Question
Is it Christian to sue someone? What does the Bible say about this?
Answer
Paul talks about “going to law” against a brother in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. In Chapter 5 verse 11 he had told the Corinthians not to do anything that would encourage their fellow Christians in their sin which they had been doing (5:1-2). But they were to “judge” any fellow member and withdraw from them in order that they might see the error of their ways and return to God. They were neglecting their duty in chapter 5 in failing to judge at all and in chapter 6 they were avoiding their responsibility in taking the matters to pagan courts.
“Dare” (6:1) implies their going to civil courts to settle differences between Christians is inconsistent with the scriptures and it also shows the serious nature of what they were doing. (6:2) “The smallest matters?” were evidently trivial matters. Sort of like today our courts are overburdened by trivial lawsuits that should never have reached the courts.
We must realize a Christian lives in two kingdoms, the Kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of this world. (Rom. 13:1-4) Civil government is ordained of God for the purpose of restraining evil. The whole world is not going to become Christians so God uses civil government to restrain those, but Christians are regulated by both civil law and by the scriptures. The problems they were having in Corinth should have been settled on the basis of scripture. The difference is that Christians have an absolute standard, but the world’s standard changes as we can see by the changing laws of our day. (Today they are trying to justify lying!)
If the saints are going to “judge the world” and “judge angels” (no matter how), then should they not be able to judge these smallest matters? This judging was prophesied in (Dan 7:22) “Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” And Heb. 11:7 tells how it is done. “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
1 Corinthians 6 verse 4 indicates that the settlement of the problems should have to be on the basis of what was revealed. Because of their pride and bickering about miraculous gifts, it was to their shame there was no one able to judge these matters. But if two have a problem and both want to solve it, then it will be settled easily though. Better yet would it not even been better to suffer wrong than to split the church over the matter? When we think of what our Lord gave up for us finally being put to death with a mockery of a trial, why should we not being willing to give up our “rights” to keep unity in the church? Jesus could have pointed out all the laws they violated in trying him, but he refrained in order to set an example and become our Saviour.
Paul said (1 Corinthians 6:12) “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” We might have a “right” to take a matter before the church, but it might not always be the best thing to do. The same could be said of suing in civil court. It might be better to “suffer wrong” rather that to go to court., but if it is a “religious” matter we should never take these matters to civil court.
By Danny Stanford
