March 18, 2013
I Corinthians 6. I can't believe I have come this far in the Journal and it is actually time to write about I Corinthians 6. And amazingly—the lawsuit is still ongoing. Chapter 6 is so clear: DO NOT resort to lawsuits to settle you differences. DO NOT!!
It can't get any clearer than that!! DO NOT!! People who profess to be followers of Christ have NO business using the world's court system as a way to further their own agendas. Chapter 6 says even the least capable person in the church should have the ability to discern what should be done when there is a dispute between believers.
After my sister and brother-in-law rejected God's way out (the sale of our joint project to a 3rd party for over 1 million dollars), God opened other doors for a resolution—again using His ways. I've written about this before. Our Pastor offered to facilitate arbitration (using someone of their choice from a Christian organization they said they were affiliated with), exactly following God's plan for the settlement of disputes among professed believers. And God's way was flatly rejected again (for the second time) and soon after they filed this lawsuit against us.
Oh, how this must have grieved the heart of the LORD. He already knew what we didn't know—the truth. He was not surprised by my sister and brother-in-law's actions and in His Sovereignty, all the pieces of the puzzle were in place. The Appalachian Trail; our Christmas morning visits to a local nursing home; and Jane E. Wolfe was re-positioned and now living in Indiana. Everything was perfectly aligned and ready. His precious promise of protection was given soon after.
Chapter 6 goes on: Surely you know—
Hebrews 11:1 - Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.
Addendum: 4/3/16 ~ The phrase "...shows you are already defeated" keeps resonating in my mind and spirit. Shows you are already defeated; shows you are already defeated; shows you are already defeated.
Oh my. I'm beginning to understand some things in a new light. To use the world's court system shows you are no longer following Christ's teachings; shows you are not surrendered to the Lordship of Christ; shows you are no longer living a victorious Christian life; and shows you are already defeated. It isn't the cause of a failed Christian life, it is instead showing the result of a refusal to surrender your will to HIS ways.
It goes back to what I wrote about why my sister and brother-in-law chose to use the world's court system in an addendum I wrote for Acts 18:1–28 (Continued).
That is a staggering thought to me. Like I have said before, back in 2004 when we began our joint project, and continuing on to the start of the breakdown in early 2007, we felt we were like-minded and equal in spiritual values and beliefs with my sister and brother-in-law or we would have NEVER entered into any type of joint business venture with them. As the truth slowly began to be revealed we KNEW we could not remain linked with them in any way. Even now, with the benefit of hindsight, it is still staggering to me as I continue to comprehend the depth of differences between us.
They didn't get "off track" and file a lawsuit. Their capability to resort to a lawsuit against a sister and brother-in-law was the result of life choices made contrary to God's Word—for years!!! Their decision to file a lawsuit didn't put them in the ditch. The filing of this lawsuit shows they had been in the ditch for years!!
The decisions they made were so baffling to us. We couldn't understand why they just didn't seem to respond in ways that followed conventional wisdom and would have been in their best interest. Why the over-the-top method of trickery? Why all the broken promises? Why the threats? Why the refusal of an arbitrator? Why the refusal of a Pastor's counsel? Why not sell our joint project to an outside investor for over a million dollars? Why a lawsuit? Why not mediation? Why not buy us out? Why not sell to us? Why not accept a settlement? Why not accept what the judge said? Why the attitude of "we win, you lose—you choose"? Why? Why does there still seem to be no sense of personal responsibility? Why do they blame us for their own multiple failed business ventures? Why all the lies to us, the banks, the courts, and other "investors"? Why? How can someone call themselves "Christ-followers" and make these kind of choices? And continue to make them? How? Why?
Chapter 6 says that using the world's court system "shows you are already defeated." But, you don't have to remain defeated. Stop! Turn! Change your hearts! Get a new way of thinking! The results will change when the heart is changed!
I was thinking all these thoughts, and then at church this morning, our Pastor ended his message with an admonition that was just eight words long but felt like—WHAM!
Our Pastor was relating the story of Alexander the Great and how he found a soldier sleeping on his watch. The soldier's name was also Alexander. Alexander the Great, appalled at the behavior of this soldier who shared his name, told the soldier to either change his name or change his conduct. Our Pastor paraphrased Alexander the Great's response to the soldier and said:
I Corinthians 6. I can't believe I have come this far in the Journal and it is actually time to write about I Corinthians 6. And amazingly—the lawsuit is still ongoing. Chapter 6 is so clear: DO NOT resort to lawsuits to settle you differences. DO NOT!!
It can't get any clearer than that!! DO NOT!! People who profess to be followers of Christ have NO business using the world's court system as a way to further their own agendas. Chapter 6 says even the least capable person in the church should have the ability to discern what should be done when there is a dispute between believers.
After my sister and brother-in-law rejected God's way out (the sale of our joint project to a 3rd party for over 1 million dollars), God opened other doors for a resolution—again using His ways. I've written about this before. Our Pastor offered to facilitate arbitration (using someone of their choice from a Christian organization they said they were affiliated with), exactly following God's plan for the settlement of disputes among professed believers. And God's way was flatly rejected again (for the second time) and soon after they filed this lawsuit against us.
Oh, how this must have grieved the heart of the LORD. He already knew what we didn't know—the truth. He was not surprised by my sister and brother-in-law's actions and in His Sovereignty, all the pieces of the puzzle were in place. The Appalachian Trail; our Christmas morning visits to a local nursing home; and Jane E. Wolfe was re-positioned and now living in Indiana. Everything was perfectly aligned and ready. His precious promise of protection was given soon after.
"I know the LORD will get justice for the poor and will defend the needy in court. Good people will praise his name; honest people will live in his presence." Psalm 140:12Chapter 6 says that the very fact that you decide to use the world's court system to try and gain your objectives shows you are already defeated. It goes on to ask why are you seeking revenge? Why do you need to be in control? If you have been wronged—what is wrong with letting God handle the perceived wrong? If you've been cheated—what is wrong with letting God take care of making the injustice right? The same type of person who must be in charge and on the offensive, is the same type of person who is doing the wrong and doing the cheating, all the while calling themselves "believers." They are doing this to other believers in front of unbelievers thereby making a mockery of God. (See John 13:34–35)
Chapter 6 goes on: Surely you know—
"Surely you know that the people who do wrong will not inherit God's kingdom. Do not be fooled." I Corinthians 6:9Do not be fooled into thinking you can do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it and not be held accountable. Do not be fooled. Accountability will happen. God's will, not ours—WILL be done. And God will not be mocked. So here we are, almost six years since "the storm" began and the lawsuit continues on. It will be interesting to see what all transpires in the future. Our hands are off. We don't know the "how" or "when," but by faith we believe we've been promised the "what."
"But we say, You O Lord are our God. Hear O Lord our cry for mercy. O Sovereign Lord, our strong Deliverer, who shields our heads in the days of battle. Do not grant the wicked their desires O Lord. Do not let their plans succeed or they will become proud. Let the heads of those who surround us be covered with the trouble their lips have caused. Let burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits never to rise. Let slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down men of violence. I KNOW that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you." Psalm 140:6–13I KNOW—the only thing Jane has marked in her KJV Bible for Psalm 140. We believe! We know!
Hebrews 11:1 - Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.
Addendum: 4/3/16 ~ The phrase "...shows you are already defeated" keeps resonating in my mind and spirit. Shows you are already defeated; shows you are already defeated; shows you are already defeated.
Oh my. I'm beginning to understand some things in a new light. To use the world's court system shows you are no longer following Christ's teachings; shows you are not surrendered to the Lordship of Christ; shows you are no longer living a victorious Christian life; and shows you are already defeated. It isn't the cause of a failed Christian life, it is instead showing the result of a refusal to surrender your will to HIS ways.
It goes back to what I wrote about why my sister and brother-in-law chose to use the world's court system in an addendum I wrote for Acts 18:1–28 (Continued).
It is even more frightening when you look at the "why" behind their decisions. Of course they chose the world's way. How could they not? It was their ONLY option. In God's design for solving disputes there is NO defense for lies, cheating, devious conduct, evil traps, stealing, etc. Those things have NO place in a Believer's life. To chose God's ways would have meant "change your hearts and lives and get a new way of thinking." They purposely have rejected God's ways and incredibly, they have also rejected any solution the world's way has offered because it didn't include them winning ALL. Throughout this whole process, my sister and brother-in-law have consistently exhibited one attitude, which our lawyer has accurately characterized as, "We win, you lose—you choose."They couldn't use God's design and have a defense for their lies and trickery. To use God's design would have meant they had to give up the evil agenda they'd spent years putting into place. And the result of their refusal to surrender their will to God's will is that the world's way was their ONLY option, which in turn "shows you are already defeated."
That is a staggering thought to me. Like I have said before, back in 2004 when we began our joint project, and continuing on to the start of the breakdown in early 2007, we felt we were like-minded and equal in spiritual values and beliefs with my sister and brother-in-law or we would have NEVER entered into any type of joint business venture with them. As the truth slowly began to be revealed we KNEW we could not remain linked with them in any way. Even now, with the benefit of hindsight, it is still staggering to me as I continue to comprehend the depth of differences between us.
They didn't get "off track" and file a lawsuit. Their capability to resort to a lawsuit against a sister and brother-in-law was the result of life choices made contrary to God's Word—for years!!! Their decision to file a lawsuit didn't put them in the ditch. The filing of this lawsuit shows they had been in the ditch for years!!
The decisions they made were so baffling to us. We couldn't understand why they just didn't seem to respond in ways that followed conventional wisdom and would have been in their best interest. Why the over-the-top method of trickery? Why all the broken promises? Why the threats? Why the refusal of an arbitrator? Why the refusal of a Pastor's counsel? Why not sell our joint project to an outside investor for over a million dollars? Why a lawsuit? Why not mediation? Why not buy us out? Why not sell to us? Why not accept a settlement? Why not accept what the judge said? Why the attitude of "we win, you lose—you choose"? Why? Why does there still seem to be no sense of personal responsibility? Why do they blame us for their own multiple failed business ventures? Why all the lies to us, the banks, the courts, and other "investors"? Why? How can someone call themselves "Christ-followers" and make these kind of choices? And continue to make them? How? Why?
Chapter 6 says that using the world's court system "shows you are already defeated." But, you don't have to remain defeated. Stop! Turn! Change your hearts! Get a new way of thinking! The results will change when the heart is changed!
I was thinking all these thoughts, and then at church this morning, our Pastor ended his message with an admonition that was just eight words long but felt like—WHAM!
Our Pastor was relating the story of Alexander the Great and how he found a soldier sleeping on his watch. The soldier's name was also Alexander. Alexander the Great, appalled at the behavior of this soldier who shared his name, told the soldier to either change his name or change his conduct. Our Pastor paraphrased Alexander the Great's response to the soldier and said:
"Christian! Change your name or change your conduct!"
Wham! There it is in a nutshell. If we call ourselves Christian we better act like it—at all times. If our conduct is not "Christian" then we have a choice. Either change our conduct so our actions are befitting of our name—OR—face the truth, get rid of the false name, and quit faking it. It's one or the other.
Our actions DO speak louder than words. "Christian! Change your name or change your conduct!"
Next Entry: I Corinthians 7:1–40
Our actions DO speak louder than words. "Christian! Change your name or change your conduct!"
Next Entry: I Corinthians 7:1–40
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