Legal Disputes in Church

If any of you have a legal dispute against another, do you dare go to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or don't you know the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest cases? Don't you know that we will judge Angels- not to mention ordinary matters? So if you have cases pertaining to this life, do you select those who have no standing in the church to judge? I say this to your shame! Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between his brothers? Instead, believer goes to court against believer, and before unbelievers!

But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor 6:1-6;11b

Paul was raised and indoctrinated in a culture that settled its own disputes. In the day of Christ, even though the Romans ruled, they did not become involved unless there was a breaking of their law, the Jews settled matters relating to religion and minor issues. However, his understanding of how the church should behave was impeccable.

Why should we take our brothers and sisters to court when the church could settle the disput? It makes us look like fools. However, in the matter of sexual impropriety committed by church leaders it has been shown that justice has not been done by such an attitude. What appears to have happened is leniency towards the perpetrator rather than the abused.

Simple fights and squabbles about minor offences should be resolved by individuals and if they cannot then they should bring someone else alone and finally if they cannot settle the matter then the church should be involved. This is biblical procedure.

We have to raise the standard, think like the family of God we are meant to be and behave accordingly, otherwise we are no different from the world and then why do we actually belong to a church? We are saints, time to behave like it. Amen!