How to handle conflict in community

“Community” is a word we hear a lot in church. Our community are the people we share our everyday lives with — the people we eat dinner with, laugh with, cry alongside, or call when we’re in a crisis. 
 
Community provides joy, relationship, fun, and belonging. But with all the good can come the ugly. Community can also provide conflict. When people are together, differences are sure to arise — differences in thought, opinion, and experiences. 
 
As Christians, we’re not called to run away at the first sign of conflict, but rather lean into it. Jesus said the whole world would know Him by the way His followers love each other (John 13:35). That means we are to see through the mess and work toward peace. That’s where the good stuff is.

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