1 Corinthians Bible Study #16

Problems in the Courts (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)

1 Corinthians 6:1–8 NKJV

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!

We covered over the last few weeks the use of church discipline in handling matters within the membership of the church. We looked at an extreme case that called for extreme measures. There was a leader in the church or at least a highly visible participating member by all standards that had been churched long enough to know better his actions. His actions were known to the community at large. He had been confronted for his actions to know avail. He had a defiant attitude that said in no uncertain words, “mind your own business, I am going to do what I want to do.”

You will remember that he was in an incestuous relationship with “his father’s wife.”

1 Corinthians 5:1 “1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!”

And, we end in Chapter 5 verse 13:

1 Corinthians 5:13 “13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.””

The idea of judging or scrutinizing the actions of the membership continues in Chapter 6. He continues in the mindset that when the church chooses litigation in secular courts against someone who is a member of the church that it is a setback for the church, the church loses its witness, the members lose their effectiveness in the community as an ambassador for Christ.

A. The Shame of Secular Judgments (v. 1-3)

Believers should be solving disputes within the church rather than exposing them in public courts, reflecting poorly on the church's witness.

1 Corinthians 6:1 “1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?”

Listen dearly beloved, when one believer carries another believer before secular courts the message stands to the outside world that the church has had another moral collapse and the whole situation kills the witness of the church and shows the world the church can not function as it should. What is interesting, Paul has more to say about the church failing to settle disputes than he does about the actual offenses that took place. He realizes the damage caused by internal strife in the church, both on the inside and the outside.

Paul is saying to us today that when the church allows strife to happen within the church and it performs its destructive blows, “aren’t you better than that?” Are you not more mature that that? Do you not know that you saints will judge the world, in fact you will even judge the angels.

Listen to 2-3:

1 Corinthians 6:2–3 “2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?”

Believers will take part in the end-time judgment of the world and angels. So, if believers will participate in something as weighty as that responsibility, why can not believers judge everyday matters pertinent to this life?

B. The Shame of Division (v. 4-6)

These divisions bring disgrace, demonstrating a lack of wisdom and unity in Christ. The church should raise up members capable of righteous judgment.

In 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, Paul is addressing the issue of believers taking their disputes to secular courts instead of resolving them within the church, which Paul argues undermines the authority of God's law. His point in verse 4, "why do you appoint those least esteemed by the church to judge?" suggests that secular judges, who may not share Christian values, are being entrusted with decisions that should be grounded in biblical principles. This concept raises the question of how certain modern-day laws might conflict with God's laws. Here are a few examples:

1. Abortion Laws

Many countries have legalized abortion, allowing for the termination of pregnancies under certain circumstances. While this is legally acceptable in many places, it conflicts with biblical teachings that emphasize the sanctity of life. Passages such as Psalm 139:13-16 and Jeremiah 1:5 affirm the belief that life begins at conception and that every human life is known and valued by God. For believers, life is sacred, and laws that permit the taking of innocent life do not align with God's moral standards.

2. Same-Sex Marriage

The legalization of same-sex marriage in many nations is another example of a law that conflicts with traditional biblical teachings. While legally permitted, passages like Genesis 2:24 and Romans 1:26-27 reflect God's design for marriage as a union between one man and one woman. For Christians, marriage is not just a legal arrangement but a sacred institution reflecting God’s covenant relationship with His people, making civil laws that redefine marriage incompatible with biblical teaching.

In verse 5, Paul gives us the church a verbal shame slap in the face.

1 Corinthians 6:5 “5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?”

There is a challenge for us to be wise. We should be studied in the wisdom and the law portion of God’s Word along with laws that Jesus refined the NT.

Paul is saying that the very presence of lawsuits among believers is a moral defeat for all involved.

Let me give you something to chew the cud about. Do you think Paul intimately, experimentally knew something about reputation and how reputation affects your ministry?

Acts 9:13 “13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.”

Do you not imagine that Ananias said, Lord, I love you and I will do anything you say, but are you sure you landed on the right guy? Do you know his reputation?

Paul is very indignant and he struggles with the whole idea of the destruction that happens when believers go against believers before unbelievers and the message that sends Paul states it.

C. The Shame of Selfishness (v. 7-8)

Paul exposes the selfishness at the root of lawsuits, challenging believers to rather be wronged than harm the church’s testimony.

Paul states that the conflict has already become a failure on your part rather than placing all blame on the other party. We fail to consider in this matter that we failed in that we allowed a mole hill to become a mountain. We failed in our initial judgments, but there is some failure on our parts when we enter a dispute that escalates to that level. Paul states to own it, own up to your own failure.

And Paul is stating to take the lick on the cheek for the greater good of His ministry, His will, His movement of the gospel here on earth.

When churches or believers bring disputes against each other in secular courts, it often results in public controversy, damage to the reputation of the church, and undermines the biblical call for unity. Here are some high-profile examples where believers or churches have taken disputes to secular courts, leading to harmful consequences:

1. The Episcopal Church Property Disputes

The Episcopal Church in the United States experienced significant divisions in the early 2000s, particularly over theological differences concerning same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy. Many congregations who disagreed with the church's stance decided to break away from the denomination, resulting in numerous legal battles over church property.

Impact: The lawsuits lasted for years, with millions of dollars spent on legal fees. The secular courts were tasked with deciding who owned church properties, even though these were deeply theological and spiritual conflicts. The damage to the church’s public image was immense, as it portrayed a lack of unity and brought internal church struggles into the secular realm, creating confusion for non-believers and eroding trust among congregants.

2. Jimmy Swaggart Ministries vs. Marvin Gorman (1980s)

In the 1980s, televangelist Jimmy Swaggart publicly accused fellow minister Marvin Gorman of moral failings, which led to Gorman losing his ministry. Gorman sued Swaggart in a secular court for defamation and was awarded $10 million in damages, though this was later reduced to $2.9 million.

Impact: The legal battle between two prominent Christian figures was widely publicized, causing immense harm to the credibility of both ministers and evangelical Christianity in general. The scandal and court case became a spectacle, bringing reproach to the church and undermining the witness of both Swaggart and Gorman’s ministries. It demonstrated the destructiveness of airing internal church matters in the public legal system.

3. Westboro Baptist Church vs. Snyder (2011)

The Westboro Baptist Church became infamous for its extreme views and protests at military funerals, claiming that soldiers' deaths were a punishment for America’s tolerance of homosexuality. In 2011, the church was sued by Albert Snyder, the father of a Marine whose funeral they had picketed, for emotional distress. The case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the church under the protection of free speech.

Impact: While Westboro won the legal battle, the church’s confrontational and unloving approach caused widespread public outrage and brought significant negative attention to the church and Christianity at large. The case revealed how church members' decisions to engage in legal disputes over controversial matters can harm the broader reputation of the church and alienate non-believers.

4. Catholic Diocese Bankruptcy Filings over Sexual Abuse Settlements

In response to the thousands of lawsuits related to sexual abuse by clergy, several Roman Catholic dioceses in the U.S. have filed for bankruptcy to manage the overwhelming financial burden of legal settlements. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee, for example, filed for bankruptcy in 2011, followed by other dioceses such as San Diego and Portland.

Impact: These lawsuits and subsequent bankruptcies exposed the church to widespread public scrutiny and damaged its moral authority. The legal battles, lengthy court cases, and financial settlements created division within the church and tarnished the global image of the Catholic Church. It brought immense emotional harm to the victims and families, who felt justice had to be sought in secular courts rather than internally resolved, further highlighting the devastating consequences of unresolved church matters.

5. Mars Hill Church Financial Lawsuit

In 2014, former members of Mars Hill Church filed lawsuits against the church and its controversial founder, Mark Driscoll, accusing them of financial misconduct and mismanagement of church funds. Although the church disbanded shortly after, the lawsuits and public accusations continued to damage the reputation of the church.

Impact: The collapse of Mars Hill, followed by legal battles, was a significant blow to evangelicalism, particularly to churches that focus on modern, influential church models. The scandal around Driscoll’s leadership and financial mismanagement brought public disillusionment with church leadership, exposing internal failures to the secular world. The aftermath created division within the broader Christian community and deeply damaged trust among believers.

There have been numerous lawsuits and high-profile disputes related to churches leaving the United Methodist Church (UMC) and joining the Global Methodist Church, particularly over property rights. This conflict has emerged due to theological differences, mainly centered around the UMC's stance on LGBTQ issues.

One notable example is the case of the First Methodist Church of Jonesboro, Arkansas, which sought to disaffiliate from the UMC but became embroiled in a legal battle over property ownership. After the UMC's Arkansas Conference rejected their disaffiliation vote, the church filed a lawsuit in 2022, arguing that the UMC did not have a legal interest in their property. The case escalated when 12 judges recused themselves, and it remains ongoing, with a trial scheduled for 2024. This dispute has caused significant division within the congregation and the wider community, showcasing the challenges that arise when church conflicts are taken to secular courts.

Similarly, in Alabama, the state Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit from Methodist churches challenging the UMC's disaffiliation process, citing that the disputes were "ecclesiastical" and beyond the jurisdiction of secular courts. While this ruling was a victory for the UMC, other legal challenges continue, such as the Harvest Church case, which also centers on property rights.

These disputes not only create financial burdens but also foster deep rifts within church communities, highlighting the destructive potential when religious conflicts are handled through secular legal systems instead of internal church processes. These cases illustrate how unresolved doctrinal disagreements can lead to significant legal and relational fallout when brought before secular courts.

Proverbs 20:22 “22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.”

Now, before you go to that point, if you have done everything you can do and you are truly innocent all the way, the Lord will deal with the matter. Amen.

Priorities of a Transformed Life (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NKJV

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

A. The Peril of Persistent Sin (v. 9-10)

Paul lists behaviors that disqualify people from the kingdom of God, underscoring the importance of moral transformation.

B. The Power of the Gospel (v. 11a)

Emphasizing that believers were once lost but have been sanctified and justified through Christ, reflecting the transformative power of salvation.

C. The Pursuit of Holiness (v. 11b)

The focus is on living in the identity of being washed, sanctified, and justified—encouraging believers to uphold the standards of purity and righteousness.

This outline emphasizes the need for maintaining the purity of the church, resolving disputes internally, and living in alignment with the transformation Christ brings.