So many psychologists and other assorted experts have been writing about the many interpersonal conflicts within our society right now (as if that’s a new thing!), that I thought I’d take a look at how Jesus dealt with conflict. If I maintain that I am a follower, then I must look to him and learn from him.
I have outlined a short book or pamphlet on the subject and have begun the thinking and writing. I’ll probably outline ideas here. Feedback with other ideas is always welcome. My teachers both in academia and corporations taught me to write as if I know what I’m talking about. Many times it’s really current thinking that is always open for something new that can expand it.
Chronologically, the first conflict that Jesus dealt with according to the Gospels (Matthew and Luke) was with the person identified as the Tempter, the devil, Satan. I think if we applied this to ourselves, we would identify it as our inner demons, dark thoughts, emotions.
In the literature of spiritual development, a first spiritual “high” always precedes a time in the “desert” facing temptations.
Just so, Jesus follows his baptism and hearing of God’s blessing with 40 days of fasting in the wilderness. He was then faced with three temptations.
One was food. He had been fasting, that is, intentionally going without food as a spiritual practice to help one become open to God’s word. He was tempted to use his power (which we lack) to turn stones into bread. This was followed (Matthew and Luke differ on the order of temptations) by the lust for power. The Tempter offers him temporal power over all the kingdoms. The other temptation was immortality—jumping from a high building into the ravine below trusting God to save him.
Jesus calmly evaluated each situation. He turned the story from himself to God. He quoted from God’s word to refute the temptation.
I’m guessing that most people reading this do not think they are Jesus. How do we translate these into something meaningful for us in this era of conflict with friends, family, social networks?
We first become aware that we are facing an adversary—those thoughts and emotions that well up from deep in our gut. We must pause and consider. Are these things emphasizing bodily pleasure, lust for power, or prodding our desires to be like God?
We must pause. Then we can look to our teachers or our Teacher. He taught us to look first to God. What is God’s desire for our life? Can we muster the courage to turn our backs on temptations letting them wither and die for lack of support? Can we return to the practices that bring us closer to God and lead us to serve our fellow humans (and other creatures)?
Faith Venture 