Stuart Scott. Communication and Conflict Resolution: A Biblical Perspective. Bemidji, MN: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, July 10th 2005. 36 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Need to work on your communication and conflict resolution skill biblically? This booklet by Stuart Scott a professor of biblical counseling might be what you are looking for. Don’t let the size of this pamphlet deceive you; there’s a lot of helpful materials found in its pages and I personally took a few weeks of slowly digesting it and taking lots of notes when I read it.
The work is divided into two parts. Part one is on communication while part two is on conflict resolution. The communication section alone is already worth getting this title. But it is the latter half on conflict resolution that I enjoyed the most.
The author was helpful in defining what conflict is not: It is not difference of opinion or being offended. I think that simple point is important to remember as sometimes people can equivocate difference of opinion as conflict (our emotions can lie to us). So what is conflict? “When both parties sin against one another (in their communication and/or their actions) and are then in opposition to one another” (13).
I enjoyed Scott’s discussion about how people can over-rate and have a wrong focus on compatibility; instead the book pushes for real solutions for people who will be different. I appreciate the author being biblical in identifying the source of conflict based upon James 4:1-3 with the root being our self-exalting pride, self-serving lusts or both (16-17). Also helpful is the author’s discussion of the benefits of disagreements and also sinful ways versus God honoring ways to avoid conflict.
Much more about this booklet could be said and even with what I mentioned in this review doesn’t exhaust the contents of this booklet. There’s many verses shared throughout this booklet and I appreciated looking them up and meditating and studying them. I recommend it and think its worth having a physical copy to review it from time to time for one’s own personal sanctification.
Thanks for this good review! Looks very helpful. Many married couples have communication problems and the resulting conflicts and would be helped by a Scripture-based resource.
Knowing you have been married for decades you should write a post from your experience and Scripture about communication and conflict resolution. What do you think?
That would be an interesting post. As we talked about before, marriages require intentional work, some more than others. My wife and I have polar opposite communication styles; she is very reactive (thinks out loud) and swings for the fences. I think long and hard before saying something. We’re both aware of our particular communication styles and try to get better at it, but we often resort to the standard and end up frustrating each other.
Sorry. The “send” button gets in the way sometimes.
So our communication styles are probably towards the extreme and we’re still regularly working on improving. My post would be about our experiences of how NOT to communicate in a marriage relationship and that would not be a good thing. 🙂
I haven’t thought about that before, that we can also have sinful ways of avoiding conflict. I think I’m often guilty of that.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for the reblog
Yankee Whiskey Bravo 😎🙏
Will look into this. TY for heads up.
How is your day going Maw Maw?
Good, my Grand, but heat storms daily.:)
Seems like a useful book for anyone to have.
It is! I’m planning on requiring this booklet to be read more often with those whom I counsel. Relatively short but pack a lot of punch! How are you doing lately?
Tired and busy but well. Planning to retire the 1st edition of the GlymyreScape Player’s Manuel in Nov and launch the 2nd edition in Dec. Thanks for asking! Hope you’re doing well. 🙂
Very cool, Slim. Conflict is vital and necessary, healthy even.
I was once blessed by understanding that Jesus really says, “blessed be the peaceMAKERS.” We make the peace! That is often misunderstood as a “peace keeper.” But a peace “keeper” tends to sweep problems under the rug, and to avoid dealing with them.
[…] What about if they have conflicts (in marriage or with other relationship)? I highly recommend Communication and Conflict Resolution: A Biblical Perspective. Parenting issues? Check out Help! My Toddler Rules the House. Sure there are other […]
Reblogged this on memoirandremains.
Totally remember this book like it was yesterday. Totally living it.
Getting this for myself and church members