There is an old saying about not hanging your
dirty laundry in public. What it means it’s unwise to take your grievances to a
public forum. It’s a habit however, that with the rise of social media has
become all too common. This phrase doesn’t have a biblical basis but the meaning
sure does.
In 1st
Corinthians 6, Paul is outraged that the church has allowed it personal
disputes among its members to spill into pagan courts. Paul’s flabbergasted
that they don’t find a brother arbitrate the matter rather than go to
unbelievers. He says it better to be wronged than bring reproach to the church.
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?
1st Corinthians 6:7
It
might not be in a court of law but the court of public opinion we take our grievances.
Still, the same principles apply. People will have differences and disagreement
over things. It is tempting to want to garner support for our side by telling
others. But that does more than just ‘win’ our case. It can ruin our
reputation, damage the church and dishonor the name of the God we serve.
It would be a shame to be ‘right’ about
something but wrong the Lord in the process.
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