Believers Suing Believers is a No, No!

Even amongst believers there will be times when you can’t come to an agreement. Someone will feel wronged by another, in a legal matter. By the standards of our U.S. government, you have a right to sue that person and seek restitution. That’s the law of this land. However, Jesus has a different law.

What Does the Bible Say?

Pertaining to those in the Kingdom of God, Paul was inspired to write:

 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? 2Or 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? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! 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? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters (1 Corinthians 6:1-8 NIV). 

How to Apply This in Everyday Life

This means, a believer should not sue another believer. Let’s say you were wronged- in a real way. I’m not talking about something petty or a matter of opinion; but you were seriously and obviously wronged. The Word of God says, don’t take your brother or sister (in the faith) before unbelievers. Don’t take them before this world’s court system.

  • Not if you think you have a just cause.
  • Not if you are convinced the law is on your side.
  • Not if you have proof or eye-witness testimonies to back you up.
  • Not even to teach that other person, what could be a much-needed lesson.

Why?

One, children of the God, we should be able to settle disputes among ourselves. We know the Word of God and/or have it readily available to us. His Holy Spirit leads and guides us in all truth, humbles our hearts, and moves us to desire something greater than just to win a case. We desire to please our Father.  So, we do all we can to be at peace amongst ourselves.

Two, if we cannot come to an agreement on our own, God has made provisions to bring in a third party. In our church, amongst all our brothers and sisters in the faith, is someone who possesses the love of Christ and has demonstrated godly wisdom and understanding to judge this matter. Through prayer and supplication, God will open our eyes and reveal that person to us.

Paul implies it would a disgrace if those under the rule and authority of the Prince of Peace cannot come to peaceful terms and turn to find it from an outside source. In doing so, we will have already lost- implying somehow the Word of God, didn’t work. It would be much better to just accept the wrong done to us. I ran a bunch of “what-if” scenarios and the Word of God has never changed on this matter- or any other. Once we are born again, everything is a heart matter, a faith matter, a God matter.

Conclusion

We don’t like to be cheated or wronged. Pride will tempt us to say, “That’s not right. I’m not going to let them do that to me.” But, humility says, “Thank you, Jesus. You know, Lord.” By no means does this clear the guilty; but that will be between them and God. We’ve just decided to honor Christ and His Name more than our own. In the interim, we forgive, just like Christ has forgiven us.

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Scriptures from Biblehub.com