By Sarah Wootten
Last week, we began 1 Corinthians 6 where Paul addressed the church concerning a lawsuit. The main issue Paul wrote about was that no one within the congregation was mediating between the two men. The church should have been exercising spiritual wisdom and helping the brothers resolve the issue. Instead, the two men went to worldly courts. Their behavior didn’t show the mind of Christ they had been given, and the situation damaged the church’s testimony to the lost.
However, Paul isn’t finished yet; he has words reserved for the two men as well. He writes, “But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!” (1 Corinthians 6:6-8, ESV)
I was curious today if anyone had ever sued himself. After a quick Google search, I found about fifteen stories where someone attempted to sue himself in the US court system. There was a common thread in each story – every single case (except one) was dismissed or the court quickly ruled against the plaintiff. Why? Because the courts have rightfully agreed that suing yourself is ridiculous!
But that’s exactly what these two brothers were doing – suing themselves. I hope you noticed in the verses above a particular word that was used three times – brother. When a Christian sues another Christian, he isn’t suing just any person; he is suing his family. Moreover, 1 Corinthians 12 will teach us how all Christians are made into one body, so much so, that “if one member suffers, all suffer,” (12:26a, ESV). When a Christian sues another Christian, he is harming his own body, his own family. This isn’t an issue that only affects the individuals; rather, it affects the entire congregation. We shouldn’t go to ungodly courts to resolve issues within the family. We need those with the mind of Christ to step in and judge between the brothers. But that’s not the only option Paul gives when one brother wrongs another.
Paul’s next point cuts us to the core. He asks why is no one willing to be wronged or defrauded? Think of a time where you have been wronged. Our immediate reaction to those situations is to dwell upon how terrible that person treated us, how unfair the action was, and how we can retaliate. Then we go tell a friend who isn’t involved to get them on our side before attempting to address the issue. In summary, our emotions are big, our thoughts are dramatic, and our mouths are loud.
Paul is encouraging believers to act in an altogether different manner. Instead of seeking retaliation, he encourages us to silently suffer wrongdoing. Why? Because that’s what our Lord did. No one was more mistreated than Jesus Christ. Our loving Savior who taught the truth and helped those in need was betrayed by all of His closest friends, sold into the hand of His enemies, given an unfair trial, and put to death by the hands of sinners. He didn’t assert His rights as God, but silently endured evil for our sakes. Can we not endure being wronged for the sake of someone else? We have to remember that nothing escapes the eyes of God. As Romans 12:17-21 tells us, we can trust God to do what is right when we have been wronged, just as Christ did. Perhaps, He will justly judge the individual and punish them. Or maybe God will move in the hearts of man by wiping out all animosity and bring true repentance and forgiveness to the relationship, which is what our hearts actually long for. Besides, reconciliation between brothers is worth far more than all the money in this world.
In closing, there actually isn’t a direct command to never sue in these passages. Of course, there are criminal activities that occur against us and others that need to be reported to the authorities. That’s not what’s in view in these passages. Primarily, Paul is addressing the heart and giving us New Testament principles to consider when someone has wronged us, and we are faced with a decision – do I seek restitution for the damage done and assert my rights, or do I silently wait for God to act and trust that His judgements are perfect?
This article originally appeared in The Clarion Newspaper.
Corinth Baptist Church 