I'll see you in court

I’m taking it to court

Lawsuits are as American as apple pie! That’s a tragic and expensive fact.  One source estimates that suits drive up the cost of providing goods and services costing the average person in the US about $900 per year. Good projects are sometimes abandoned for no better reason than the risk exposure involved.   In 2003, I was sued over an incident 20 years after the fact and the person got $15,000 just to settle the case.  It happened because there was a lawyer looking for a quick insurance pay-off!  A couple of years ago, I read a story of a retired pastor, a man far from poverty, suing his former congregation for a large sum of money he felt he had coming to him, even as the church descended into bankruptcy because of bad management. 

Americans are over-burdening the court system, using the judges to settle disputes that need never go that far.  Why do we do it? Some see a settlement as a windfall, like winning the lottery. Others feel so entitled that they are unwilling to accept the slightest perception of ‘injustice.’  Some are unable to accept that risk is part of living and use the courts to try eliminate even the tiniest threat to their personal well-being.

The Scripture speaks to Christians about going to the law, especially when it involves another Christian. "When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right? Don’t you know that someday we Christians are going to judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we Christians will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disagreements here on earth. If you have legal disputes about such matters, why do you go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments? But instead, one Christian sues another—right in front of unbelievers! To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? But instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your own Christian brothers." (1 Corinthians 6:1-8, NLT)  Justice Scalia, Associate of the US Supreme Court, wrote that this passage speaks to Christians today. “Mediation of a mutual friend, such as the parish priest, should be sought before parties run to the law courts… I think we are too ready to seek vindication or vengeance through adversary proceeding rather than peace through mediation… Good Christians, just as they are slow to anger, should be slow to sue.”  (as quoted by Ken Sande in The Peace Maker, Baker Books, 2004)  T

Perhaps you’re reading this and wonder why I’m writing about lawsuits.  “This isn’t for me, Jerry, I’m not suing anyone.”   It’s the underlying attitude that we all need to address.  The same impulse that fuels a lawsuit makes us talk down a fellow Christian to others when we feel the need to ‘even the score.’  The same sense of being entitled to ‘our rights’ causes us to push people that offend us out of our lives, to turn our backs on those who hurt our feelings, and even to abandon a church fellowship when we run into relational problems.  If Jesus is our Lord, we are called to peace and unity.  The Word directs us to be peace-makers. "Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble… He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it." (1 Peter 3:11, NIV)

Justice will come to those who belong to the Lord, but perhaps not tomorrow or the next day!  He will secure those who make Him their Rock and Refuge.  Our word from the Word are part of Jesus’ amazing Sermon on the Mount.  Let His wisdom change your heart and mind today.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?
Do not even the tax collectors (ordinary sinners) do the same?
And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:38-48, NKJV)

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    Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

    Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

    Where there is injury, pardon;

    Where there is doubt, faith;

    Where there is despair, hope;

    Where there is darkness, light;

    Where there is sadness, joy.

    O Divine Master,

    grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

    to be understood, as to understand;

    to be loved, as to love.

    For it is in giving that we receive.

    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

    and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

    Amen.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi