Christians , how do you explain this hypocrisy ?

Question

Christians are not supposed to take their disputes before non-Christian courts or judges. (“If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?” -- 1 Corinthians 6:1 NIV) How interesting! Considering that state is separate from church all courts are supposedly “ungodly”. Does this stop Christians from tying up the supreme court with law suits concerning school prayer, abortion, or numerous other absurdities?No it doesn’t, and my taxes are paying the bill for their hypocrisy!

Answer 1

A very good question! I happen to agree with you, being an Atheist and all, but here's what they might argue:

They're trying to bring salvation to the rest of us heathens by changing our ungodly rules, and they're also trying to save their own children from our sinful ways. If that means bringing their problems down to our ungodly level, then they are willing to do that for our souls.

I don't know... ask a theologists?

An aside to any Christians who read this: When referring to Christians in the above paragraph, I was thinking of ultra-conservatives, not the regular Christian-about-town. I know that you don't think we're a bunch of heathens. I happen to have many Christian friends, who are all very good people, as I'm sure many Christians are. I sincerely hope I did not offend you.

Answer 2

I believe this scripture is takes out of context. Read the whole chapter and not just one verse. In the KJV, here's what it says:
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? It doesn't say "ungodly", it says "unjust". In that day, anyone who wasn't considered a "saint" was considered unjust, also, the judges at the time were very corrupt. They would vote for whoever would pay more.

I don't know what version of the bible you use, but the KJV is found to be more accurately translated to the Greek and Hebrew then any other version. Try reading a version that has a different interpritation, maybe something will jump out at you that you never knew.

Also, it isn't hypocrisy to take things to the courts. There are things that sometimes can't be resolved any other way. If there wasn't so much crime and dishonesty in the world, then maybe we wouldn't need to courts to place judgement on people in this life.

I do agree with you that there are so many dumb lawsuits going on. People need to be more concerned with themselves then what everyone else is doing.

Answer 3

So, what your saying is we should shut up and let things happen as they happen. The people have said that church and state are separate, not God. God wants us to abide by the laws of the land, but he doesn't say we can't change the laws to make them more Christian like. He doesn't say we can't try to vote in Christians to help change laws to reflect what He wants us to do. I know people like you would be happier if Christians were sent to an island somewhere, but that's not going to happen. We have to live happily here too and its only fair that we should have a voice too. I'm sorry for the people that you might have been in contact with that gave you such a horrible view of Christians and I pray God sends someone into your life that will change that view. Your using the Bible to twist things around to suit your own needs. For the record though it's not the Christians that are starting the lawsuits, it's the non Christians that started to complain about abortion, praying in school, swearing on the Bible, and In God We Trust on the money. We are just trying to hold on to the few things that glorify God. Non Christians are trying to take away everything and we're just trying to keep it together.

Answer 4

If I have a dispute with another Christian (note that Paul is speaking to Christians) then I shouldnt take it to court but have it dealt with through other Christians (saints) so when we're in law suits with the state as far as the other issues concern, its obviously not with other Christians.

Answer 5

I don't know why people feel that they have the right to demand that Christians explain themselves every five minutes in detail on some point, chapter and verse, when the question is usually nothing more than an ill-disguised, ill-tempered, and inflammatory attack on Christianity anyway.

Why should we waste our time? Our religious beliefs are a private matter and are not offered in the public domain for anybody who's bored to take pot shots at to see if he or she can get a rise out of us. Two points, ten points, ten thousand points, ten million points, it isn't worth five minutes of my time.

It's interesting to note that there is a common thread linking the postings that characterize President Bush as a moron and those that characterize Christians as morons. It's also interesting to note that many of the people who send in such messages can't even spell "moron."

I will admit that I'm curious about why so many people appear to have nothing better to do than to bait Christians. Before I began to participate in these Questions and Answers, I never encountered so much hostility to Christians and so much baiting as I've seen here.

I suspect, but cannot yet say I believe, that there's a larger, politically-motivated agenda lying beneath the surface that its proponents are not yet willing to disclose. I'm confident that in due course it will become apparent in one way or another.

Answer 6

i suppose you think Christians are to sit in their churches and just take what ever society dishes out?

you forget the part where Christians are called to be light and salt in a dark and dying world.

as secularist push the lie of "Separation" and the Church allows them to do so unchallenged this country has declined in morality, ethical behavior, sexual deviancy and a host other major problems.

interesting point: this country's woes continue to increase directly proportionally to the decrease to Gods involvement decreases.

another point is this : while you pay taxes so do Christians. and you have the freedom of speech because the men that penned the constitution understood, lived, and defended Christian values.

Answer 7

Christians aren't supposed to take other *Christians* to court, specificially, but have the dispute resolved by a man of God. How hypocrite of you to make accusations while inaccurately representing Christianity and the Bible.

Answer 8

Reread what you cited. It is about believers disputing between one another. This should be resolved within the church, according to Paul. It has nothing to do with secular grievances or government.

Answer 9

This is a dispute between two Christians that this verse speaks of. The examples that you gave were not.

Answer 10

Actually that has to do with disputes between individuals, not with the government itself. However, you have a good point. Christians should strive for more separation because it is for our own good.