HOW DOES THE WORLD DEAL WITH CRISIS?
The world has laid down methods used in the resolution of conflict; the world religions have their laid down methods used and the Church of Christ also has her own methods or landmarks laid down by Jesus Christ himself for the Christians to follow without any doubt; owing to the truth that his thoughts towards us are good and not evil.
HOW DOES JESUS CHRIST WANTS THE INDIVIDUAL BROTHER TO DEAL WITH OFFENCES?
| S/NO | The World’s Methods | Jesus’ Methods: Matthew 18 |
| 1 | Negotiation: according to Pruitt, “negotiation is a form of decision making in which two or more parties talk with one another in an effort to resolve their opposing interest- a process by which a joint decision is made by two or more parties.”
(Pruitt, 1981: xi-xii). That is, negotiation can also be defined as “Talks between conflicting parties who discuss ideas, information and options in order to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. Initially at least, negotiation may not be face-to-face” (International Alert, 1996, 111:53). |
Meet him one on one first without the hearing of a third party.
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| 2 | Mediation: according to Schmid, mediation is a “form of conflict management whereby a skilled and /or powerful third party (State, International organization, NGO) acts… to facilitate communication between conflicting parties that consent to the initiative to bring a particular solution or a settlement.”
Mediation is any voluntary, non-building process, even informal, conducted by a neutral third party with the aim of promoting the dispute settlement between the disputing parties. According to Miller, Mediation involves third party intervention, which must operate with considerable neutrality. “The initiative for mediation usually comes from the outsider or from the weaker of the conflicting parties.” (Schmid 2000:54).
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If he fails to listen and still continue, go with witnesses, without the hearing of the church eldership.
You are not weak when you initiate mediation.
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| 3 | Conciliation: This is another form of alternative dispute resolution. It is defined as “… a process of formulating proposals of settlement after an investigation of facts and an effort to reconcile opposing contentions, the parties to the dispute being left free to accept or respect the proposals formulated.” (Hudson, 19194; 232).
It also points to the individual witness, that the brother took to the offender; that he still has a vital part to play as a councilor. He should prayerfully empty get fact-finding and observation techniques and holy disputes to be resolved. If is funny that that in today’s kind of church world, the witness (conciliator) will even the offender never to see and accept his mistakes. He will be the one to tell the entire local church. He will be the one to tell the local church elders and Jesus never said so. He will be the one to tell all the me3mber, friends and relatives what the conflict or offences. |
If he fails to listen and still continues, tell it then to the church and let the church, prayerfully handle the issues and if he fails to listen to the church. Let him be unto thee (You and not the church). You can cut ties with him but not the church, since the offence was personal. Although, personal avoidance may logically correspond in proper cases to excommunication by the church. For instance; a brother in adultery with another brother’s wife and two brothers that had misunderstanding; the both are personal but the former can lead to excommunication by the church.
This Rule is best applied after perseverance and the brother guilty of any crime or offence when he has not met with the brother to tell him his offences/faults/mistakes. Mt. 18:15-22
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| 4 | Arbitration: This is simply a legal way of dealing with offences. The magnitude of the offence or conflict matters. Arbitration is the most adopted form of Alternative Dispute Resolution. According to international law commission, arbitration is a “procedure for the settlement of dispute between states by a binding award on the basis of law as a result of an understanding voluntary accepted” (IIYILC, 1953:202).
Arbitration can also be defined as “a generic term for a voluntary process in which people in conflict request the assistance of an impartial and neutral third party contested and neutral third party to make decision for them regarding contested issues.” (Moore, 1996:9) |
Note; No Christian brother has any Christen right to condemn, judge, criticize or evaluate any brother to be wicked or non-Christian if there has not being:
✓ One to one approach ✓ Two or more witnesses approach ✓ eldership approach It is only after these approaches, then, one can evaluate a brother properly and even at this stage, one must not stop praying for the well being (repentance) of the derailed brother.
Let your Light so shine… 1. Let it shine in the local church family. 2. Let it shine in the biological family. 3. Let it shine in your neighborhood. 4. Let it shine in the society. 5. Let it shine in the world.
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