It is strange that we as pastors, called to preach the gospel of grace to sinners, balk at having to deal with real sinners with real sin in real and messy situations. If we are to apply the Word of God to every aspect of life — sin and all — we must change our attitudes about conflict. Since it is God and His purposes we tend to forget in conflict, it would be best to start by asking: who is God, and what are His purposes with respect to conflict?

Alfred Poirier, The Peacemaking Pastor (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006), 72.