Listen to this articleThis teaching is a response to a question asked by a fellow Christian on whether or not to take a Pastor to court.
The bible advises that when there is an issue among believers who are part of the body of Christ.
We must address the issue in three stages.
Stage 1. You talk to to the brother in private.
If the brother does not listen, you go to stage 2.
Stage 2. You bring in two other brothers to mediate between the two of you.
These two other brethren will serve as witnesses of your case before God. They can mediate.
If the person does not listen to the two brothers.
You go two stage 3.
Stage 3 is when the issue is brought to the church. This means you make it public and open in the church that this is the issue you are having with this person.
The church will mediate and try to correcr that person. If the person does not listen to the church, then you can treat them as an unbeliever. This means you can take them to a worldly court.
Matthew 18:15-18 (BBE)
15: And if your brother does wrong to you, go, make clear to him his error between you and him in private: if he gives ear to you, you have got your brother back again.
16: But if he will not give ear to you, take with you one or two more, that by the lips of two or three witnesses every word may be made certain.
17: And if he will not give ear to them, let it come to the hearing of the church: and if he will not give ear to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-farmer.
18: Truly I say to you, Whatever things are fixed by you on earth will be fixed in heaven: and whatever you make free on earth will be made free in heaven.
The apostle Paul was dealing with issues of people in the church of Corinth who were suing each other in earthly courts, whilst skipping the church entirely.
He said, it was better to be defrauded than to just skip the church, and rush to court.
God has established wisdom in the church, and in the church we must set wise people who can judge such matters.
1 Corinthians 6:1-6 (NET)
1 When any of you has a legal dispute with another, does he dare go to court before the unrighteous rather than before the saints?
2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to settle trivial suits?
3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? Why not ordinary matters!
4 So if you have ordinary lawsuits, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church?
5 I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians?
6 Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian, and do this before unbelievers?
So, the church must set people who are wise and capable to settle disputes. They must not set people who are novices.
Only if a person refuses to listen to the church, is he then treated like an unbeliever and taken to court.
Originally, the job of settling disputes and matters in the church belonged to deacons.
The qualification for this role is that the person have a good reputation, must be full of wisdom, and full of the spirit.
Acts 6:3 (WEB)
Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
The apostle Paul adds that the deacons must also be honest people, who handle their families well,
1 Timothy 3:8-13 (NET)
8: Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain,
9: holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10: And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless.
11: Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect.
12: Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households.
13: For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Unfortunately, in our churches these days, noone looks at these things when selecting deacons. People are made deacons because they tithe well. Some have no wisdom and are not full of the spirit, and their families and children are unruly.
Anyways. In your case, find such men who fit the biblical description, and let them judge your case. Men of good report, full of the spirit and full of wisdom. Who are not worldly but have the fear of God. Who manage their own families well.
And if the person who has grieved you refuses to listen to them, then say your case open among the body of believers. And if he does not listen to them, then treat that person as an unbeliever.
The apostle Paul says it was better to be defrauded than to skip the church and send a brother to court.
1 Corinthians 6:6-7 (NET)
6 Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian, and do this before unbelievers?
7 The fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves demonstrates that you have already been defeated. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
Only a Christian who has refused the judgment of the church, do we treat them as we would an unbeliever
Amen.
