I Corinthians 6:1-7
“Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to form the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you anyone wise who will be able to decide between his brothers and sisters, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer the wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? On the contrary, you yourselves do wrong and defraud. And this to your brothers and sisters!”
This is another reason Paul wrote to the Corinthians. They were being a bad witness to the unbelieving community.
Here are some of Jesus’ last words in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We are to be Jesus’ witnesses. That’s a legal term. In court both the prosecution and the defense bring their witnesses. These are to be persuasive for their side. When we come to Christ, He adopts us, gives us a new nature, the Holy Spirit resides in us. He guides us and empowers us to be godly and loving. Unbelievers should see us and want to join with Jesus. One of the biggest traits of a believer is to be loving towards one another, particularly towards fellow believers.
The corinthians weren’t being good witnesses. They were bringing one another to court to settle their disputes. They couldn’t settle them amongst themselves. Romans 2:24 says, ‘As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”’
Another topic is should a believer bring another believer to court? Looking at Paul’s argument the answers seems to be “No”. However, there are some questions to ask. One may claim to be a christian, that might not be the case. Another question is that the severity of the crime may be too big to settle amongst themselves.
Lord, help us to be good witnesses. Help us to be forgiving that we would ignore the offense. Also, keep us from evil. Spare us from bad people and bad situations.