1 Corinthians 6:4, commentary and pictures

Disputes between believers over ordinary affairs of this life are to be judged inside the church, with even those least esteemed in the church appointed to judge them. Believers must not take a matter against another to law before the unjust and unbelievers, in civil tribunals and secular courts through worldly lawyers. This is fitting because the saints shall judge the world and shall judge angels, so they are not unworthy to judge the smallest matters, and it is shameful if no wise man among the brethren is able to judge between them. Brother going to law with brother before unbelievers is utterly a fault; it is better to take wrong and suffer to be defrauded than to do wrong and defraud brethren. Appealing to those outside the faith dishonors God and shows lack of faith and dependence on unsanctified human judgment, while lawsuits between Christians disgrace the church and the cause of truth and give the enemy great advantage.

What the Verse Commands

The verse deals with disputes between believers over ordinary affairs belonging to this present life, the everyday judgments that arise among Christians. Such disputes are to be judged inside the church, with even those least esteemed in the church set to judge them. Believers must not take a matter against another to law before the unjust and unbelievers, which means civil tribunals, secular courts, and worldly lawyers.

This is fitting because the saints shall judge the world and shall judge angels, so they are not unworthy to judge the smallest matters. It is shameful if among brethren there is not a wise man able to judge between them, and to go outside reveals that shame. Brother going to law with brother before unbelievers is utterly a fault. It is better to take wrong and suffer to be defrauded than to do wrong and defraud brethren.

When wronged, a Christian should seek to save the brother who did the wrong rather than avenge self, and may entrust the case to God who judges righteously. He should be willing to suffer loss rather than expose fellow believers' sins to the world, and it is better to make settlement even at some loss. Settlement is to be made among believers themselves or through the church, following Christ's instruction. It is to come by private effort in Christ's spirit rather than by lawsuit, without prejudice or personal feeling, with leaders handling disputes wisely and working for peace and unity. God's people instead should agree together about the thing they desire and unite in offering persevering prayer to God for deliverance.

Gospel ministers and medical missionaries are to study the whole sixth chapter as a lesson for this time. They must refuse to make worldly lawyers their right arm for judgments of things pertaining to this life, for that course testifies they have not made the Lord their leader. They must refuse to exercise a molding power over mind and soul and body of medical missionary workers, but leave them to look to Jesus Christ as leader. They must wake up as watchmen to give the warning message, take in the situation, and humbly seek to be healed of the maladies of sin and unbelief. Obeying the verse belongs with purging out the old leaven so the lump may be new, and with keeping the feast not with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, for Christ the passover is sacrificed.

Consequences and Faithful Response

Taking a dispute with a fellow believer to law acts out the spirit of rebellion that developed in heaven. It is disloyal to God and to one another, and those with light are called instead to represent the perfect model upon which every character should be formed. To follow such a course while claiming loyalty fights against the truth and misrepresents God's character, showing loyalty to the enemy of righteousness rather than to the God of truth.

Appealing to lawyers and those outside the faith dishonors God and testifies that believers have not made the Lord their leader. It shows lack of faith in God and misplaced dependence on unsanctified human judgment instead of reliance on Him. Such appeals spring from pride, self-love and self-exaltation, and make professed believers unlike children of God and like those who have lost their first love. Civil courts are unsafe because lawyers are dishonest and for gain will deal unjustly, and when those who had great light depart from the faith they link with such men and go to great lengths in unrighteousness to oppress God's people. Outside helpers also lack the wisdom that comes down from above, so to depend on them and expect gain by opening supposed wrongdoings of fellow members before those who do not fear God and do not obey His requirements is to dishonor Him.

Lawsuits between Christians disgrace the church and the cause of truth, invite ridicule by its enemies, and show contempt for the authority God gave the church. They keep souls from being convinced of the truth and give the enemy great advantage to entangle and perplex believers, so it is better to make settlement even at some loss. Even when injustice has been done, suing arouses prejudice against God's people as a body, bruises and wounds Christ in the person of His saints, and lets Satan exult through working against God's people and His institutions to do them great harm. Making the world one's confidence by bringing church matters before the world for decision shows believers have chosen the world as judge, and their names are registered in heaven as one with unbelievers. The world and unconverted church members are in sympathy with each other, and some when reproved for wanting their own way turn to the world.

Such appeals betray sacred trusts whose statements the world eagerly seizes, produce collision and strife, and crucify Christ afresh and put Him to open shame. This appealing to human courts was an action never before entered into by Seventh-day Adventists, and God permitted it to be done so that the deceived may understand what power is controlling those entrusted with great responsibilities. Opening wrongs before the world is cruel work against God's people, and to backslide so far as to sue them gives Satan and his angels occasion for jubilee. Every act is kept in the record of the books of heaven, and the Lord will treat each one according to the stand taken in this life.

Those who for years lean on the arm of the law and make unbelievers their stay do what even an honorable worldling would not do and should be relieved of responsibilities in the work of God so the cause can advance and the warning message be carried to more people. The unrighteous who do wrong and defraud brethren shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Faithfulness requires withdrawing a suit already begun and never carrying disputes with brothers or neighbors into worldly courts again. When God has shined in hearts to give a higher, ennobling knowledge, a well-ordered life and godly conversation will reveal Christ and there will be no lawsuits, with no divisions but all speaking the same thing as those working for eternity. God's Word serves as counsel and the Spirit gives strength to resist temptation to act contrary to it, and God's sentinels are called to stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, with present truth in possession of the heart, while prayer and working in Christ's way can heal even discord between the church and the Sanitarium.