Settle it Biblically

“Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?” 1 Corinthians 6:1-7

Let me ask you a question - Can you think of a country where there are more lawsuits filed than America? Our bent toward legal action has skyrocketed insurance costs for most professions and impacted the pocketbook of each citizen. Over and above the legal ramifications, however, is the extraordinary emphasis that has been placed on individual rights. Such a mindset has made deep inroads - even into the Christian community. We are often just as quick to pursue court action as the unbelieving world around us.

This notion horrified Paul in his day. The thought of believers settling their disputes against one another before pagan judges was a black eye for the Christian witness - and still is. As Christians, we have yielded our rights to Jesus Christ. We have died to our selfish ways of living. Going to court against our fellow Christians is the antithesis of our call - to love one another unconditionally, to go the second mile.

If you have been wronged by a believer, seek to settle your disagreement through Christian meditation, or choose to be “defrauded” rather than mar your testimony before an unbelieving world.

“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders...” Colossians 4:5