Disputing: Keep the World out!

DISPUTING: Is it Christ like?

From day one, the world was and still is hostile to Jesus and His Teaching. Jesus’ followers had to separate from the Jewish religion, the dissenters, the non-conformists, the Pilgrims, and the Puritans had to leave Europe and now the true followers of Jesus must stop adjusting to the godless ways of the Western World. Worldly ways must be kept out of a Christian’s life and a Christian has no place chumming with sinners (John 17:14; II Corinthians 6:14-18; Psalm 1). “Be not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners” (I Corinthians 15:33). It has become difficult to separate Western Christians from their world.

The Apostle Paul’s warning is still applicable today: “If any of you has a quarrel with another, dare he take it before the unjust for judgment instead before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you unworthy to decide trivial matters? Do you not know that we will judge angels, how much more ought we to manage our daily conduct? Therefore, if you have disputes about living matters, why do you choose as judges the least among you in the church? I say this to shame you. Could it be that there is no one wise enough among you to settle differences between the brethren? Instead you have brother litigating against brother and that before unbelievers.”

“It is bad enough that you have lawsuits against each other but they also weaken you. Would it not be to your advantage to take some blame? Would it hurt too give up some valuables? Instead you do what is wrong and take from your fellow believers what is not yours. Think about this, evildoers will not be permitted to enter God’s heavenly world. Do not be misguided! There is no place in the kingdom of God for those that commit incest, idolatry, adultery, same sex relations and child molesters. No permits will be issued for thieves, profiteers, drunkards, slanderers or robbers.”

“Remember, that some of you were like them. But, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God you have been washed, you have been sanctified and you have been made righteous.”

This translation of I Corinthians 6: 1-11 is based on the Greek, German and English (KJV and NIV) and it is helpful how a Christian should live.