Why Not Rather be Cheated?

I Corinthians 6:1-11
"If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people 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, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned 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 takes another to court—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 and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

This is, I think, where the Apostle Paul lays out the practical applications of God's idea of unity in His Church. This could be part of the answer to my question a few days ago on unity. The Living Life writer says "Paul is not saying that secular courts have no wisdom to impart but that believers have authority from God to judge disputes among each other. We have been saved by Christ and therefore have access to the wisdom of God through the Holy Spirit. Taking our disputes to secular courts will only cause further rifts between the parties and ruin the testimony of the church. When we find ourselves in a conflict with other believers, may we approach the situation with love and humility and seek the wisdom of God first." And I say amen to that. It seems it is all about the witness of the Church. Scandals and many charges have marred the Church nowadays, and I think it is difficult to recover, but we must continue to live out our testimony. This also means extra grace is required in dealing with our Christian brothers and sisters, St. Paul pointedly and rhetorically asks us "why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?", this echoes our LORD's words, "you have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well (Matt 5:38-40)", and He is even pertaining to the ungodly here, how much more our sisters and brothers under Him? We carry our crosses and become His true disciples (Luke 9:23), we must carry then foremost for His bride, the Church, and that includes speaking truth in love (Eph 4:15) against the other extreme to be permissive and condoning of wrongs, as St. Paul has done here towards the Corinthian church, it also isn't to sweep faults under the rug, but to deal with the injustices, the hurt, the pain, and the offenses within the community in the community. Film director Tom McCarthy of the award-winning movie Spotlight (about the cover-up of child abuse in the Catholic churches around Boston) expressed that there is this tendency within tight-knit communities, "there is this instinct, which I feel I know pretty well, to protect the institution… a strong sense of commitment or responsibility to the people within the community, but that shouldn't override our greater sense of what's fair and right…". We need to be righteous and godly foremost and forgiving when repentance is arrived at just as the Apostle Paul has modeled. In the end, we must show true love for each other, we are family, warts and wounds and all, and "are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord (Eph 2:19-22)."

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