Don’t go to Court, go to Church

Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
(1 Corinthians 6:2-3 – ESV)

We have in the body of believers all the resources necessary to settle disputes-truth, wisdom, equity, justice, kindness, generosity, and the mind of Christ, according to the scriptures. If we have this tremendous privilege of spiritual judgment in the future, and that ministry we're going to have will be based on principles of understanding, wisdom, and justice that we have available now in the Scriptures, then we can certainly trust them for handling disputes among ourselves right in this life. In the ordinary cases of life, the point is that if two Christian parties can't agree between themselves, they ought to ask fellow Christians to help settle the matter for them, and then be willing to abide by their decision.

Paul is not saying that the secular court system is entirely bad, or that being a lawyer is somehow ungodly. No, far from it, because Paul appealed to and benefited from Roman justice in Acts 18. Paul’s concern here is more specific. His concern is the arrogance that Christians show when they make the dirty laundry of their internal struggles public. These Christians don't care what other people think. Justice was dispensed in Corinth in the public square or the marketplace. So when someone hauled a brother or sister into court there, they weren't just settling a dispute. They were holding the church itself up to public scrutiny and ridicule.

Paul is not saying this is only an individual matter. There will come times when true believers have to have some mediation. Paul is not saying it is strictly up to the grieving parties to settle the issues all alone, no, he is saying that the church instead of the secular courts become the place of mediation. The decision by these Christians to go to court reveals how little respect they have for the church's authority and ability to settle its own disputes.

Of course, in today’s climate of people who think they are Christians but do not actively, vitally belong to any church, this becomes extremely problematic. With no church discipline in place, or marginal “professing” Christians as one or both of the “combatants”, it is therefore difficult to avoid some scenarios. Especially when someone is a professor and wants to use this as some sort of shield. It doesn’t mean that the two parties must work it out without the oversight of the church. Paul is saying that Christians should settle their disputes in the light and oversight of the church; in other words, the elders and congregation are the church court, as it were.

This is another reason why the idea of “you don’t have to go to church” is such a demonic, yes I said demonic, lie. God has given and structured the church so that it can take care of these things, but when people don’t believe in the authority of the church, they destroy part of the foundation for their lives. The truth is that mavericks have authority and responsibility and accountability issues. You cannot expect to have authority with God’s people (by using God’s Word) if you will not accept the authority of the local church. That is simply nonsense, and the whole New Testament testifies to the fact that vital membership in a local church is a non negotiable as a way of life for the Christian.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©