29. Suing at Law
“If any of you has a dispute with
another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the
saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to
judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know
that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life? Therefore, if
you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little
account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is
nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead,
one brother goes to law against another — 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? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your
brothers” (1 Cor. 6:1-8).
We believe that the Scriptures forbid going to
law against another. This plain command is part of the basic framework of the
principles of the Law of Christ, which forbids violence, coercion, resistance
and retaliation for evil. We are not to use the law, or the powers of the law,
against anyone in any way. To do so in any way is to violate the whole spirit of
Christ’s teachings.
