It has been another beautiful day of sun and the changing color of the leaves as Autumn is upon us! Thank You, Father, for the beauty from Your bounteous hand!

1 Corinthians 6:1-11 (<<click here to read the passage)

Something that is off about our practice of living out our Christianity is that we do a lot of picking and choosing when it comes to Scripture. Today’s passage is an excellent example.

When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers [God’s holy people]! v1 NLT

I’m sure there are Christians who practice this directive of the Apostle Paul, but I have no idea where they might be. In my 60+ years, I’ve not experienced or seen such a thing occur in the Church.

Paul follows up with,

I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? v5 NLT

Personally, I’ve come to hold that we don’t take people to court. I know that some things that happen in life demand justice, but why don’t we, those who claim Christ as our Savior, why don’t we have some means wholly honored by the Church, of deciding disputes amongst the Body of believers? Sure, it would be involved, and sure, all parties would have to agree regarding the decisions rendered, but as my Life Application Study Bible states,

As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ, so why should we turn to those who lack God’s wisdom?

But then Paul throws out an even heftier punch of shame!

Why, the very fact that you have lawsuits with one another is already a defeat. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? On the contrary, it is you who wrong and defraud, and you do this even to your brothers and sisters. v7-8 AMP

The mind of Christ should prevail in every one of us, but unfortunately, our humanity too often rears its ugly head, claiming the victory.

For a point of transparency, I know there are things I battle against regularly that I shouldn’t think, much less say. I lost count a long time ago of the number of times that the word “fool” comes to mind and tongue, especially while driving – the things people do!

Jesus said in Matthew 5:22,

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ [an Aramaic term of contempt – idiot] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. NIV

We may struggle. We may fall. But may we go beyond – far beyond – what our human nature yields so quickly to. We should always strive to abide by what God has set before us. Onward and upward, my friends!

Oct 24th, 2023, Tues, 12:50 pm