Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

Will You Resolve Conflicts and Promote Peace?

The Watchtower (Study)—2017 | June
- A MIX OF PERSONALITIES ENRICHES THE CONGREGATION
  
  Personality—the unique set of traits that each of us has and that varies from one person to another—can make for rich friendships. Differences in personality can also lead to conflicts. An experienced elder gives this example: “Someone who is shy can have a difficult time being around an outgoing, backslapping person. That difference may seem unimportant; yet, it can lead to serious problems.” Do you feel, however, that people who have distinctly different personalities are bound to have problems? Well, consider two of the apostles. What was Peter like? You may think of him as outspoken and impulsive. What of John? We may think of him as loving and usually measured in his speech and actions. There may be some basis for such ideas about those two apostles. It seems that they differed in personality. Still, they worked well together. (Acts 8:14; Gal. 2:9) Accordingly, it is possible for Christians with quite different personalities to work together today.
  
  Perhaps there is in your congregation a brother whose speech and actions irritate you. Still, you realize that Christ died for that person and you are to show love. (John 13:34, 35; Rom. 5:6-8) So rather than write off any friendship with that one or tend to avoid him, ask yourself: ‘Is my brother doing something that is clearly wrong Scripturally? Is he maliciously trying to cause me discomfort? Or do we just have different personalities?’ Also, of great importance is the question: ‘Which of his good qualities can I benefit from?’
  
  That last question is key. If the person is a talker and you are quiet, think of the ease with which he starts conversations in the ministry. You might offer to work with the person in the ministry and see what you can learn. If he has often shown generosity to others, whereas you tend to be a bit tightfisted, why not note the joy that comes from giving to the elderly, the sick, or the needy? The point is, even though you have different personalities, you and your brother may be able to draw closer by focusing on the positive. Your doing so may not turn you into close companions, but it can help to draw you together and increase peace—in you and in the congregation as a whole.
  
  Euodia and Syntyche may have had distinctly different ways or personalities. Yet, the apostle Paul encouraged them “to be of the same mind in the Lord.” (Phil. 4:2) Will you similarly work toward that goal and the related goal of peace?

Will You Resolve Conflicts and Promote Peace?

The Watchtower (Study)—2017 | June
- Paul and Barnabas—Brothers Despite Differences
  
  To say that the man had intense emotions is an understatement. Before he became a Christian, Paul was “breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” (Acts 9:1) In time, he described his former feelings toward Christ’s followers: “I was extremely furious with them.”—Acts 26:11.
  
  Paul made major changes after his baptism, but notoriety followed him. Some time after he became a Christian, the brothers in Jerusalem “were all afraid of him, because they did not believe he was a disciple.”—Acts 9:26.
  
  The congregation might have continued to be wary of Paul were it not for a Christian from Cyprus named Joseph. His loving manner was well-known, and the brothers gave him the descriptive name “Barnabas”—“Son of Comfort.” (Acts 4:36, 37) Those taking the lead respected him, and he helped Paul. We read: “Barnabas came to his aid and led him to the apostles, and he told them in detail how on the road he had seen the Lord, . . . and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 9:26-28) On hearing Barnabas’ testimony, the Jerusalem congregation accepted Paul. Soon, those two men began serving together as missionaries.—Acts 13:2, 3.
  
  Barnabas must have seen good in Paul’s intense drive and direct approach. On the other hand, Paul certainly would have appreciated Barnabas’ kindness and compassion.
  
  The Bible does mention that at one point they had “a sharp burst of anger.” Why? The account does not suggest that it was the result of a personality conflict. Rather, it reflected their differing opinions of John Mark’s qualifications for missionary service.—Acts 15:36-40.
  
  Despite the different personalities of Paul and Barnabas, they had been able to serve together before that event. And we read that Paul and Mark later worked together again. (Col. 4:10) Thus, different personalities need not produce conflict—not then, not today.

A MIX OF PERSONALITIES ENRICHES THE CONGREGATION