I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!
1 Corinthians 6:5-8 (ESV)
Much of Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth is devoted to addressing problems that had arisen in the church. And in 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, he addressed a serious issue. At least one, and maybe more, members of the church had taken others to court. They were suing for wrongs that had been done to them.
And Paul was appalled. He told them that they would judge both the world and angels (1 Cor. 6:2-3). Could it be that no one among them was competent to resolve the issues they were having amongst themselves without taking the matter to a secular court?
Everyone Loses
Then Paul tells them that the very fact that they are having a lawsuit is a defeat for them. Regardless of who wins the case, both parties have been defeated. The one who wronged the other lost because they failed to love. The one who was wronged lost because they failed to forgive. And the church lost because of the damage to its reputation.
In my experience, I have never seen a believer take another to court, although it undoubtedly happens. But unfortunately, conflict between members of a local church is not uncommon. When that happens, do we work to resolve it with a spirit of love and forgiveness? Or do we allow our hurt to fester, become a cancer within the life of the body, and experience defeat?
Love your brothers and sisters as Christ loved you (John 15:12), and you will not wrong your brother or sister in Christ. If you have been wronged, or even feel like you have, forgive the one who hurt you. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you (Col. 3:13). And if you find a rupture in the fellowship of the body, seek reconciliation between the two parties (Phil 4:2-3).
