6/14/26 “Courting Worldly Counsel”
“Courting Worldly Counsel”
1 Corinthians 6:1-8
Pigs. They fascinate me.
Studies show that pigs rank among the top ten most intelligent animals on earth...
They can be trained to do all sorts of things...including move cursors on a video screen to play games...or herd sheep...like in the movie ‘Babe’
Pigs are clean animals....much cleaner than dogs...Infinitely cleaner than cats!
Despite the phrase ‘living in a pigsty’ pigs are naturally very tidy creatures.
Also....because they lack sweat glands, they don’t perspire....because of this, they wallow in the mud to cool off.
So when you here the phrase ‘Sweating like a pig’ .... it’s not exactly accurate.
A pig’s sense of smell is up to 2,000 times more sensitive than that of a human being,,,
....think about it...if you had a nose THIS BIG, you’d be a better sniffer too!!
Pigs can run up to 11 miles an hour....that’s faster than a lot of us can run..
Pigs are said to have the ability to dream...to learn their own name....
....and to use over 20 distinct vocalizations to communicate...
Adding to a pig’s awesomeness are things like:....Bacon....Pork Chops....Ham....Bar-b-q ribs....Did I mention Bacon?......you get the idea.
But perhaps the most amazing thing about pigs has to do with how they settle conflicts within the herd...
When fights break out over space, food, or pecking order...pigs often use a system known as ‘Third-Party Mediation’ to resolve the issue...
Third Party Mediation is when an uninvolved bystander pig is utilized to defuse the tension between two pigs who are “Upset” with each other...
One of these “Upset” pigs will seek out an older, “Wiser” pig to settle the matter between the warring pork bellies...
This ‘Third-Party Mediator’ pig has the respect of both pigs involved in the conflict...leading to each pig living by the decision of the mediator pig...
Pretty amazing stuff....
One last thing about this pig-centric conflict resolution...
Did you notice that the mediator is also........a pig?
The fighting pigs don’t go over to the sheep pen and ask a sheep to settle the dispute between them...
They don’t approach a cow...or a horse....or the neighborhood chicken for help.
They go to one of their own....they go to another pig.
Sometimes we humans can learn a thing or two from God’s animal kingdom...
Our passage of scripture for today also deals with conflict resolution....
Specifically...how two individuals who are both born-again believers ought to handle disputes of a civil nature...
Like pigs...Paul teaches that we are to settle conflicts ‘within our own pen’, so to speak...
....we are not to involve worldly people from outside the pen of the church to handle such disputes...
Verse 1 (1 Corinthians 6:1) says, "If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgement instead of before the saints?”
First of all, that word ‘dispute’ carries with it the connotation that we are dealing with disagreements of a civil variety....rather than criminal in nature.
Things like property grievances....or a breach of contract....or negligence....or monetary issues....or personal rights...
Remember that old show from the 80’s called “The People’s Court” with Judge Wapner...? Those are the types of disputes Paul is speaking of here in this verse.
We see disputes like this pop up from time-to-time in scripture.
If you recall, Abraham and Abimelech had a dispute over a water well...that was eventually settled...
One of the most famous disputes in the Bible was that of two women in 1 Kings chapter 3 who had given birth to baby boys...just days apart...
One of the infants dies....and the mother of the deceased child steals the other mother’s baby...
Both women appear before King Solomon claiming to be the child’s mother...
As his solution...Solomon orders that the baby be cut in two, with each woman receiving half the child...
The imposter-mother agrees to this verdict....while the true mother begs Solomon to spare the child’s life and let the baby be raised by the imposter...
Because of this compassion toward the infant...Solomon now knows who the real mother is....and he grants her custody of the child.
Disputes between people of the same “pen” are littered across the pages of scripture....
Some even involved Paul....as he opposed Peter for Peter’s decision to withdraw from eating with Gentile Christians...
.....and when Paul and Barnabas disagreed over whether or not to bring John Mark along on their second missionary journey....
....causing them to part ways for a time....
But one thing all of these civil disputes had in common...
They were all settled “In House”....amongst the brethren, so to speak.
No individual from outside the pen of faith was involved in the mediation – or resolution - of these disputes....
Also, in verse 1, when Paul mentions “Another”....He’s referring to another Christian....another believer.....another genuine Jesus-follower.
The letter of 1st Corinthians is being addressed to fellow believers....and therefore, the word “Another”....or some translations may use the term “Neighbor”...
....They refer to individuals who have made a public proclamation of faith in Jesus Christ.
So.....Paul is saying here that if there is a dispute between 2 professed Christians – regardless of where their “home-church” might be – the dispute ought to be handled by other believers...not through worldly channels.
In fact, Paul emphatically writes in verse 1 (1 Corinthians 6:1) “....Dare he take it before the ungodly for judgement instead of before the saints?”
The “ungodly” here refers to anyone who is not a believer....people who have not placed their faith & trust in Jesus for their eternal salvation.
In other words....why would we – people who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit - feel the need to settle our squabbles utilizing the counsel of individuals who have not been given true, spiritual wisdom and discernment through the Holy Spirit....
It makes no sense.
It would be like if Brad Davison – a very knowledgeable person when it comes to the game of basketball – would go to a baseball player for advice on how to effectively coach a basketball team.
He would be taking a huge step backwards in terms of the competency behind the advice he would receive...
Rather....he would be much better served going to someone who knows a great deal about the game of basketball....someone who has spent much of their life coaching....or officiating.... the game...
He would be much better served staying “Within the pen” of basketball -related people...
The same holds true for Christ followers.
Why would we want non-Christians mitigating a situation that calls for the insight...and spiritual wisdom....of other Spirit-led believers....?
Look at verse 2 (1 Corinthians 6:2)
Paul writes “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world.....”
We see that phrase ‘Do you not Know’ quite a bit in chapter 6....
Paul is essentially saying that anyone familiar with the gospel message of Jesus Christ should already know how to handle disagreements that take place within the Church....
It should be second-nature for the believer to understand that conflict resolution needs to be taken care of from within the family of believers...
I remember when Lisa & I were raising our daughters, on more than one occasion, we had to remind them that any disagreements within the family unit....stayed within the family unit....
...and we worked through them as a family....without interference from outside individuals...
The church is a family....a family of saints.
That word ‘Saint’ does not refer to a few highly revered people of faith throughout history that have stutues of themselves all over Europe...
When the word ‘Saints’ is used in scripture....it actually refers to all genuine believers.....ALL Christians.
Collectively...we are a family of Saints.
Paul reminds us in verse 2 that the Saints who are in Christ.... will judge the world with Him also....
This passage is referring to the Millennial Kingdom....the thousand-year reign of Jesus that begins immediately after His second-coming....
This will be the time when Jesus – and those who citizens of HIs kingdom – will sit in judgement over men – and even fallen angels – who have stood in rebellion to God and His Word.
Revelation 3:21 speaks to this when it says, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne.”
Paul’s point here is that if those who are in Christ are competent enough to sit in judgement over spiritual forces of evil....
...How much more should those in Christ be competent enough to assist each other with run-of-the-mill disagreements and arguments in the here and now?
Sometimes, Christ followers forget that they have supernatural abilities....
Not like Superman...or Thor....
But because the Holy Spirit is within us – we have a unique ability to understand and discern spiritual matters – including any incidents of contention that may arise within the Church...
As John MacArthur puts it, “The poorest equipped believer, who seeks the counsel of God’s Word and Spirit, is much more competent to settle disagreements between fellow believers than is the most highly trained and experienced unbelieving judge who is devoid of divine truth.”
In other words....pigs need to go to other pigs....not to the neighborhood goat....when there is an issue that arises in the pen.
In verse 6, Paul brings up another important reason for keeping disputes in-house....
It has to do with our testimony to those outside of the Church.
Verse 6 (1 Corinthians 6:6) reads, “But instead, one brother goes to law against another – and this in front of unbelievers!”
When believers take their dispute outside the walls of the church and into the streets of an unbelieving world...it has the potential to drive people away from the gospel message....
Christian on Christian animosity in the public square results in nothing less than dragging the name of Jesus – our Lord & Savior - through the mud....
This accomplishes just the opposite of what Jesus called us to do when He told us to make disciples of Himself....
That is....to bring people to Him...not drive people away from him.
I mean...Why would someone want to be associated with a faith system where its adherents can’t get along with each other....and are suing each other in court?
Not exactly a good marketing strategy....
That would be like taking apples to a farmer’s market and displaying fruit with mold or spoilage for everyone to see....
Ideally....the Church shouldn’t have these instances of believers being at odds with each other....
....and if the church were made up of perfect people....we never would have these instances of contention...
But....unfortunately....we are not perfect people....
We are people who – despite being saved by the blood of Christ – still deal with the old nature and its selfish, prideful desires from time to time...
Therefore - there is always the potential for conflict....even within the Church.
One of the many things about this church that I continually thank God for is that – unlike the Corithian church – moments of contention here within this body of believers have been extremely rare....
...and that in-and-of itself is a rare thing.
Folks....we are extremely blessed to be able to experience the level of love, unity, and cohesiveness that we enjoy here at LaValle Advent Christian Church
However.... we can never take that for granted.
We must always be on guard against the spiritual forces of evil who want nothing more than to plant seeds of division among us....
And because God is moving here in this church...you better believe that Satan is trying to move as well....
....moving against God’s plan....trying to corrupt our witness for Christ.
Our passage for today is also a reminder of what we – as believers – need to prioritize in our lives.
To be honest – folks - Verse 7 (1 Corinthians 6:7) is one of the most challenging verses in all of scripture....
It’s a verse that forces us to consider the greater good when we have the opportunity to choose between either:
seeking some level of compensation against a Christian brother in a public court of law....
....or
Seeking spiritual harmony through administering grace toward someone who doesn’t deserve it....all the while retaining the public integrity of the Church....
Paul tells us in verse 7 that it is ultimately better to be wronged....better to be cheated...
....than to participate in the public humiliation and degradation of the sacred institution known as the Church of Jesus Christ...
Verse 7 holds a mirror up to our spiritual motives and maturity....it reveals the intentions of our heart....
It reveals the level of love we have for fellow believers....
....It reveals how we view the sanctity of the Church.
Sometimes, that mirror reflects an image we would rather not admit to...
We don’t like the idea of being wronged or defrauded....and - ideally – a genuine believer would never intentionally do that to someone else to begin with....
But Paul’s point is that the spiritual integrity of the Church – and the name of Jesus Christ – are far more important than winning a civil case against another Christian in a public forum...
Paul writes that if we even search out legal representation and file a case against another brother in Christ....we’ve already failed the test of verse 7.
As much as we don’t like to hear this....it’s far better to lose something financially than it is to lose someone spiritually....
Even when we are clearly in the legal right, we do not have the moral and spiritual right to insist on our legal right in a public court....
Are you squirming in your seat yet?
...”I don’t know if I like what I’m hearing here, Pastor Andy!”
Yeah....me too....this is not an easy verse to live by, is it.
Many of us were raised to stand up for our legal rights in each & every circumstance....
...here in America....If you haven’t noticed....we’re big on personal rights, freedoms, and liberties....
“Don’t Tread on Me!”.....some of you might even fly a flag with those words on it that go all the way back to the Revolutionary War....
we’re big on preserving our healthy bank accounts.....we’re big on taking legal action against others...
...and it’s very easy to do these days.....One call, that’s all...right?
...Don’t get me wrong, there are - unfortunately - times when Christians do need to seek justice in a public forum....
....especially when it involves a criminal offense...
...or when an offender purposefully commits some sort of illegal act against us...
Jesus never tells us to be a doormat...he never teaches that we ought to gladly succumb to scammers or evil people looking to do us harm....
But....Jesus does tell us to forgive those who wrong us....especially...our brothers and sisters in Christ.
In Matthew chapter 18, Peter asks Jesus how many times we are to forgive a brother who sins against us....Peter’s thinking....maybe 7 times?
I mean...that sounds pretty generous, right?
Do you remember how Jesus answers Peter’s question?
Yeah...Seventy times seven.
...And that doesn’t mean exactly 490 times....
“You can mess with me 490 times....but on that 491st time...LOOK OUT!
Oh, It’s ON Now!.....You want a piece of me?, You got it!
No....Jesus is telling us that our forgiveness for a fellow believer needs to be unlimited in its quantity and scope....
That we are to administer grace to fellow Christians who doesn’t deserve it...You know why?
Because God administered – and continues to administer - an unlimited amount of grace to you and I as well....and - guess what....we don’t deserve it either.
We don’t deserve grace....we don’t deserve mercy....
In fact....if you want to get theologically technical about it...
The only thing any of us DESERVE....is death.
The first time you sinned against a holy & righteous God...you deserved physical and spiritual death for all eternity....
...And every sin you’ve committed since that time is deserving of death.
But....God has chosen to forgive.
He’s chosen to show mercy.
He’s chosen to administer grace.
In His love for us....He’s chosen to provide an escape hatch through faith and trust in Jesus Christ for anyone who submits to His Lordship over their life.
Because God has shown you amazing Grace....
Show that same grace to your brothers and sisters in the faith.
Let’s Pray.
