Disputes

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

DISPUTES

1 Cor 6:1-6

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

NIV

Again, it would seem that we would have to include this whole chapter, as it is called, in order to get the fullness of this admonishment. We also know Paul did not write his letter in chapters, still, we have divided it in respect to various concepts he deals with. Although this is still sort of a continuation of his insisting the church expel the wicked man, the one who was sexually immoral with his fathers’ wife, from fellowship. Paul goes on now to speak about having disputes within the church, disputes that are grievous enough to take each other to an ungodly court. Suing each other over issues that should be handled in the church, even by the least knowledgeable believer. The problem here is what kind of disputes is Paul speaking about. What type of dispute would we have today within the church that we would have to take a fellow believer to the civil court to get a judgment against them? In fact, why would we ever have a dispute of any kind? James asks that exact question, although rhetorically, as to what causes fights and quarrels among you. He answers that it is due to the war that wages within us. We want something but we don’t get it. There are several internal issues that can cause disputes within the church. Pride seems to be at the top of the list, as it is rooted in self-centeredness. When we are always about ourselves then it is easy to have hurt feelings, which can cause a hidden resentment, and turn into a quarrel. Another issue that could develop into a dispute is change and inflexibility. Change is a norm, things rarely state static, and if this change is not effectively communicated by church leadership, then those who have a difficult time with change may want to dispute this change as change for the sake of change and see no need. Abuse of power and church politics, which may go hand in hand, can cause all sorts of conflict or disputes within the church. This also sort of coincides with a church that has unclear authority issues as well as issues based on the personality of the leadership. In reality, it goes directly back to James when he says that we want, but we do not get. Disputes are at the core of selfishness, self-centeredness, immaturity in Christ, and living with too much influence from the world rather than from Christ. We need to remember that we are to imitate Jesus and He came not to be served, but to serve. Thus we need to always be aware that we come to church not to be served, but to serve. If that were the case we would not ever have a dispute with each other, especially one that requires the intervention of the ungodly to resolve. It would be a far better church if we never had a dispute, but when we do, let us resolve it as believers.