Keep It In-House - 1 Cor 6:1-11
Paul and the Corinthians—Part Six [1]
The Corinthians responded to the Gospel and, as all who do, they were known as “saints” (or “set apart ones”) in Heaven. Paul is urging them to live up to their title!
One of the various problems the Apostle tackles is church members dragging each other into court! This was certainly a problem that originated with the wealthy members of the congregation because they were the only ones in the Roman Empire who trusted the courts.
The New Living Translation translates 6:1-8 as,
6:1 When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! 2 Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? 3 Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? 6 But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!
7 Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.
Christ’s chosen representative to the Gentiles is inspired to write that it is better to be cheated then air a church’s dirty laundry in front of unbelievers. Yet, today, we do not think twice about whining and complaining about our church online or at work, etc.
I believe that if Paul was alive today (after his head exploded from the very existence of so-called “super preachers” like Osteen and Furtick) that he would tell the church to knock it off. He would say that one purchased by the blood of King Jesus should not buy in to our narcissistic culture.
I think he would also remind us that non-Christians do not carefully delineate between good churches and apostate churches. That is why whenever a well-known ministry leader falls, the secular world rejoices and paints all churches with the same brush.
Savior Jesus taught,
15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. (Matt 18:15-17 NLT).
In other words, our King commands us to settle disputes in-house. It is better to be taken advantage of, lose an argument or whatever then bring shame upon the church.
[1] For the sake of time and space, I will rarely post my own translation along with the blog post from here on out. CCC members can snag them at church or message me and I will send them the translation.