Christians and Lawsuits 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Behind the Rhetorical Questions If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! The crux of the matter: defamation and counter lawsuit. Lawsuits are: Expensive Unfair – Unjust Embarrassing

Behind the Rhetorical Questions If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Trivial in the midst of our role as Christians in the pagan world.

Will we be judging angels? Weak! Angels in general (Hebrews 2:5-9) Patrons of the nations Fallen Angels (Matt 25:41, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude1:6) Paul’s main point: Our role and responsibility as children of God are so great that we shouldn’t be bothered with petty lawsuits with personal agendas.

Addressing the matter 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! Disputes within the church should remain within the church. NOTE: This doesn’t overwrite Romans 13

Romans 13:1-5 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

The Role of Church in State The Church The Secular Courts Accounts for the morality of the community and its laws. Accounts for the legalities of the community and its institutions.

The Heart of the Matter 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. No matter who wins or loses the lawsuit, they both lost spiritually. Complete loss of every sense of brotherhood in the community.

The Heart of the Matter Jesus said: 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Jesus said: 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. (Matthew 5:40)

The Heart of the Matter 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Peter said:  19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. (1 Peter 2:19) 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)

Hope in the Midst of Judgment 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  All will be judged EQUALLY

Hope in the midst of judgment 11 And that is what some of you were (wrongdoer). 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. Clean Unclean The Wrongdoer Jesus Christ and The Spirit of God Unashamed Ashamed Unholy Holy Guilty Righteous