處理問題的方法
哥林多前書六章1至11節
1你們中間有彼此相爭的事，怎敢在不義的人面前求審，不在聖徒面前求審呢？
2豈不知聖徒要審判世界麼？若世界為你們所審，難道你們不配審判這最小的事麼？
3豈不知我們要審判天使麼？何況今生的事呢？
4既是這樣，你們若有今生的事當審判，是派教會所輕看的人審判麼？
5我說這話是要叫你們羞恥。難道你們中間沒有一個智慧人能審斷弟兄們的事麼？
6你們竟是弟兄與弟兄告狀，而且告在不信主的人面前。
7你們彼此告狀，這已經是你們的大錯了。為甚麼不情願受欺呢？為甚麼不情願吃虧呢？
8你們倒是欺壓人、虧負人，況且所欺壓所虧負的就是弟兄。
9你們豈不知不義的人不能承受神的國麼？不要自欺！無論是淫亂的、拜偶像的、姦淫的、作孌童的、親男色的、
10偷竊的、貪婪的、醉酒的、辱罵的、勒索的，都不能承受神的國。
11你們中間也有人從前是這樣；但如今你們奉主耶穌基督的名，並藉著我們神的靈，已經洗淨，成聖，稱義了。
信息分享
昨天的經文讓我們看見哥林多教會沒有處理信徒犯罪的問題。今天的經文，我們雖然看見教會主動處理信徒間的其他問題，可是，卻用了錯誤的方法去處理。他們用了屬世的方法，而不是基督的方法。他們的信徒明顯是出現了彼此紛爭，為了處理糾紛，他們便告上法庭，要異教徒的法官為他們審斷事理。這是多麼有失見證啊！
他們是為到甚麼事情爭訟呢？大概是為到金錢或產業的糾紛。屬世的人當然會說：「你們絕對有權告上法庭。」可是，基督徒是接受神的律法所管轄：神的律法要求，遠遠高過屬世的律法標準。
信徒之間出現彼此相爭的事，差不多在每間教會都會發生，教會一定有方法去處理。但處理的方法必須合乎新約聖經的教導，並且按照愛的法則。基督的方法已經在馬太福音十八章17節清楚列出。
保羅在這裡提出了不少教導，其中一些對我們極大的提醒。他說：「你們真的不能接受自己吃一點虧嗎？你們寧可把弟兄告上法庭，也不情願吃虧嗎？你們為甚麼不把一切冤屈交給主，讓主親自去審斷呢？若有人得罪你，主是知道的；為何你不相信主會為你伸冤呢？」
當然，要實踐這個真理絕不容易。你如果發現自己正陷於這困境，請讀詩篇三十七篇，並將自己重新交到主的手裡。我們一方面要作好準備，可能要為到主的緣故而遭受虧損；但與此同時，亦要信靠主必將最好的賜給你。
你的教會採用甚麼方法來處理問題呢？是屬世的方法，還是主的方法呢？要記著主為你成就的工作。要牢記主過去怎樣幫助你，並信靠主在未來也一定幫助你，那麼，此刻就當然有信心將一切交託給主了。
禱告：
主啊，求你幫助我凡事信靠你，並且將這信心實踐出來。
WHOSE METHODS SHOULD WE USE?
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?
5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!
9 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 homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Message
Yesterday we saw how the church at Corinth had failed to deal with sin within its membership. Today we see that it had been dealing with other problems, but had been dealing with them in the wrong way. They had used the world's methods and not Christ's. Evidently there had been disputes between church members and to settle them they had taken each other to court, in front of heathen judges. What a testimony!
What was the dispute about? Possibly about money or property. The world would have said, 'You are perfectly within your rights in going to court'. But Christians are under a higher law than the law of this world.
Differences of opinion are sure to arise in almost any church but there is a very definite way to deal with them. It must be according to the New Testament pattern and according to the law of love. Christ's method is clearly outlined in Matthew 18:17.
Paul gives a number of instructions here and some very helpful words. He says, 'Would it be such a terrible thing if you did suffer loss? Wouldn't that be better than taking a fellow Christian to court? Why not just say, '.I leave it all with the Lord. I am not going to say anything about it. I am not going to do anything about it. If others wrong me, Jesus understands. He was wronged so terribly himself and I can trust him to do what is right for me."
That is not easy to do. If you find yourself faced with this kind of situation, read Psalm 37 and put yourself afresh in the Lord's hands. Be prepared to suffer loss for Christ's sake but at the same time commit your way to the Lord. He will work out what is best for you.
What methods is your church using to solve difficulties? The world's methods or Christ's methods? Remember what Christ has done for you. Remember how he has helped you in the past. You are trusting him for the future, so why not trust him for the present too?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord, help me live today in the way that will show I am trusting you.