The mandate of scripture is the most significant reason Christians should not have lawsuits against fellow believers (brothers in good standing before their church).
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 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! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 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 6:1-8 (ESV)
In thinking through this passage, it struck me that scripture appeals to us not only through mandate, but also through a pleading for wisdom. (As a presuppositionalist, I am struck by the wisdom of Paul’s admonition.) How can we take our conflicts to the world to decide? While unbelievers may have a sense of justice because of common grace, they do not accept the things of God. They do not see the world through the same lenses. 1 Corinthians 2:14 states: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
The NIV puts 1 Corinthians 2:4 this way: “Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!” Paul seems to be saying that even lowly Christians are wiser than the most astute secular judges. How can this be? Because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 1:7) Those who have a relationship with the Supreme law-giver are wise unto salvation. The Lord, who does not treat us as our sins deserve, requires us to act justly and to love mercy. (Micah 6:8)
Let us apply this passage to our lives and fear the Lord, the only righteous judge.
