DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TO SUE OR NOT TO SUE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – TO SUE OR NOT TO SUE?

"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?....But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!" (I Corinthians 6:1, 6)

What do we do when we have a grievance against another believer? Do we take them to civil court and sue for justice? Paul's answer is, "No." He taught by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that conflicts between believers should be taken to the church, and not to civil court.

Arbitration by the church takes precedence over civil litigation because the civil judges are not righteous people with godly wisdom. Maybe one reason these believers went to the civil court was that they did not have confidence in their church leaders to judge wisely. As a side-note, this highlights the necessity of having godly church leaders who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3).

Taking another believer to court – whether to civil court or the church – has consequences. It can cause irreparable damage to the relationship of the individuals, but can also bring harm to the rest of the body. It can also damage the reputation of the church of Jesus among unbelievers who watch Christian wash their dirty clothes in public. Actually, Paul said that it was better to be wronged and cheated than to take it to the civil court. It is better to bear the grievance than to get my pound of flesh.

So when, for whatever reason, we are reluctant to take a matter to the church for resolution, we need to be careful about going before the civil court.

Disagreements are bound to occur between both Christians and non-christians. We need to use great discretion in handling these grievances. Forgiveness is the best resolution, even if we are in the right. Our rights are to be in submission to love – love for God, love for His Church, and love for others.

Love, Dad