“Judge Amongst Yourselves”: 1 Corinthians 6:1-6, by CountrySlicker

 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! (1 Corinthians 6:1-6)

From the last passage of scripture (1 Corinthians 5:9-13) we understand that there is a different set of expectations for Christians than there is for unrepentant individuals.  This difference in expectations is based on the individual belief system.

When a person repents, they change from a mindset of rejecting Christ to a mindset of accepting Christ.  They perform a spiritual about-face.  In accepting Christ, this change also involves a change in our view of sin and what it means to honor God.  Instead of living a self-serving life filled with sin while rejecting Christ, the Christian recognizes the sin as separating them from God and begins to reject sin in their life.  The believer does not become sinless and perfect (at least not while on earth).  However, the desire to reject sin and honor God is very much present in the believer’s life.  The unbeliever lacks this desire to reject sin and honor God with their life.  They are still pursuing worldly and fleshly desires as carnal individuals.

In verse 1 of the above passage of scripture, Paul poses the question: “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?”  The word “unrighteous” that Paul uses is literally translated “unjust”.  The scenario that Paul is addressing is that members of the church (those declared righteous by God) are going to the unjust world to have their disputes settled.  While unbelieving secular judges may be moral individuals that understand the legal laws, they may not have the same belief system that comes from a relationship with Christ.  From a religious perspective, Christians are more qualified to settle disputes between other members of the church than the secular world that operates with a worldly perspective.

Why would a Christian seek “justice” from one who is not “justified before God”?  Based on my personal experience, this only occurs when a person is not seeking “justice”; instead they are seeking someone who will take their side and tell them what they want to hear.  Often, I have seen unbelievers that will approach believers for guidance when they are truly seeking “truth” in a situation and don’t know where to turn.  Even the unbelievers in the world, at some level, understand that there is a deeper knowledge and understanding available to Christians than the secular world.

Paul goes on in the next few verses to reference the destiny of Christians and their position as the bride of Christ to further enforce the stance that they are more qualified to settle disputes among themselves than unbelievers.  As we reign with Christ, we will set in judgment of the world and even judge angels.  Guzik writes… “The idea of Christians judging angels is fascinating. It does not mean we will sit in judgment of faithful angels, as if we could penalize them for letting us down or not being there, but we will have a part in judging evil angels.”  If we will judge the world with Christ, we are certainly in a position now to judge among ourselves.  The relationship that we have with God through Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit places us in a position to be used by God to settle disputes in a fair and righteous manner.  The world, lacking in the relationship with God and a heavenly perspective, cannot provide this righteous form of judgment based on heavenly truths.

If the Christian is being prepared for a destiny to reign alongside Christ in eternity, he is certainly in a position to judge among other believers here on earth.  It’s important for Christians to settle disputes among themselves according to God’s principles. This can be done either through the church, or through Christian arbitration. But today, even as in Paul’s day, there is no reason for Christians to sue one another.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

May you represent Christ as you govern yourself, counsel your brothers and sisters, and seek to settle differences within the church (the body of Christ).

God Bless,

CountrySlicker