Reading: Discerning Your Role in a Conflict by Brian DeCook

Discerning Your Role in a Conflict

Scripture references: 2 Cor. 5:20; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; James 5:16b

1.         Discerning your role in a conflict is important. At the Peacefire, there are four roles that exist in most conflicts: the Offender, the Offended, the Ambassador, and the Intercessor.

2.         The Offender is a person who caused an offense - whether intentionally or unintentionally. At the Peacefire, the Offender asks the Lord, "Is there something you are exposing in me that you want to change?” and "For the glory of Jesus Christ, grant me the grace to confess my sin and restore relationship with my brother/sister.”

3.         The Offended is a person who has taken offense - whether consciously or subconsciously. At the Peacefire, the Offended asks the Lord, "Is there something you are exposing in me that you want to change?” and "For the glory of Jesus Christ, grant me the grace to forgive and restore relationship with my brother/sister.”

4.         The Ambassador is a person involved in a Conflict Wildfire who represents Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. The Ambassador does the bidding of the One who sent him into the conflict to encourage any who will listen to be reconciled to God and to one another. 2 Cor. 5:20; 2 Tim. 2:24-26

5.         The Intercessor is a person that is aware of a conflict, but has not been assigned the role of Ambassador for that conflict. The Lord gives the Intercessor a burden for one or more of the people involved in the conflict. The Intercessor continues in prayer over the situation for as long as the Lord directs. James 5:16b

6.         There is no role at the Peacefire for a talebearer or gossip. Gossip is a Wildfire accelerant.