Pulpit Reflections: Finding a way to rebuild relationships

Historians are debating whether things have ever been worse. 

Meanwhile, Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein calls the current situation a “cold civil war” and Arizona Senator Jeff Flake talks about the “state of our disunion.” 

On the national level, our politics have degenerated into political division – whether we think it’s worse now than ever before or not. 

People seem divided, and not just on the national level. 

Anger and disunity are finding their way into every political level, even into our local communities. 

Even as strident as politics can be, it becomes worse when conflict develops between people we truly care about.

While the details are lost to us, Paul hints at a deeply painful conflict with someone in the Corinthian church. 

The problem was so bad that Paul was afraid to visit the city again, for fear of causing more pain (2 Corinthians 2:1).  

To heal the conflict, Paul does three things. 

First, he gives space and chooses not to come to Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:23). 

Sometimes all we need to do to calm a conflict is wait. 

Pause before you say anything or type anything into social media. 

Second, Paul focuses on the relationship, not the issue. 

He remembers that he is not lord, but servant, of the church (1:24). 

And he remembers that there should be joy because of the shared relationship (2:2-3). 

Too often we are willing to let relatively unimportant issues divide us. 

We may disagree, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get along.

Finally, Paul forgives. It seems Paul was in the right. 

But rather than rub it in, he asks that the offending man be forgiven and restored. 

This is surely the most important of Paul’s actions and one which was commanded by Christ. 

Like Paul we can find ways to rebuild our relationships. 

And hopefully return some civility to our politics, too.