8 Scenarios When Conflict May Be Necessary for New Pastors

In James 4:1, James poses this question regarding conflict: “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?” Just so there is no confusion, he also gives the answer, “Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”

In other words, James says quarrels, fights, and conflicts occur when people have different passions or desires regarding a particular issue.

Do you think that as a new pastor, you will encounter people with different desires or opinions from yours? You’re probably smiling and thinking about how you have experienced this already! The question is not if I will experience conflict as a pastor, but when.

Conflict is inevitable because you have gone to serve in a church that is made up of imperfect people.  (Remember, you are an imperfect person as well.)

As you attempt to start well, some issues in your church may require immediate attention and would likely lead to conflict. In those instances, conflict is probably necessary. Other issues, while important, may not warrant immediate attention and may not fall into the category of necessary conflict. That leads us to this question: “When is conflict necessary for new pastors?”

Here are eight scenarios when conflict might be necessary early in your ministry at the church.

1. Conflict is necessary when engaging in spiritual warfare.

We do not wrestle just against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Satan, your enemy, does not want you to start well in ministry.  He will engage in spiritual warfare with you. He does not want you or your church family to navigate conflict in a healthy way. He will attempt to cloud your mind as to which issues call for necessary conflict and which ones do not.

You must prepare for spiritual warfare by abiding in Christ (John 15:5) and daily appropriating your spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). Your successful conflict waged with him and your cultivation of your relationship with Jesus will prepare you to navigate conflict in healthy, God-honoring ways with other people.   

2. Conflict is necessary when major doctrines are challenged, denied, or opposed.

When navigating conflict, prayerfully discern if the issue is a first or second level doctrine and not a third level doctrine. Conflict is necessary when there is a lack of belief in or lack of practice of the major first-level doctrines of our faith. If someone is teaching in denial of the deity of Christ, or the fact that he is the only way of salvation, that calls for conflict and would be considered a first-tier doctrine. 

In an article titled “A Call for Theological Triage and Christian Maturity,” Dr. Albert Mohler differentiates between the three levels of belief and doctrine in this way:

• Level one differentiates doctrines most essential to the Christian faith. These would include the person and work of Christ. Someone not adhering to these doctrines would not be considered a Christian.
• Level two would include doctrines that actual Christians would disagree on, and the result would involve significant boundaries like separate denominations or separate congregations. An example at this level would be the method, mode, or candidacy for baptism.
• Level three is when Christians disagree but remain in fellowship within the same congregation. An example of this is different beliefs on eschatology.  

Given these three levels, the question that helps clarify if conflict is necessary is “Is this a First or Second Tier issue or a Third Tier issue?”  For the first two levels, conflict may be necessary.

3. Conflict is necessary when there is blatant sin in the church.   

As a new pastor, you may be faced with situations where people are living in blatant sin that is adversely affecting both the witness and the ministry of the church.  As a pastor, you are faced with how to approach it. Matthew 18 gives instructions on approaching all conflict, but particularly this kind. 

Go to the person. Take someone with you. Discuss it with them and encourage repentance.   If they refuse, share with leaders and ultimately the church. Communicate all the while the “Why” behind your approach:  Love for them as a member of your flock.

Dealing with blatant sin within the church is not enjoyable, but it is necessary, and it may lead to necessary conflict.

4. Conflict is necessary when you are preaching challenging texts in scripture.

If your preaching plan is to preach through books of the Bible, you will be called upon to preach on topics and texts that may lead to subsequent conflict. Preach the truth! Preach it in love to your people.

5. Conflict is necessary when people are at odds with each other. 

As a pastor, you are called to be a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18) who works to help others navigate their own conflicts in healthy, biblical ways.  Sometimes a new pastor finds the “soil” of his new congregation deficient because of strained relationships due to ongoing conflict, a lack of forgiveness, or a harboring of bitterness over the past. 

These strained relationships cannot be ignored. Poor relationships do not get better by themselves. Sometimes they call for a reconciling peacemaker to shepherd them toward reconciliation. 

6. Conflict is necessary when people directly oppose the mission of the church. 

The Great Commission involves “making disciples of all nations.”  If someone opposes the church’s attempts to reach, evangelize, and disciple people across the street and across the globe, this calls for necessary conflict. 

7. Conflict is necessary when financial problems need to be addressed.

If your new church is behind budget by 20% every month and nothing has been done to address the shortfall, significant changes may be necessary much sooner than you would prefer. Those changes may lead to conflict, but that conflict would be necessary.

If the church has no mechanism for financial checks and balances and accountability, that too calls for necessary changes that may lead to conflict. 

8. Conflict is necessary when helping the church recognize its current reality.

God calls pastors to lead their churches toward greater health and a better future. Before taking steps into God’s preferred future, it is necessary to first determine “Where are we right now?” Put another way, “What are our strengths?”  “What are our sins?”  “What are we not doing well?” 

In the letters to the churches in Revelation, the Lord pointed out their current reality from His perspective. For the church of Laodicea, He pointed out that He saw things differently than they did regarding their needs. Revelation 3:17 states, “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” As you take steps early in your tenure to learn well about the church, God may lead you to eventually share the hard truths you’ve learned about the church’s current reality. Sharing these observations may lead to uncomfortable but necessary conflict. 

The Need for Discernment

In all the ministry challenges you face as a new pastor, pray for discernment in determining which conflicts are necessary and which are not. As James reminds us, God will give you the wisdom you need (James 1:5). In the next post, we’ll talk about some scenarios when conflict probably isn’t necessary.

Photo by Uriel Soberanes on Unsplash