Christians should not take each other to court.  It creates bad publicity when a Christian takes another to court.  The method here is to get an arbitrator who knows God and that you both trust and work these things through amicably.  Of course, these days I think divorce is the most common area where Christians fight each other.  Divorce is permitted for a Christian, especially in cases where one spouse is abused or abandoned, but it is hated by God.  In our emotion driven society marriage is about a feeling we call love.  The Bible’s example of love doesn’t focus on that feeling.  In the case of divorce I have rarely seen two people come together complaining about how there is no opportunity for each person to grow in selfless giving.  In the Christian worldview a change of circumstances, a change in physical appearance, or a shift in personality is an opportunity to grow as an avenue of God’s grace.  This is the kind of selfless attitude that will keep you out of the law courts.

1 Corinthians 6: 1-6

 ¹If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? ²Do 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? ³Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! ⁴Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!^{[a] 5}I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? ⁶But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!

Questions

1. What are the Corinthians having with one another?
2. What kind of men can be appointed as judges for the Corinthian church?
3. What kind of person would make a good arbiter?
4. Would you trust someone in the church to give a fair decision?
5. Does coming out on top in a decision matter?  Explain your answer.