What a cannibal tribe can teach us about conflict at work

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

The Sawi tribe of Papua New Guinea celebrated cannibalism, revenge, and treachery. When a group of Christian missionaries read from the gospels, the Sawi were more drawn to Judas than Jesus. The missionaries were at a loss about how to share the gospel—until they witnessed a Sawi peace ceremony.

To make peace with a warring tribe, the Sawi chief ripped his only child from his screaming wife’s arms and gave his son to the enemy chief, who did the same in return. Both tribes understood that harming a “peace child” was forbidden. As long as the peace children lived, there would be no war.

The missionaries were horrified, but also hopeful. They explained that, “True peace can never come without a peace child.” The good news is that God gave his only Son, the ultimate Peace Child, to make peace not just between two tribes, but between heaven and earth. His name is Jesus, the Prince of Peace Isaiah prophesied about in today’s passage.

We were once God’s enemies (see Romans 5:10). But because “a son is given” to us, all who trust in the Father’s “peace child” have eternal peace with God (see Romans 5:1). This is the breathtaking “peace on earth” we celebrate at Christmas.

What does that mean for our work? To truly reflect the Prince of Peace, we will prioritize peace as we close out 2025 and look ahead to 2026. To that end, let me encourage you to take 3 steps before the year is out.

#1: Praise God for the Prince of Peace. As you truly worship Christ vertically, it will be hard not to be compelled to make peace horizontally with others.

#2: Think of one person you have a lack of peace with at work. A co-worker who stole credit from you. A boss whose offense you can’t overlook. A vendor who didn’t deliver what they promised.

#3: Make the first move in pursuing peace by the end of 2025. If God waited for the guilty party to make the first move in resolving conflict with him, you and I would be eternally dead in our sin. Christmas reminds us that he didn’t. The Prince of Peace moved towards us. And so, “as far as it depends on you,” make the first move to, “live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).

Work will likely be quieter for you this week. Redeem your time in the model of your Redeemer. Spend a bit of it pursuing peace with those you work with in response to the cosmic peace the Ultimate Peace Child has made with you.