Old Paths Journal – Page 17 – A Christian Magazine with a Relevant Message

Nothing’s Changed

by: Dr. Allen Domelle

Exodus 5:21
“And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.”

When Moses returned to Egypt, he showed Israel through the signs of the rod that was turned into a serpent and the healing of the leprous hand that God would deliver them. Exodus 4:31 says when God’s people saw these signs, “And the people believed…” However, something happened between Exodus 4:31 and the verse above. What happened was when Moses told Pharaoh to let the people go, he hardened his heart and increased the hardness of their bondage. They believed in one verse, but a few verses later they were blaming Moses for the increased affliction.

These people made the same mistake many Christians make by basing God’s promises on their current conditions. They thought that God didn’t speak or promise because things were not going the way they imagined. They based God’s promises on whether or not their situation had changed. What they didn’t take into consideration was that nothing had changed from the time that God spoke to Moses to the time of their increased afflictions. There are three things we need to take into consideration concerning God’s promises.

First, just because our situation hasn’t changed doesn’t mean God didn’t speak. Just because our situation gets worse doesn’t mean that God isn’t working. We are guilty of basing the working hand of God upon the ease of our current situation when often God’s hand is working through life’s afflictions. God was working for Israel through the plagues, but they couldn’t see it because they were focused on the immediate. Don’t let the difficulties of your current situation shake your faith in God’s calling, promise or working hand.

Second, God’s promise hasn’t changed when He doesn’t come through on our timetable. Even Moses doubted whether God promised him when he said in verse 22, “Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people?” We want God to work immediately when He works on His timetable. Don’t let the Devil discourage you when you don’t see God working immediately on your behalf. He is working, you just can’t see what He is doing. Remember that God doesn’t work off our clock. He has His own timetable, and His timing is always right. Until He comes through, you must obey and follow through with what He wants you to do.

Third, God’s call and command don’t change when there is no evidence of anything happening. Moses asked in verse 22, “…why is it that thou hast sent me?” Many people have quit on God because they didn’t see God change their situation. The only way you will serve the LORD to the end of life is by believing in a place called Heaven, and in a judgment seat where He will reward His children. When you have no evidence of God working, go back to His Word and regain your confidence by realizing He always keeps His promises.

Do you at times wonder if God is really working in your life? Just because things are not going the way you think they should go doesn’t mean that God didn’t speak or promise. If you will continue obeying God, in His timing you will see that your faith in what He said was right. Don’t despair; God is working.

Properly Handling Trials

by: John Harris

Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”

We give the Devil too much credit many times in life’s trials. If something bad happens to us, we are quick to blame Satan.

Job 1:1 says that Job was “perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Job was thought of highly in Scripture. He was known as God-fearing.

However, Job 1:8 says, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” Notice that God pointed Job out. It was God that told Satan that he could do whatever he wished, except to kill Job.

A few verses later we witness Job hitting rock bottom. His land is gone, all of his children are killed, and Job lost everything save his wife. Could you imagine the emotional, spiritual and physical affects that took a toll upon Job.

In chapter 1, Job shows us that proper way to handle trials.

1. Job immediately ran to God.

Verse 20 says, “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,”

Seems that when we have troubles come our way, we run away from the presence of the Lord. The worse thing to do is to try to go through this battle without walking with the Lord. Think about it like this, troubles will come our way no matter what, but only God can comfort you in a way that no one or nothing else could.

2. Job learned to accept this trial.

Verse 21 says, “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Notice that even though it was hard to accept it, Job knew what was done was done, and he learned to live with it. It was all in God’s hands.

When I was a freshman in Bible College, I was in a car accident that almost ended my life. At the hospital the doctors found out that my femur shattered. For five weeks, I was in the hospital enduring the emotional and physical stress that was placed upon me.

I now walk with a limp for the rest of my life. Before this accident, I was very active in sports, I loved playing football and baseball, and I was in tournaments for mixed martial arts. I had to accept the fact that those days are over. I can no longer be involved with sports like the way I used to be. I had to accept it and eventually God gave me peace.

3. Job stayed faithful.

Verse 22 says, “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”

When we are going through trials, we need to stay faithful to the things of God. When we start looking back, we may turn into a pillar of salt like Lot’s wife. The worse thing we can do is run from God when things are tough. When we turn back, we will blame God when He is proving Himself through us. When we are going through trials, we need to stay in church, continue to pray and read our Bibles, continue to go soul winning, invest in others, tithe, give to missions, and so on. You never know who may be saved because you stayed faithful.

We never know what storms will come our way, but I do know this, I would prefer to go through the storms with God than without Him. The storm will eventually pass over us.

John Harris
Missionary to Belize

Maximizing Life

Genesis 41:28
“This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.”

Pharaoh’s dream was a warning by God about an upcoming famine that Egypt was about to face. Joseph warned Pharaoh that there would be seven plenteous years followed by seven years of famine. Because God was about to do this, Joseph encouraged him to prepare so they could make it through this time.

Your life is a work of God. We could look at this dream as your life and see that God is “about to do” something through you. Your desire should be to maximize what God wants to do through you. They were advised to follow six things if they were going to make it through the famine, and those same six things will maximize what God will do through you.

First, realize that there are cycles of life. Verses 29-30 show that there were seven good and bad years. Likewise, life is very much a cycle that will have good and bad times. If you grasp this principle, you won’t despair when times get bad. There are some who completely fall apart during bad times when they could have made it through their difficulties if they understood that this cycle will end. You can weather life’s cycles by being steady during the ups and downs of life.

Second, prioritize your life by importance. God doubled Pharaoh’s dream to show him the importance of this cycle. You will never maximize what God is doing through you without prioritizing your life and focusing more on the greater priorities. Don’t let the lesser priorities of life take your time from the greater ones.

Third, surround yourself with wise advisors. Pharaoh was advised to find a wise man to help him. You will never maximize life without having wise advisors to guide you in life. Once you’ve surrounded yourself with these wise advisors, listen to them; it doesn’t help to have advisors if you don’t listen and follow their advice.

Fourth, get a plan. In verse 33, Joseph devised a plan for Pharaoh to follow. You will never maximize life without goals and schedule. You should have a daily schedule you follow. Time is God’s gift in life. A daily schedule will keep you from wasting the time and life He has given you if you’ll make it your boss. A schedule helps to keep the priorities for the day right, and it will keep you from those things that will waste your time.

Fifth, know your resources. You will never maximize life without knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Joseph understood that they needed to gather in the years of plenty to make it through the years of famine. When you know your strengths and weaknesses, you will learn what areas you are going to need more help in to maximize what God is doing through you. Let me encourage you to keep your strengths strong, but strengthen those areas where you are weaker.

Sixth, don’t wait for life to come to you, start immediately with what God has already given you. Joseph didn’t wait for the famine to come to do something, he started immediately. The best time to start maximizing your life is right now. These steps will maximize what God is doing and will do through you if you will follow them immediately.

Dealing with Mistreatment

Genesis 31:42
“Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.”

Very few things are more frustrating than to be continually mistreated and feeling like there is nothing you can do. Have you been there? I’m sure everyone at some point in their life has felt that mistreatment from someone in authority or leadership and have had that helpless feeling that there is nothing they can do about it.

It is obvious from the verse above that Jacob felt the same way about the treatment he received from his father-in-law. After Laban had hired Jacob, he saw that everything Jacob put his hand on seemed to prosper. After Jacob married Laban’s daughters, the only way he could pay him was through negotiating a deal where Jacob received certain types of cattle. In an attempt to take everything from Jacob, Laban changed his wages ten times; however, the LORD still blessed Jacob in spite of Laban’s mistreatment. In this story, there are some things you can learn from Jacob about what you should do when you are being mistreated.

First, continue to do right. Jacob certainly wasn’t one of the most honest characters in the Scriptures, but he did do right concerning Laban. When you feel that you are being mistreated by someone, you must not let their mistreatment cause you to act in spite. You must continue to do right. You will never be blessed by God if you try to get revenge for how someone has mistreated you. In the long run, your right actions will be your defense and eventual reward.

Second, continue to do your best. One thing Jacob never stopped doing was his best. Though Jacob may have lacked character in other areas of his life, it was very evident that he always did his best. God rewarded him for doing his best. You will find that by doing your best, you will become more fortunate than others. Isn’t it amazing how “lucky” those who do their best seem to be? In reality, they are not lucky, but their best simply rewards them for their effort. Friend, you must realize that the effort to do your best will be rewarded. Just because someone in authority or leadership mistreats you doesn’t give you the right not to do your best. God doesn’t command us to do our best when we are being treated right, but He commands us to do our best all the time. The real test of your Christian character will be how much effort you give when you are mistreated.

Third, realize that God is the ultimate rewarder. I love what Jacob said in the verse above when he says, “Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me…” He was acknowledging the fact that God saw the mistreatment and blessed him for continuing to do right. If you truly trust God, you will realize that He is the One Who ultimately blesses you for what you do. If you continue to do right in spite of any mistreatment, God will see it and bless you for doing the right thing.

The worst thing you can do during times of mistreatment is to complain and stop doing your best. Romans 12:21 reminds us, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” You will never overcome the mistreatment you face in your life by whining, complaining or by trying to get revenge. You overcome mistreatment by doing right and continually doing your best. God sees your efforts, and He will reward you accordingly.

God WILL Provide

by: Dr. Allen Domelle

Genesis 22:8
“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”

We often talk about Abraham’s faith, but rarely do we stop to see what made his faith so great. When you study his life, you often see times when his faith wavered, but when you look at his faith at its strongest, you will be hard pressed to find anyone whose faith was stronger.

Maybe no story better exemplifies the strength of Abraham’s faith than when God asked him to sacrifice his son. One of the interesting things about this story is that when he went to sacrifice his son, he went without a ram. He easily could have brought a ram just in case, but his faith was strong enough to believe that God would raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham knew that God promised to make a great nation through his son Isaac, so his faith believed that God had the power to raise him from the dead after he was sacrificed. I just don’t know of any person who has that strong of faith. Yet, Abraham went forward in faith and God blessed him for it. Several elements of Abraham’s faith can be helpful to building your faith.

First, Abraham’s faith was more about God than it was about his ability to have faith. The strongest faith is the faith that believes God is powerful enough to make whatever you are trying to do happen. Always remember that it is never about our faith, it is always about God’s power. One reason God used the great saints of yesteryear is that they stepped out believing God was powerful enough to make what they were attempting to do happen. You will never strengthen your faith until you believe in God’s omnipotence.

Second, Abraham’s faith believed in what he had never seen. Is this not what faith truly is? Your faith will never be strengthened if you continue to do what you know has already been done. True faith in God attempts great things for Him. One reason we don’t see God’s power working today is because we don’t attempt great things for Him. There is no reason for God to show His power because we have stopped believing that He can do what we cannot see. You will never see God perform the miraculous through your life until you get to the point where you step out on that which you have never seen.

Third, Abraham’s faith was evidenced by action. When Isaac asked his father where the lamb was for the burnt offering, he replied, “God will provide…” Faith is not faith without action. You can talk about how much faith you have, but it will only be evidenced by your action. Faith is dormant without action. Christian, it is not that you don’t have faith, it is simply that you haven’t acted on it. God didn’t give Abraham more faith than He gave you. No! You have the same amount of faith, but the difference is that Abraham acted on his faith because He believed in the power of God.

God will provide for you just like He did for Abraham, but you must act before He provides. If God provided before you acted, it wouldn’t be faith. Stop doubting the power of God and believe He still has the power to do anything. If you want to see God perform the miraculous through you, you are going to have to step out and attempt for God something you have never seen. It is when you attempt the unseen that God sees your faith and provides.

He Chose

by: Dr. Allen Domelle

Genesis 13:10
“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.”

The decision that Lot made in the verse above completely changed his future. He probably did not know that his choice would have so much power. His one choice led to losing his wife, two daughters and sons-in-law. His one choice led to immoral conduct with his two remaining daughters. His one choice led his life from one of promise to one of ill repute. Nobody ever thinks of Lot without thinking of what sin did to his life. Sadly, any good that he did in his life was never recorded because of that one choice.

I have seen scores of people throughout my ministry destroy their lives through one decision; they never thought their choice would become so destructive. Many times, these people who made these bad choices at the time thought it was a promising one only to learn later that it was the worst decision of their life. We can learn from Lot and the scores of people who through one choice turned a life of promise into a life of turmoil. The verse above shows us the rationale of Lot’s destructive choice.

First, he chose by convenience. It was more convenient to pitch his tent toward the well-watered plains than it was to choose a land where he would have to toil to feed his flocks. Convenience is never a part of the will of God. Many times God’s choice won’t be convenient, but it will always be right. Convenience should never be the basis of any decision.

Second, he chose by pleasure. The green grass of Sodom and Gomorrah looked much more pleasurable than the desert land of Canaan. Friend, what may look like green grass could be weeds. Just because something may feel right doesn’t make it right. Never make choices based on feelings, because those feelings don’t take God’s Word into consideration.

Third, he chose by sight. There wasn’t one time when Lot made a choice based on faith. Every choice you make should be a decision of faith. Any decision that does not involve faith is sin. Your eyes can deceive you, but waiting to make a decision by faith will always reveal the right path you should choose.

Fourth, he chose the path of least resistance. There seemed to be less work if he chose the plains over the land of Canaan. Sometimes the path of greatest resistance is the right path. You will miss some of the greatest opportunities that God has for you if you always choose the path of least resistance. God has a better opportunity to reveal Himself through you through the path of greatest struggle. I’m not saying that the path of least resistance is always wrong, but you should never base your decision off this parameter.

What Lot thought was convenient became inconvenient. What he thought would be pleasurable became a heartache. What he thought would be the path of least resistance, became the path of great resistance. Never allow your flesh, feelings or intuitions to be the basis for any decision, but every decision must be made by principles based upon Scriptures.

The Master of Distraction

Genesis 3:1
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

Distraction is one of the key tools Satan uses to get God’s people from doing what they are supposed to do. Satan is not always concerned with you going into “deep” sin; he simply wants to get you not to do what God wants you to do. If he can distract you from what you are supposed to be doing, he knows that he will keep what God wants to be done from happening.

The incident of Eve in the Garden of Eden is a great example of Satan’s ability to distract. He used the serpent to distract Eve and eventually got her to disobey God through the serpent’s diversion. The distraction itself was not wrong, but it is what led to her to do wrong. The Devil knows that if he can distract you from doing what you are supposed to be doing, he will eventually get you to do wrong. There are three ways which you must be wary of how the Devil distracts Christians.

First, he distracts through questions. He simply asked Eve if God really said that she couldn’t eat of every tree. Satan knows that once you start questioning Scripture, he will be able to get you to change what God said. You have to be careful about those who are always questioning the validity of God’s intentions or the veracity of what is really meant. To question God is to question His ability, authority and omniscience. To question God is to question His sovereignty. It is not my job to ask God why, it is my job to trust that He knows what is best. Don’t let the Devil distract you from obedience by getting you to question the why.

Second, Satan distracts through diversion. It’s interesting that Satan got Eve to notice the one tree they couldn’t eat from instead of looking at every other tree that God gave her to eat. Many Christians fall for this distraction. Instead of looking at everything God allows them to do, they focus on the one thing He tells them they cannot do. Don’t let the Devil distract you through diversion. God gives you many more things to do for every one thing He tells you that you cannot do. Don’t let your focus get diverted by dwelling on what you cannot have.

Third, Satan distracts through worthy causes. King Josiah got diverted by a worthy cause that eventually took him away from what he was supposed to be doing. Satan always has worthy battles to fight, but you must stay focused on what God has called you to do. Throughout my lifetime, I have seen many preachers and church members get distracted with fighting worthy causes, but those battles took them away from obeying the Great Commission. Many of these battles are areas in which we should let people know where we stand, but we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from what God has called us to do. We were commissioned by God to reach the world with the Gospel. Distraction may not pull you completely away from what you are supposed to be doing, but it will keep you from doing it to your fullest capacity.

The first step to all sin is distraction. A person who falls into sin usually got distracted before they chose to sin. Don’t let Satan’s distractions divert you from what you are supposed to be doing. Stay focused on what God has commanded and the distractions won’t be distractive.

The Power to Impact

by: Dr. Allen Domelle

Revelation 12:11
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

The Christian life can certainly seem overwhelming at times, and it can seem that we have no power to overcome the forces of this world. The verse above debunks the thought that the Christian is powerless. God shows us that we can overcome Satan and any force he may use. God does not leave the Christian powerless; instead, He gives them the power to overcome Satan and his accusations.

When looking at the three things God gives the Christian the power to overcome, I realize that these three things also gives the Christian the power to make an impact on those around them. I’m afraid Christians often don’t make an impact on those around them when inside them lies the power to make an impact on everyone they influence. Let me show you these three things that will make an impact in your world.

First, you make an impact through the power of salvation. You will notice in the verse above that they overcame Satan “by the blood of the Lamb.” Your salvation has more power than just saving you from sin. One of the things I have learned throughout the years of soul winning is the power of telling others how I got saved. People may not believe what we show them from Scripture, but they cannot deny what the LORD has done through your life because of salvation. Christian, never let your salvation get old. Always talk about the time you got saved. Your salvation experience will help you to make an impact on others.

Second, you make an impact through the power of your word. The verse above says they overcame Satan “by the word of their testimony.” Your word is your testimony. You can tell people that you are a Christian, but your testimony is invalidated when people can’t trust what you say. When people know that your word can always be trusted, that will make an impact on their lives. This world has become accustomed to people lying, so a person who is truthful is rare and that carries power with it. Always remember that your testimony is only as powerful as your honesty. If you are not a person of integrity and honesty, you will never make an impact on this world.

Third, you make an impact through the power of your dedication. One of the reasons these Christians overcame Satan was because they “loved not their lives unto the death.” In other words, there is power in putting no limits on what you will do for Christ. It is sad when the world is more dedicated to their cause than the Christian. You will never make an impact until you are all in for Christ. When you decide to give your whole effort and time towards living for Christ is when you start making an impact on your world. The world determines your love for Christ through your dedication. Let me ask you, does the world see that you give more effort for Christ than you do anything else? The one thing that should always be said about your life is that you put no boundaries on what you will do for Christ. When the Christian decides that nothing but death will stop them in their quest to reach the world, that is when they make a great impact on others.

What is the impact you are making on your world? If these three things are engrained in your life, you will find it will result in your life making an impact for Christ.

The Significance of Influences

Psalm 144:11
“Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:”

One of the common warnings throughout my ministry is to guard your influences. I have watched many people destroy their reputation and future because of wrong influences. It doesn’t matter who you are, you are being influenced by someone. Your influences determine your direction. They influence you to either do the right thing or the wrong thing. The importance of keeping the right influences can’t be over emphasized.

In the verse above, the psalmist understood the significance of influences. He said, “Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children…” He knew his influences affected his influence. He understood the significance that influences would have on him, so he asked God to “rid” him of those “strange” influences that would harm his ability to do right. God then shows us the significance that influences have in three areas of our lives.

First, influences influence our ability to rear “polished” children. He says in verse 12 that the right influences influence our ability to train “our sons” and “our daughters” to become “polished after the similitude of a palace:” Whoever influences you will influence how you train your children. One of the best parenting tips you will find is to be sure that your influences are right if you want to train your children to do right. I have seen many parents who are training their children right, but they have weak associations or friends, resulting in their children not heeding their parent’s guidance. If you want your children to turn out for the LORD, consider who your influences are because they ultimately will influence your children. You can’t train your children to stay clean when you are walking with dirty influences. If you want your children to do right, you had better be sure your influences are the right ones.

Second, influences influence your ability to be financially stable. Verse 13 says, “That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store…” Your influences do determine how you spend money. If you want to be financially stable, you would be wise to have the type of influences which encourage you to be frugal with your spending. If your influences spend money frivolously, they will influence you to do the same. The right influences will have an impact on your ability to save money so that you will have the finances to do what you need to do.

Third, influences influence your ability to be productive. Verse 14 says, “That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out…” When you have the right influences, they will encourage you to complete projects and work hard. You will find that those people who are unproductive in life also have unproductive influences. Productive people become the leaders of tomorrow. Guard your influences if you want your life to be productive.

The Scriptures teach that it is always a “who” that hinders you. Be watchful of the influences you have in your life. Be sure that they are the type of influences you wouldn’t mind training your children, running your finances, or managing your business. If you keep this as your guide for influences, you will have the proper type of influences who will help you to become the proper influence to others.

Suing a Church, REALLY?

by: Dr. Allen Domelle

Every pastor is always cognizant of the fact that one day his church may get sued. In a day when ambulance-chaser attorneys are very willing to represent clients who sue a church, pastors have to make sure they are extra careful with how their ministry is run. Every pastor knows that the Devil is more than willing to use one mishap to encourage someone to sue the church and cause them to face litigation for months, and sometimes years. Satan knows that this litigation will take focus and energy away from what the church is supposed to do; reach the world for Jesus Christ.

What is unexpected is for a church to be sued or threatened litigation by respected Christians. What surprises me is how well-known “Christian” leaders are not afraid to break the glass ceiling and actually file lawsuits against a church, or have their attorney send letters that threaten the church of litigation if they don’t do what the individual wants them to do. Whatever happened to the fear of God? I’m amazed that in recent years some of my pastor friends have had to deal with litigation because of preachers suing their church.

Never in my lifetime would I have imagined churches being sued or threatened with a lawsuit, especially by people who know better. There used to be a time in America when nobody would do anything against a church. Yet, somehow we have come to a low point in Christianity where people have stooped to the spiritual level of the church at Corinth. The church of Corinth was guilty of court litigation against fellow church members because they felt they had been defrauded. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:6, “Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” I can only imagine that the Apostle Paul was just as shocked about Christians suing each other as I am.

Let me make this clear; it is just as evil to sue or threaten litigation as it is to attack or change the KJB, play rock music in church, live a sodomite lifestyle, or commit adultery. It is just as wrong for a Christian to sue or threaten litigation against a church or fellow Christian as it is never to run one bus or lead one person to Jesus Christ. Your Christian credentials are out the window if you would even consider suing a church.

Look at what type of people God lumps together with those who would sue a church. 1 Corinthians 6:8-10 says, “Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” In other words, those who sue or threaten litigation against a church or fellow Christian are no different from those in the list above.

One may ask, is it ever okay to sue or threaten litigation? What are my recourses if I feel I have been wronged by a pastor or church? Let’s look at the Scriptures to answer these questions.

1. Christians are never to take a brother to law.

1 Corinthians 6:5-7 says, “I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another…” It is very clear from this passage that God never approves of Christians going to court with each other. To interpret this passage of Scripture differently is simply ludicrous.

Consider how damaging a lawsuit is to the name of Christ. Every time a church is sued, the news media is quick to report it. There is no way that suing a brother or church will help the cause of Christ. Someone who sues a church or brother or threatens litigation is simply revealing their selfishness and lack of love for the cause of Christ.

2. Threatening litigation is as if you have already sued the church.

God shows what He thinks about the thought of sin in Matthew 5:28. He says, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” God says that a man who looks on a woman to lust is just as guilty as the one who committed the act of adultery.

This principle doesn’t just apply to adultery; it applies to any sin. Therefore, if an individual threatens litigation against a Christian brother or church, God deems that person to have already gone to law before the unbelievers. In other words, God holds the person who threatens litigation as accountable as the person who actually filed a lawsuit against a brother or church.

3. Take your grievances to the individual and afterward to the church.

When you are wronged by a Christian brother, God gives procedures you are to take to settle your differences. Matthew 18:15-17 shows that if you feel you are wronged, you are to go first to the individual then you are to take two or three witnesses with you to settle your difference. If that doesn’t work, you are to take it to the church to get it settled. Nowhere does God give the Christian permission to take a brother to law.

4. Be willing to be wronged.

Ultimately, if you can’t settle your grievances, you must be willing to be defrauded for the sake of Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:7 says, “Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” It doesn’t matter what you lose or how much you have been wronged; God clearly defines that you must be willing to be “defrauded” so the matter doesn’t go to law and hurt the cause of Christ.

5. Let the LORD be the avenger.

Romans 12:19 reminds us, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Whenever a Christian takes a brother or church to law, they are saying the LORD can’t take care of the situation properly. My friend, the LORD can take care of the situation much better than any earthly judge.

6. Don’t take it into your hands to spread your grievance.

Proverbs 25:21-22 says, “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.” So you didn’t get your way, it is not your responsibility to spread your grievance for everyone to know. Instead, you are to do good to those who have hurt you. You can say you are taking the high road, but you are not if you are spreading your side of the story in hopes that you can shame or bully the supposed offender to do what you want them to do.

7. Pray.

This is a novel idea. I wonder how often our situation could have been settled had we gone to the LORD in prayer. The latter part of Matthew 5:44 says, “…pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” You must remember that the LORD can work on the heart. God can do a greater work if you will let Him deal with the situation.

8. Keep doing right; the LORD will reward you.

Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” When others do wrong, you must keep on doing right. Certainly, the wrong you have endured may not be easy to take, but if you continue doing right, the LORD will reward you “in due season.”

9. Avoid fellowship with a brother who has sued a church or threatened the church with litigation.

Matthew 18:17 concludes, “…if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” When you know someone has taken a brother or church to law, or you know a brother has threatened litigation against the church, your responsibility is to separate from them. Separate from that person, if for any reason, so that you can go forward and serve the LORD without letting the situation bog you down. You will find that separating from the individual will free your mind from the desires of revenge.

My friend, suing a church is a direct contradiction of Scriptures. It doesn’t matter what the reason may be, it is always wrong. Just because others have chosen to disobey the Scriptures doesn’t make it right when you have been wronged. Listen, we have all been wronged, but for the sake of Christ, it is better to be defrauded than to go to law and make a mockery of the name of Christ.