5 …Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? (1 Corinthians 6:5)
In this first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul has spoken about his concern for the disunity in the church based on loyalties to different evangelists. He reminds them that it is God, not the evangelists, that their faith is built on. God is the foundation of faith and the “body” or temple being built with all their lives is protected by God and meant for worship. In chapter 5 he moved to his second concern, reports of immorality among the people that the Corinthians are ignoring. They are not only divided but they are also not living with integrity with each other. Chapter 6 moves to his third concern. Members are taking their grievances to local courts to be tried by judges who did not respect nor understand the guidelines of faith.
Perhaps we don’t even blink our eyes at the thought of taking a grievance to court – that’s the way things are done – but we take our grievances to court in other ways. Grievances are often aired in the court of public opinion in the name of freedom of speech. Another name for it is to gossip about our grievances.
The Hatfields and the McCoys ongoing feud is the American stereotypical example that most have heard of. What was the real cause of their dispute is not clear but grudges carried through the years and generations is still code for disagreement that has grown to a dispute that whatever court decision results, neither side is satisfied. Paul objects and says that churches should not be like this. We have a common foundation and we have the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Wisdom, in our churches and we should be able to sort out our differences without going to court.
So how does that apply to us today? Maybe we are not the Hatfields and the McCoys but during elections now Republicans and Democrats sometimes avoid each other and discussions about politics. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to shine his flashlight on our souls and reveal any grudges that we are holding that are blocking the flow of God’s love. Lord, forgive us and help us to forgive others.
On the Way to Wonder 