CHRISTIANS AND LAWSUITS
Pastor William Heinrich
In I Corinthians 6:1, Paul states, “Dare any of you having a matter against
another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints.” In 6:7,
he continues, “Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go
to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not
rather let yourselves be cheated?” This is not a wholesale condemnation of law
courts, for Paul more than once appealed to them when accused of crimes. In
fact, his appeal to Caesar was a request to be heard by the high court in the
world of that day.
Paul is not stating that the courts were corrupt, nor that a believer would be
unable to receive a fair hearing. However, he is deeply concerned that
Christians should not parade any of their differences before the world. Family
disputes were to be handled within the family. Furthermore, it is inconsistent
for those justified before God to appear in judgment before the unjustified.
This last point he chose to expand with logic. He says since saints will someday
judge both the world and angels, they should certainly now judge among
themselves. He concludes his comments on this saying that he desires to produce
in them a sense of shame; shame for going to law instead of not choosing to be
cheated if necessary; also shame that they made unbelievers their judges and
parade their stubborn differences before them instead of seeking a wise believer
to arbitrate.
Christians are saved sinners. Sometimes they are stubborn, selfish and even
divisive. The difference between Christians and non-Christians is that one is
gradually becoming more like Jesus, and the other is not. One is seen on his
knees, confessing his sins, and the other is not. At times, the unbelievers will
act more like Jesus than the believer, but only the one is forgiven, for he
confessed his sin and trusted Christ.
Christians today must be very careful to not go to law against another
Christian. He must be willing to be cheated and accept wrong. He must consider
doing what God wants of him more important than his “rights” or being “fair.” No
doubt many today need to be ashamed, as there were in the Corinthian church
then.