Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

⁷  Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another.  Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be defrauded?

⁸  On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.”  1 Corinthians 6:1-8.

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This is a difficult passage, particularly for me as an attorney.  From the start, I need to admit that I don’t have the belief that church members should never resolve their cases against other members in public courts before such unbelievers.  There may be those Christians who do interpret the Scripture that way, and we should consider not only their interpretation of this Scripture but other Scripture as well.  As stated, this is a difficult passage requiring much cross-referencing with other Scripture and other care and wisdom.

However, at least, church members should be reluctant to bring their cases against other members in public courts before such unbelievers.  They should try to first use the resources of the church to resolve their case within the church.  And, there are reasons to do so in addition to that it is consistent with the “judging” position of believers stated in verses 3 and 4.  Reconciliation and good-will between believers may be more important than who gets the better financial outcome.

If common grace were given to unbelievers, then there would be that basis for church members to resolve their cases in public courts before such unbelievers.  But, common grace is not given to unbelievers.  Unbelievers may have and do have worldly wisdom and skills, but they may not have the grace that may be needed to resolve such disputes between believers. 

Specific Godly wisdom is needed in addition to (or as part of) grace.  1 Corinthians 6:5.  It is interesting to me that although the elders of a church should be the first thought as to the pool of men who should be first considered to mediate or adjudicate the dispute within the church, the qualifications of elders (a/k/a overseers) in Titus Chapter 1 and 1 Timothy Chapter 3 do not specifically include that quality of wisdom.  In other words, there may very well be wise men within the group of elders who can best mediate or adjudicate a specifc dispute;  if so, great, then you can use one of them.  But if there is not such a wise man who can best mediate or adjudicate a specific dispute within that group of elders, then it may be necessary to look outside of that group to find such a wise man within the church who can best mediate or adjudicate the dispute within the church.  As part of that specific Godly wisdom, it may also be best for that wise man to have specific intellectual knowledge of science, business, or other area involved in the dispute. 

All of this is easy to say for those who are not involved in such a dispute.  If you fortune is at stake, this and other Scripture may be very difficult to digest and apply. 

But, there is hope!