Culturally, it used to be a person’s honor that kept them treating one another with respect.  Now, honor is irrelevant.  It’s all about suing, being sued, and trying not to be sued.

“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?  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?  Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!  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?  I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!”

This is not about lawsuits between a believer and an unbeliever.  This is about lawsuits between believers.

It’s true.  Wrongdoing happens among believers as people work out of their immaturity.  Harder yet, so many claim to be “Christian” and are not.  And then worse, is this talking only about “trivial cases” or more?

The reasoning behind not suing other believers is mind-boggling.  Christians will be the ones to judge the world.  They will even judge angels.

This isn’t salvation judgment.  This is judgment in other areas.

It isn’t that there isn’t disputes among believers.  Paul even says when there are to look for someone among you to help arbitrate.

What Paul is saying here is that the world has very contrary views than God’s people.  How can believers allow unbelievers with different values to be arbitrated in justice and righteousness then?  They work for a different kingdom than believers.

It is shameful for Christians to sue one another and then go before a non-Christian judge.  Especially in trivial matters.  It is better to be wrong.  Or to go before a Christian who makes decisions based on God’s laws.

Paul isn’t saying there isn’t disputes.  It is saying go before other Christians who are likewise ruled by the same kingdom.

And with lawsuits.  How is it that Christians want to sue one another instead of finding a means to resolve their disputes in a different kind of way.