Why not rather be wronged? (1Cor 6:7-8)

Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren. (1Cor 6:7-8)

Jesus said some very radical things about the attitude a believer should have toward being wronged. He said:

You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. (Matt 5:38-40)

So then it becomes obvious that going to court against anyone is already a defeat. By doing so we put on display a heart that seeks revenge, rather than reconciliation. We reveal that we are not like Jesus, who by his death opened up the door to heaven for his killers. In fact one of the Roman centurions who conducted his execution, when he saw the supernatural events that followed Jesus’ death, he said “Truly, this was the son of God”. I would not be shocked to one day see this roman centurion in heaven. That is the grace of Christ.

“Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?” Those are indeed strange questions for those who do not have this mindset that our savior has, who died praying for the for forgiveness for those who killed him.

Having this mindset is a statement of trust in the supreme, eternal justice of God. It means setting aside your desire for immediate justice, knowing that God will not let any wrongdoing go unpunished:

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. (Rom 12:19)

Do you believe in the wrath of God? When someone does wrong to you, God is angry. And he will make sure justice is done in the end. Even if they live a long and happy life, and die in peacefully at old age without ever seeing any retribution, God will pour out his wrath on them in Hell.

Or even better, if they repent from their sins they will have part in the atoning death of Christ, when God poured out his wrath over their sin on his own son. And they will have part in the same undeserved salvation that we have.

Taking your own revenge is denying these realities. So in stead of trusting in God’s justice, you put yourself in his place, and execute your own judgment. You may get the immediate satisfaction you’re looking for, but God’s perfect will is always best, and sin always takes you out of God’s perfect will.

So in light of this, Paul offers another way of dealing with evil. Not combating it with further evil, but defeating it with good:

BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:20-21)

So then going to court against a brother is an act of unwillingness to forgive and to show another the same kind of grace that God has shown us. And it is an act of deliberate injustice, by circumventing the church and seeking mediation from those who do not know God, hoping that they will rule unjustly in your favor, rather than the church ruling justly in favor of your opponent, or telling you to let it go. And finally it is an act of distrust in the supreme eternal justice of God. It is shoving God out of the courtroom to deal with things on our own, in ways that fall short of God’s perfect justice.