Though written for leaders of the Church, I found the following article to be powerfully helpful today. I wish to share it with you. It applies to so many situations; it applies to everything we say, everything we do, everything we think. It's so important to ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do?" Joe McKeever drives his point home in an eloquent and meaningful way.
Church Conflict: Why Not Rather be Wronged?
written by Joe McKeever
"Some fights you need to walk away from.
"It’s never too late to back away from a fight.
"It’s just hard. And takes more strength than most people can muster.
"One would think it’s the other way around, that courage demands we push our case to the limit, justice demands we insist on our rights, and righteousness demands we make sure the other side gets what’s coming to them.
"But for believers–serious disciples of the Lord Jesus–there is only one question when facing the possibility of an all-out church battle: “What would you have us do, Lord?”
"Why not let yourself be wronged? Why not just “take your lumps” and walk away? Do it…
"...for God’s sake. His honor is at stake here. That should matter to you more than your rights.
...for sanity’s sake. Think of the sheer stupidity of what you are doing.
...for the sake of your witness. These court cases are an ugly blot on your community.
...for goodness sake. “All you are doing is providing fuel for more wrong, more injustice, and more hurt to the people of your own spiritual family.” "
For further study the verses sited in Joe McKeever's insightful article may be of help:
I Corinthians 6:1-7
1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?
2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?
3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?
5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren,
6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
7 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?
I Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
I Corinthians 6:14
14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.
I Corinthians 6:19
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
Luke 12:13-15
13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me."
14 But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?"
15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
