seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Corinthians 6:1 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? 2 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? 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, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned 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 takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 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? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 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 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 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.
I went to the commentary right away this morning.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.
It is 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.
You yourselves do wrong and cheat: There is no place for dishonest dealing by Christians; how much less place is there for dishonest dealing among Christians! Many have rejected the things of God and the fellowship of the saints because of dishonesty and cheating among Christians.
Paul was not, categorically, denying the man’s salvation (Paul says he is among the brethren); however, Paul will not allow a “religious faith” that is separate from our actions. If a Christian can cheat and defraud his brothers without conscience, it may be fairly asked if he is a Christian at all.
Nor homosexuals: Since this is such a clear condemnation of homosexuality, those who would like to justify the practice say Paul speaks of homosexual prostitution, not a “loving, caring homosexual relationship.” But taken in context, there is no doubt God is speaking of homosexual acts of all kinds with the words malakoi (homosexuals, which literally refers to male prostitutes) and arsenokoitai (sodomites, a generic term for all homosexual practice).
Paul did not write in or of a “homophobic” culture. Homosexuality was rampant in the ancient world; 14 out of the first 15 Roman emperors were bisexual or homosexual. At the very time Paul wrote, Nero was emperor. Nero castrated a boy named Sporus and then married him (with a full ceremony), brought him to the palace with a great procession, and made the boy his “wife.” Later, the emperor lived with another man, and Nero was declared to be the other man’s “wife.”
Don't worry.... This is about Lawsuits according to my online Bible. The chapter goes into "sexual impurity" next according to my online Bible.This chapter used to be my go-to opener when I was a thumper. I figured if God called out the homosexuals by name, then it must be the worst thing possible. And now...
Now I realize that it isn't God calling out the homosexuals.... it's Paul.... the Greco Roman Jew, a member of the Sanhedrin who voted to crucify Jesus, and one of the men who did not intercede, even held the coats, while his buddies from the "temple" beat a young man to death in the streets because the man was Christian. Paul is calling out the homosexuals.... Paul, the Greco Roman Jew!
It doesn't make sense that Paul would be preaching against homosexual acts from a brothel. Or does it? On the one hand, if the male prostitutes got religion, they would not engage in sexual acts for money... and that would put the brothel out of business. For that matter, the female prostitutes who got religion would probably do more damage financially than the males... right? Would Paul, a member of the Sanhedrin, hang out in a brothel? Did Paul have demons? Did Paul, or any of his friends, have a running tab at the brothel, they didn't pay?
Women were property back in the days when Paul was holding coats. Adultery would lead to public stoning. Adulterous women were put to death. Jesus addressed that in the "cast the first stone" chapter. If a man raped a woman, the man would have to pay the man who owned the woman. It was the same if the man beat another man's ox.
People were taking others to court and ruining their lives. The debtor's prison was active back in the days of Paul. If you owed me $10... I could have put you in prison until the debt was paid. Problem is... There is no way to pay the debt from prison. So, if you didn't pay your bills back in the day, you could earn a life sentence. This would have been a lot worse than owing your sole to the company store... right?
Remember, the pagans are watching. WWJD is on the tip of their tongues. This is about lawsuits amongst Christians.
Paul is loading on the burdens. Paul would have us try to be perfect. Jesus knows how imperfect we are. Jesus didn't require perfection from us before offering Salvation. Paul would have us perfect before the Baptism. Paul would have us "get ready" for Jesus.... but Jesus knows we'll never be "ready". We are just humans.
Humans were using the court system instead of fighting it out in the streets. I guess taking a man to court is more "dignified" than beating him nearly to death.
This is about lawsuits. Put your books down thumpers.... You know you haven't paid all your bills for the month. Put your books down thumpers. You are in debt too.
About Lawsuits!
