Confrontation – Daily Journal
Matthew 18:15-20 ESV
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. …
Galatians 6:1 ESV
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Luke 17:3 ESV
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,
Matthew 7:3-5 ESV
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Confrontation is not easy for many and often avoided. I am guilty of this. I feel sometimes it’s just easier to avoid the situation, but I know this only puts things off and can cause more stress later on. The first passage hits home for me on how to deal with confrontation or even initiating confrontation when you feel you have been wronged or even feel you need to step in to address a wrongful situation.
I have learned, you go to the source. If someone has a disagreement with you or even does you wrong, confront the person first in private one on one. Approaching in a nonthreatening way also helps the discussion! This will address your concerns with that person (it’s not easy and the conversation will not necessarily go well). This approach however is usually better than talking poorly behind someone else’s back and really just avoiding the confrontation rather than the stress.
Talking behind others’ backs also tells others they cannot trust in you. I have always used the rule “Don’t say anything about other people that you wouldn’t say if they were sitting in the same room with you.” By practicing this, you will inherently build trust with others and gives you the opportunity for the discussions to happen if wrongful acts are done.
No comments.