).
■ Should peacemaking be taught in Adventist
schools?
Teaching students to respect, work
with each other, and address issues is
the foundation for their leadership.
Those schools that are beginning to
teach and implement these principles
are being blessed.
I believe we should offer more training
in conflict resolution with biblical
peacemaking in our colleges and universities.
Most graduating students don’t
have the skills needed to deal with inev-
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