Have you ever felt embarrassed by someone? Maybe your kid threw a fit in the grocery story the other day. Or maybe your friend said something offensive at a dinner party without knowing it. We’ve all felt the shrink-into-your-seat feeling when someone does something that disrupts the norm.
That feeling only scratches the surface of what Paul’s expressing in the first part of chapter 6. Look back at the verses in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
1When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! 2Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? 3Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 4If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? 6But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers! 7Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.
Paul is furious with the way the Christians in Corinth are acting. Instead of settling their personal matters within the church, they’re dragging other Christians through legal battles that were often corrupt. In other words, they’re being completely selfish.
The big issue Paul’s dealing with pops up in 1 Cor. 6:6. He’s concerned about how the Corinthians are acting in front of people who don’t believe in Jesus. Outsiders look at the church and see people arguing, sleeping with whomever they choose, and taking each other to court.
That doesn’t reflect well on Jesus.
How the church appears to the outside world matters. The way we treat each other shows others who Jesus is. When we fight each other, demand money from each other, or sue each other, it tells outsiders that being part of the family isn’t different than staying out of it.
Today we face the same tension the Corinthians faced. In a culture that’s more and more polarizing, especially in the United States, Christians can either throw punches like the rest of the world or choose to hang up the boxing gloves and leave the ring.
What are some sources of division you’ve encountered in your church?
If you have social media, take five minutes today to scroll through your personal profiles and feeds.
What do you see? What kind of comments do you leave?
Are you causing dissonance? Or are you promoting peace between other Christians?
Internal disputes can be settled within the church. But it has to begin with us. We can treat each other well in public, whether that be online or in person. We have to be the first ones to put aside selfishness and risk getting hurt by selfish people in the process.
Take a few minutes to reflect on the conversations you have with other Christians, particularly in your local church.
What could you do this week to promote unity through the way you talk to and about the other members of your church? Does the way you treat other Christians in public reflect Jesus? Or the world?
Text your response to the above prompting questions to your group and/or share it as a comment below
In highschool a coach always told me that the golden rule in the bible which was summarized as treat others the way you wanted to be treated. I think it’s important to show other brothers and sisters in Christ the love that God shows us everyday. Obviously we are human and we can’t be perfect in showing love but we should try even if it may be tough love. I think that actions speak louder than words and someone is always watching so the way you live your life and the way you treat others is very important. Last year when I was coaching a main emphasis that I was told was that they didn’t care if I was a bad coach and they didn’t care if I lost countless games as long as I am showing them the way I live is by loving Christ and loving others.
I would like to hope that I promote unity in the church or at the very least try to not create division. I understand just how important unity is especially since Jesus stated that a house divided cannot stand. I believe we can create or encourage unity by being patient with one another and trying to hear each other out when alternate views are given. I believe when we understand how people think and why they may think a certain way, it helps us to understand one another better and also allows discourse so that division isn’t created. Although I have my basic tenets of faith to build my foundation upon, I am always open to hearing differing views or thoughts on things so that I can see how other people think and I can reevaluate some things that aren’t necessarily black and white. I do hope believe that the way I treat other Christians in public does reflect Jesus but if it doesn’t then I would hope Jesus would bring this to light.