don't go to court

Good evening friends,

In this section from Paul's letter to the Corinthians he makes a claim that's almost shocking now. Christians should not allow their disputes to escape the church. Even when we disagree strongly with another believer, even when we think another Christian has wronged us, we can (and should) handle the dispute within the church. God has given the community gifts of wisdom, discernment, understanding and wise speech to be able to settle disputes. What would it take to make this a reality today?

God bless,
Sam

1 Corinthians 6:1-8

When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints? ²Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? ³Do you not know that we are to judge angels—to say nothing of ordinary matters?

⁴If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church? ⁵I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one believer and another, ⁶but a believer goes to court against a believer—and before unbelievers at that? ⁷In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? ⁸But you yourselves wrong and defraud—and believers at that.

Sabbath and gentleness

Good morning (barely) friends,
Having just made a point about being Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus goes on to drive the point home. This time he makes a different argument about the Sabbath. He points to common sense (which agrees with the Law of Moses) which tells us that even on the Sabbath, when we aren't supposed to work, we still make exceptions for emergencies. Jewish tradition discusses this idea as an example of saving life, an acceptable reason to violate the Sabbath.

The second paragraph talks about Jesus' desire to remain hidden in some ways in terms of prophesy (Isaiah in this case). Jesus comes gently, not destroying even the vulnerable things that cling to vitality. Even though he is powerful (to heal, to challenge those in power) he is gentle and meek. No matter where we are in life Jesus welcomes us.

God bless,
Sam

Matthew 12:9-21

9He left that place and entered their synagogue; 10a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. 11He said to them, “Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” 13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other.

14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. 15When Jesus became aware of this, he departed.



Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, 16and he ordered them not to make him known. 17This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 18“Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. 21And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”