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Think of an area of conflict in your church or in the church at large today. Dr. Blomberg says that if we focus on the two doctrines of the crucifixion and the resurrection, the issues of Christian behavior will begin to fall into place. Explain how such a focus would affect a resolution of the area of conflict you have identified.
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An area of conflict in the church at large today is the acceptance of minority groups within the church. Believing that minorities are less than or in a lower category than whites does not reflect the love displayed by Jesus who gave up His life for all. Deeper still is the issue of undocumented persons within the church. Shall we kick them out of the church for not having legal papers? Many undocumented families have been here for 20+ years and have shown themselves to be hardworking members of society. All people, including those persons who have risked their lives to come into the United States, are created in the image of God. Christ gave His life for all and salvation and the hope of the resurrection are for all people. The church should view minorities including undocumented persons through the lens of Christ’s unconditional love and show the understanding, respect, and compassion that all humans deserve.
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An area of conflict could be which translation of the Bible is the closest to the original meaning. When we put this in line with the crucifixion and resurrection we will see that the bigger, more important picture is that of whether or not we believe in these foundational truths.
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If we understand the purpose of our life is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, then spending time with him, obeying his word, and worshiping him will become our top priority.
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The use of pornography by Christians is rarely addressed in the church today. It is typically not addressed from the pulpit, in Sunday School or in youth settings. According to surveys, young men and women within the church have nearly the same level of addiction or compulsion as their non-Christian peers. The point of conflict becomes, “Do we allow the culture to set moral standards or do we look to God for direction?”
Christians I have known who struggled with pornography have typically had discomfort with it. While some labeled it as sinful behavior, others merely had a sense that it was not helpful in their lives or their relationships.
If Christians (or a church) were to focus on God’s word and his clarity regarding sexual sin, they would be convicted of the need to change course. Christ died for our sins. Our hope lies in his forgiveness and his acceptance of us as his redeemed children. -
Church conflict can be attending church when others plan activities on the Lord’s day. If we keep the crucifixion and the resurrection we will want to honor the Lord in attending church.