10/8/2006 ~ To Sue or Not To Sue |
~ All Christians in the Body of Christ are saints. ... But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! ... ~ 1st Corinthians 6:1-11 Corinth was a busy city of quarrelling commerce. Paul is saying that Christians should not be so unruly. Case study of management. <─┐ ... hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ... ~ Exodus 18:17-23 Problems are real when they happen to you. The problem is with the people in bitterness. ~ People on a path of rage. "Road Rage = Gauge" ┌─> The first court should be with believers. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? ~ 1st Corinthians 6:1 Even asking the recently baptized would be better than an unbeliever. ... are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ... ~ 1st Corinthians 6:2-3 "... we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?" ... ~ Matthew 19:27-30 The world can not take away your righteousness which is the crown of life; satisfaction in the knowledge of truth. ... with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; ... ~ Matthew 7:1-2 ┌────> Do not judge hypocritically. <────┘ ... Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly ... ~ Luke 6:40-42 ... "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." ~ John 8:7 None could judge her. ~ Those close to God are better to judge. → How do we show righteousness as instruments of God? Does the behavior of Christians draw people to God? Jesus wants us to work things out. ... be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. ... ~ Ephesians 4:31-5:4 ┌─> There needs to be unity among the brethren. "... they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." ~ John 17:20-21 When the world sees your problems, that doesn’t sit well with non-Christians. ... that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. ... ~ Matthew 18:15-18 Jesus gives us the procedure: confront those directly with 1 or 2 others. ~ If this does not find resolution in the family of God, then call the lawyer and treat the violator as heathen. Criminal behavior should be prosecuted. Too often people use the façade of a church to validate sin. ~ When you fix yourself you save others. ~ Work out your differences. ~ Christians would be better to take a wrong than to hurt the image of God. Try God first before you take it to a court of man. Mercy, redemption, love, ~ A setting of Godly people. |
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