The way Christians treat one another tells the world whether we think the Gospel is true. No amount of talking about forgiveness is going to make the world receive it, until they have seen it in action. Love spoken highly of pales in comparison with love demonstrated at cost. And who will submit one ounce of their rights to another until they have seen how God truly blesses it?
The early church changed the world because it believed in its message. But that is not to say that the early church didn’t have conflict. The Bible shares with us many instances of conflict in the early church, and how it was resolved. One episode stands out to me, a passage in 1 Corinthians:
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! Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!
Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.
1 Corinthians 6:1-81 Corinthians 6:1-8
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Taking Each Other to Court 6 1 When one of you has a complaint against another, do you take your complaint to a court of sinners? Or do you take it to God's people? 2 Don't you know that God's people will judge the world? And if you are going to judge the world, can't you settle small problems? 3 Don't you know that we will judge angels? And if that is so, we can surely judge everyday matters. 4 Why do you take everyday complaints to judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Aren't any of you wise enough to act as a judge between one follower and another? 6 Why should one of you take another to be tried by unbelievers? 7 When one of you takes another to court, all of you lose. It would be better to let yourselves be cheated and robbed. 8 But instead, you cheat and rob other followers.
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This is not the kind of thing we want to hear. This is not our natural inclination. Rather than have our day in court, proving that we are right and that the other person is wrong, we need to consider how our attitude – played out through action – looks to the world. How does it look to the world when a follower of Jesus acts like every other person on the block? Paul says that we should be ashamed if we can’t let ourselves be taken advantage of rather than give Jesus’ body a bad name.
The principle we find here is simple. Submit to one another.
The world will not understand putting others first until they see us forgo our rights to maintain peace and restore relationship. What a shame when believers buy into the lies of our culture, acting out bitterness, offering harsh and judgmental words, and stewing in their self-interest. People out side the church can see right through all the statements of faith to the heart condition. And so does God.
Especially in this area of legal disputes, we show whether or not we really believe in mercy, or demand justice. Justice is easy. I deserve it. I was hurt. I was taken advantage of. I deserve to be given what is mine. At least it is when we think we are in the right! But mercy is hard. Jesus demonstrated mercy over and over, though he had every right to offer God’s righteous judgment to the many hard-hearted that surrounded him. He even allowed himself to be prosecuted unjustly, to suffer the punishment meant for others, in order to be our example.
So how can you resolve conflict better so the world can see that you are serious about humility and forgiving those who have wronged you?
Very well written, George! May the church truly be known by her love, not her lawsuits.