Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Would you consider it wrong for a christian to sue someone(nonchristian) that owes them money?

No.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

It is wrong for believer to take believer to law. Utterly a fault.

6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6:1-10

Paul says it is unrighteous and lists it with other sins.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Not sure. Do any of these principles apply?

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Matthew 5:38-41

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Matthew 5:25

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

He is talking about a believer and a non believer, not a brother. Does the same apply?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

What about if you were in an accident and was left with 40000.00 in medical bills , lifetime of injury problems,due to uninsured driver?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory. if you are qualified for that last statement then it would be wrong to sue , due to the fact that you can look to God for the miraculous. but if we do sue then we can only look to the judgment of the court..which is better you have to ask yourself. If you choose God's miraculous, then you must accept all his disciplines; which requires amongst other things denial of your biggest enemy yourself. :heeheehee:heeheehee



also take into consideration the other drivers capabilities to pay. To staple him down would be like an eye for an eye...thingy.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Do you advocate using only prayer for the sick and not using medical care, if your faith is strong enough? Following James's advice (James 5:14-15) to the letter? Like when Lee Stoneking's friends told the doctor not to operate on Lee, but they'd pray instead? And like when some parents pray instead of taking their child to the hospital when they are seriously ill?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

If you are continuously experiencing the miracles of God all the time in your church and congregation..knowing you have the ability to receive healing as opposed to a novice trying to have their own way, by forcing their own will you judge..:heeheehee

God tries the hearts.. I took my little son to the doctor cause his foot hurt and was swelling..all that mattered was health..

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

So would suing someone for money owed violate "love your enemies". "Pray for them that despitefully use you"?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

If someone refused to try to pay me the money they owe, just out right refused, then I would consider a lawsuit. But, if they are unable to pay, that would be a different story. There is a difference between grace and out right wickedness.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

This question should be fairly easy for 3 steppers--at least those who really believe it. The chances are very high that he who wronged you is NOT another 3 stepper (or at least not another True 3 Stepper) therefore you may reclassify the offending "believer" as an unbeliever, and therefore, bingbam, eligible to be sued!

:tic

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

It says not to sue your brother. I think is is also wrong to sue in a family. God had civil laws in the old testament including restitution and more. Why should Christians not use the law?

The woman in the New Testament sought relief by deferring to a judge.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

And giving your coat and your cloak, and going the extra mile, and turning the other cheek?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

What if your a Christian and your name is Sue?

No. Count the cost of being a Christian. Make your mercy a testimony of your faith, a witness. It testifies louder than words. Have faith that God will supply anything you might be lacking by your obedience.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

So if someone hacked into and took your 2million retirement fund with you knowing who they are you would sue them?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Or would he give them his house, too? ;)

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Well, we can all agree that Jesus would forgive them.... But I'm pretty sure He would also pressure them to give the two million dollar retirement fund back.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

the price of faith is high...A lot of Israel's troubles had to do with trusting in God..God will try our hearts all the time because he will separate us from our sin nature one way or another..

and this is what it's all about ...Whether we love this world , this life, more than him..

There are so many beautiful things in the world...and many times they get a hold of us...

I was just thinking today about what Jesus said, " he that loses his life for my sake and the gospel shall find it..

or the life we really want is hidden behind that thing we love in this world..

......

Mine is insured. :)

However, I'm called upon to willingly die for Christ, losing money for His glory is a small price to pay. A baptist brother, an Iraqi saved in my church, was brutally beaten to death by those in his home community last year because he witnessed for Christ, police looking the other way. I think about that. Am I willing to be obedient unto death? If so, obedience here is a small price to pay.

It's strange, after fellowshiping true Christians, I return to the fold I once knew and find rigid adherence to standards, but a total disregard for Christ's actual commands. A Christianity that doesn't cost you everything is a cheap counterfeit. Finding the real thing will cost you more than friends on Facebook.

I had to walk away from a significant amount of money once. I'd have been within my rights to fight for it. But I gave it to Christ. And I've never missed it.

Question is...are we really Christian and do we truly believe God? Let's look at the cross and count the cost.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Doesn't sound like an easy yoke or a light burden! :winkgrin

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Well, what about the martyrs of Jesus in Rev. 6:9-11 ....they paid the ultimate price for three hundred years ..

and of course Jesus was calling those who were heaven laden and burdened with sin and all it's consequences

It is when self is surrendered. Christianity isn't a practice of self. It's the death of self, and formation of Christ in us. When you think of yourself, is your identity...Christ? He is the very identity of the Christian.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Right. Also not an easy yoke or light burden.

OK.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Has anyone's self actually died? Seriously? But yes, I see your point. If your self is dead, then nothing matters anymore. Makes me wonder, though, why pray for healing and such? If you are healthy or sick, who cares? It's not really you, anyway.

You don't see it either. It's a reckoning.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

What?

Exactly. :)

I'll try to help. If God, all knowing and having all authority over creation, appeared and told you that you were an astronaut and then He vanished; what would you say or think regarding your identity?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

If someone beat your child to near death with you being the only witness to prosecute would you just die to self and forgive?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

You're not helping! :toofunny

But I'll try to answer your question, anyway. What I would think about my identity, after that experience, would not change significantly. I would think I just had a very weird hallucination, and get on with my life. (Here, on earth! :lol)

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Aquila

You really didn't answer last time but if you someone stole your retirement money and only way to get it back was to sue, would you?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

My mother forgave the man who killed my brother (Billy Richard Hall Jr.) in a druken hit-and-run accident.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Would I want to? Yes. lol However, I know it wouldn't be what Christ would desire. God would just have to see me through. I mean, my retirement investments could vaporize in the market tomorrow. Obedience to Christian principle is obedience to Christian principle.

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Well, then I was right. You don't see it. lol Sadly, that's a symptom of being burned by, or having been neglected by, cultic Pelagianism. I had serious issues when coming out of the UPCI. It's greatly benefitted me to have a good friend with a Master's Degree in Apologetics, with specialization in cult recovery.

You are what God states that you are in Scripture. Ponder reckoning the truths of the Christian's identity with this verse alone. We can look at more later...

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

This is the essence of living by faith and walking after the Spirit. It's not about what you do or how you behave. It's about what you are in Christ and your realization and reckoning with regards to your identity in Jesus Christ as a new creature. It's not about behavior... it's about spiritual state of being known as being "in Christ".

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

So, if God told me I was an astronaut, then I am an astronaut?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Oh, and it's not about behavior? I don't actually have to fly in space ships to be an astronaut, I just am one?

Re: Wrong for christian to sue?
 

Yes. From the divine perspective you would indeed be an astronaut. lol

Let's look at various perspectives of reality. I know it sounds strange but consider this... you are a living being on a satelite (earth) spinning through space. Also, God being transcendent of time, sees what His eternal intention is for you... and sees you as that very thing right now in time. Perhaps in eternity you will take His glory throughout creation in your glorified body. For example, Paul said that we are "seated" (present tense) with Christ in Heavenly places. I look around, I don't see myself seated with Christ in Heavenly places. But I know that I am, I have reckoned it so by faith. The Bible says that I am the "righteousness of God", therefore while I see the principle of sin in my fallen flesh, and even experience failure to govern it at times, I know that with regards to my spirit (which is one with Christ in the Holy Spirit) I am sinless, pure, and holy.... Justified, standing just before God, as though I never sinned. Why? Jesus became sin for me, that I might become the righteousness of God. He who knew no sin, took my sin and my very identity upon Himself in His Passion, that I (being a totally depraved human being) might take upon myself His righteousness and identity. I was crucified with Christ. I was buried with Christ. I am risen with Christ. And I am presently seated with Christ. That means, through Christ (or in Christ), I am dead to the Law. I've already served my punishment for my sin (past, present, future) in Christ. There is no law against me now. I live as one risen from the dead. This is my new identity in Christ. And I reckon it so by faith. The moment I try to please God by obeying the Law, I've fallen from grace. Why? Because I'm human and I'm bound to sin. And once I have, I have broken the whole Law in breaking one law. And even if I obeyed the Law perfectly for only a day... I've only attained the "righteousness of the Law", not the righteousness of Christ (who is holier than the law). If I live by the Law I robe myself in my works... if I reckon Christ's righteousness as being imputed to me by faith... I robe myself in Christ's righteousness, and thereby I am sinless and clothed in God's own holiness which goes infinitely beyond the holiness aquired by the Law. And when I fail and do sin, as Paul said, it is not I who sins, but sin that dwells within my fallen flesh. With my outward man I find myself obeying the law of sin (due to the fallen nature of my flesh), but according to the inward man I obey the Law of God via Christ Jesus. I must now walk after the Spirit, reckoning these truths by faith, or I will be overcome by a sense of condemnation. To be disappointed in self... is to have trusted in self. If I'm overcome with condemnation I clearly got my eyes off Christ and His work on the cross.

Remember, the human perspective is limited to time and space. The divine perspective is not. We must see ourselves as God sees us... not as we see ourselves or according to our behaviors or those standards that religion regulates through various laws, customs, and traditions.
Apostolics are largely legalistic. We focus on works. Therefore we've failed to learn how to appropriate these various truths of our identity in Christ by faith. We face the danger of living in a little world of our own little laws... that can never please God. This will either create in us a hardened legalism... or a burned out apathy. In both cases, there is a failure to be conformed into the very image and likeness of Christ Jesus.

Now, I'm not to live by "standards" or "rules". Now I am to allow self to die daily, that Christ be formed in me. Throughout our lives the Holy Spirit is forming and fashioning us into the image and likeness of Christ as we surrender self with each passing day. The ultimate end... being in the image of Christ, glorified, and in fellowship with God. I have no standard... I have an example. I have no things to do... I have somone to be. This is the glory of grace.

In sports they say, "Keep your eyes on the ball. Be the ball." In the Christian arena we are to, "Keep your eyes on Jesus. Be Jesus."