I.
INTRODUCTION
In the modern day situation, we are seeing more and
more cases of Christians suing one another, bringing their brothers and sisters
in Christ, including their pastors or leaders, or even the church as a whole
unto the court. It seems that the teaching of Paul found in 1Corinthians 6:1-9
has lost its impact on the lives of many Christians. Is taking legal action
against one another a practice encouraged by the Bible? Or have we been so much influenced by the world which exalts
individualism and personal rights that we have lost the essence of Biblical
perspectives and values?
My position will be that Christians, under normal
circumstances, should not take legal actions against one another, especially
concerning those civil issues. The only exception will be those cases that
involve criminal offences, of which Christians might have to fulfill our
citizenship responsibilities by being witnesses or prosecutors. My position is
mainly based on the reason of Christian roles and calls to be salt and light in
the world and to influence the world with godly principles.
II.
THE ROLES AND CALLS OF CHRISTIANS
a)
WE
ARE A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST
We are constantly reminded by the Bible that in Christ
we are made anew. We are a new creation with a new mind, a new heart and a new
spirit to live for the glory of God. The old nature shall have no power or domination
over us (Colossians 3: 9-10). The Corinthians brought one another before pagan
judges because they had yet to realize their new identity in Christ. They were
still very much influenced by the Greek culture where litigation was a very
common portion of their lifestyle. Paul was exhorting them to leave behind
their old habits and lived in accordance with the new nature in Christ, with
heart of forgiving and acceptance. [1]
As Christians, we are called to die with Christ and to
surrender the rights we once have, leaving all of our former ways and
unrighteous acts, and to live for the welfare of others. A redeemed nature
shall reflect God’s character and heart for others. Any strife or fight for our
rights and benefits are selfish desires which are considered to be
contradicting to the teachings of the Lord.
b)
WE
ARE A COMMUNITY OF FAITH IN CHRIST
When we become Christians, we are gathered as a
community of faith where God is the centre of our worship and the Church is the
institution of authority we commit our lives and submit our will and resources
to. As believers of Christ, we trust that God is the ultimate Judge and He will
act on our behalf to avenge and to repay if we are truly being wronged or taken
advantage of by others (Hebrews 10:30). We believe in a higher Law which will
reward us according to our good deeds. If we take legal action on our own, we
have indirectly displayed our doubts towards His promises, care and protection
for our lives.
Furthermore, God has established the Church to be the
institute which represents His authority on earth. There are delegated or
ordained authorities in the Church who possess the wisdom, power, Word and
principles of God to judge among the saints. Paul believed that in the church of Corinth
c)
WE
ARE PEACEMAKERS OR RECONCILERS
In Christ, we are already reconciled to God and to
men. There should not have any division or strife among the believers if we
obeyed God to be peacemakers on earth. We are called to forgive one another
unconditionally regardless of whatever offences others might have done onto us
(Matthew 6:14-15; Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32). Our ultimate purpose is to
preserve the unity within the Church (Psalm 133:1-2) so that the blessings of
God can pour down on us freely and abundantly.
In Matthew 18:15-35, the Bible sets forth a model for
us to deal with offences one has against another. The biblical model seeks to
restore the brother who is in wrong or who sins against us, hoping that he will
repent and confess of his sins and turn away from his wicked or crooked way.
The process allows the offender opportunities to learn and admit his faults.
Unless the offender is found utterly hardened in his heart and refuse to change
and deserve for the church to exercise excommunication as a way of discipline,
we are to be patient and forbearance towards him. The discipline serves to
provide way to the offender to be directed unto the path of righteousness. Whoever have confessed their sins, no matter
how many times they have offended us, the biblical guideline for us is always
to forgive lovingly and unconditionally.
We are told to make every effort to keep the spirit of
unity in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). Any legal actions taken against one
another among the believers will break the chain and bond of peace of the local
church and damage the unity among the saints. [3]
d)
WE
ARE LOVERS OF OUR NEIGHBOURS
Christians are obliged to love our neighbors as
ourselves. Jesus does not stop just in asking us to love those that love us,
but to extend our love towards those enemies, those who seem to be unlovable
(Luke 6:27-36). Legal actions usually occur out of our selfish agenda and
pursuits. Out of our selfish and loveless motive, one initiates to take
advantage of the other and out of self-centredness one seeks to revenge and
retaliate, both without considering the loss or damage that will cause to one
another. The Corinthians had actually done so, one by disregarding the pain or
loss the other has to bear with because of the wrong done to him, and the other
by ignoring any legal consequences or financial burden one has to suffer under
the legal action.[4]
If we love someone, we will look after his interest
and will be willing to forgo our rights or benefits so that he may gain through
our sacrifices. Jesus emptied and denied himself to be incarnated as son of man
so that he could be offered as a living sacrifice unto the Lord in order to
redeem us from the darkness and sin. Love calls for a sacrifice and ends
unnecessary or endless disputes. We sin against ethical standards and brotherly
love if we take legal actions against one another in the house of God. [5]
e)
WE
ARE WITNESSES TO THE WORLD
The Church is prophesized as the mountain of the Lord,
which is the chief among all mountains and people will stream to it in the last
days (Micah 4:1-2). People in the world
tend to look upon the church, consciously or unconsciously, as the model for
moral standard even they might not really comply with what the Church confesses
and believes in. The Word of God will be sought after and exalted by many in
future.
In the letter to the Corinthians, Paul rebuked the
failure of the believers’ morality when they brought their cases before the
non-believers for judgment.[6] It
shamed the church for the outsiders would perceive the church as if there were
no wise men in the house of God, and it shamed the church too when believers
took revenge and abandoned the principle of love taught in the Truth.
Instead of settling through arbitration and being a
witness to the world that we are a changed and purified Body of Christ,
believers who bring one another to court have exposed the Church and the Gospel
of Grace for open humiliation and caused the Church to lose its saltiness.
Nowadays, many disputes between Christians or churches have indeed caused the
world to despise the Church and it does hinder the spread of the good news of
Jesus Christ. The Church has to make a difference, in maintaining its highest
morality, integrity and purity in order to advance the Kingdom of God
f)
WE
ARE CO-JUDGES WITH GOD
Believers are said to judge the twelve tribes of
Israel, the world and even the angels with the Lord Jesus on the Judgment Day
(Luke 22:28-30). Paul had pointed out this eschatological fact to the
Corinthians, exhorting them to act with a future perspective and not to be
entangled by their present concerns or rights (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). If they knew
their ultimate position were to be above the world, and they had indeed
possessed higher authority and standing than it, they would not seek judgment
from it, which has a lower stand than them both in this age and the age to
come.[7]
We fight for our rights in this age because we have
forgotten our future position in God and live as though we have this life on
earth only. If we possess eschatological perspective, we will be willing to
forsake the current privilege or rights and focus our attention on the future.
We will weigh between the temporal and eternal gains, and choose to yield our
rights in order to please God and secure our position in Him.
III.
CONCLUSION
Upon reflection of the above mentioned perspectives, I
believe that any disputes (excluding criminal cases concerning life and death
which Christians might be obligated to testify on court) between believers
should be settled under the counsels of church’s governors. I believe God has
bestowed on them godly wisdom and guidelines in His Word to settle cases
brought to them and they are spiritual authority over His people. Above all
else, believers are advised to act in love towards fellow believers and to
forgive unconditionally so that the love we have will witness to the world a
new community of faith in Christ with transformed mind and attitudes.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Barrett, C.K. The First Epistle to the Corinthians.
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The NIV Application Commentary. Grand
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D.D. Hodge, Charles. Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Grand
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Erdman, Charles
R. The First Epistle of Paul to the
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Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. Grand
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Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1983.
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First Corinthians. Louisville:
John Knox Press, 1997.
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Morris, Leon. 1Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary. Leicester: Inter-
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Thiselton, Anthony C. 1 Corinthians: A Shorter Exegetical & Pastoral Commentary.
Grand Rapids: William B. Berdmans Publishing Company, 2006.
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