Litigation, Also Sexual Immorality, Pt. 2
July 4
In yesterday’s Bible reading and devotional, we read Paul’s discussion on sexual immorality. He continues to discussion today in 1 Corinthians 6.
But he begins chapter 6 talking about church members litigating against other church members. He says that believers should not take their church disagreements to secular courts. There are two issues here. Paul says that disputes between believers should be handled by the church. He says that someone in the church would be able to arbitrate such matters. Second, he says that these specific matters are trivial. (1 Corinthians 6:2)
So what is a church to do if a situation occurs between the church and an outside party? Again, Paul’s discussion concerns disputes between believers in the church. So, again, how should disputes be handled between, say a church and a shady contractor or an insurance company which denies a claim? If the contractor took money and didn’t complete a job, the obvious answer is to go to the contractor first. And if the issue can’t be resolved after talking with him, Paul’s prohibition does not apply. The same is true if an insurance company refuses to honor a legitimate claim, the church is justified in taking the company to court. Again, Paul isn’t addressing conflicts between a church and a private or corporate party. He’s addressing matters within individuals in the church.
Unfortunately, some outside individuals and organizations try to take advantage of churches, thinking that they will not be sued based on this passage of Scripture. For instance, insurance companies know that churches, agriculture/dairy, and military families are the least likely organizations to take them to court, so they will routinely deny all claims by those groups.
Paul returns to his discussion about sexual immorality. He says that those who commit such sins will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9–10) Some may argue that homosexuality is not specifically addressed in the Bible. But the Greek word Paul uses here is clearly homosexual behavior, as he spelled out in 1 Timothy 1:10. Paul is quite specific: idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males. He may be discussing temple prostitution, which was common in pagan worship practices, but the principle still applies.
But it’s not just the sexually immoral that are not fit for God’s Kingdom. He also adds thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers. Sin is sin is sin. And no sin is worse than another. All sin separates us from God. All sin put Jesus on the cross.
Application
Paul’s comments about sexual immorality aren’t just some made-up rule by a prude. These are sins that go against God’s original plan from Genesis 1:22. And God’s plan doesn’t just apply to procreation. Intimacy between married partners is a mirror of Jesus and His bride, the church. (Ephesians 5:22–25)
As we saw yesterday, the Greek word that’s translated as sexual immorality covers all sexual behavior outside the context of a one-man-one-woman covenant marital relationship. That was God’s plan from the very beginning. And God has not altered His plan.