1 Corinthians 6:1-3 “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”
As we read these verses, we see an expectation of how we, as a body of believers, should behave ourselves. The matters that rise between brethren should be “small matters.” We know that the law of land does not allow for the church to try such matters as physical murder, grand larceny, and other large crimes (as viewed by the world). Also, we know that the scriptures tell us in many places that we are to live lawfully as citizens of this world.
Matters that arise between brothers and sisters in Christ should not require the intervention of the law of the land. It we are striving to live as His disciples, then there is no judgement to be found in the world that would be applicable to our walk. For brethren to have a need to pursue the judgement of the world’s legal system is proof that someone has abandoned the principles of a godly life. It also indicates that one party or the other expects a better personal outcome from the judgement of the world than would be forthcoming if the matter is judged by the saints.
The simple truth is that we see many things today that men prefer to have judged by the courts of the unjust. Even if we simplify the meaning to the court of public opinion, there are many who seek to justify ungodliness because society says it is permissible. They hold the church in contempt because we believe the word of God and the judgement of God.
There are some who believe that the day will come in this world when only Christians will hold high offices in the land. They think that it is in this fashion that we shall judge the world. However, this is the same line of thinking that the Jews held (and some still hold) in the coming of the Messiah. The reason they do not believe that Jesus is the Christ is because He did not put them in control of the world.
We already judge the world. The ability that God grants us to judge the world is what shows us the things we need to repent of. Being able to judge the world is what allows us to know when we lust after the things of the world. Our power in Christ to judge the world is what allows us to know how we should and should not behave and to teach our children the values that are Christ-like.
We have the ability to judge messengers (angels) according to the theme of their message. If we are studying to show ourselves approved unto God workmen that do not need to be ashamed, then we know by His grace those messengers that have been sent by Him and those that just decided to show up. If He gives us the spirit of discernment (judgment) to know the messengers of truth, how is it that we should doubt He will give us grace to know how to judge what is right among ourselves on the “small matters”?
May we only seek the face of God and gladly submit to His grace in our brothers and sisters rather than seek the approbation of this unjust world!