Should Christians sue other Christians?

Allright then, how do you go about dissolving those agencies. They were created according to state law, therefore they must dissolved the same way. And that involves a lawsuit.

While suing other Christians is distasteful, sometimes it is necessary.

 

Anleifr,

Haven't had time to answer you point by point but wondered first of all about this paragraph.

You wrote - "Now in terms of how church discipline should be carried out:

When a local association of local churches finds that one of its member churches is honoring immorality, those local churches break fellowship with that church. When a denominational body of believers finds that one of its member churches is honoring immorality, then those believers break fellowship with that church. This is appears to be the Scriptural method of discipline, the breaking of fellowship."

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In the case of the Missouri Baptist Convention who would we break fellowship with in the case of The Baptist Home?

Would we break fellowship with each church where a trustee holds membership?

Would we break fellowship with each church were Residents of the Baptist Home hold membership?

Would we break fellowship with each contributing church who donates mission dollars to the Baptist Home?

The only form of discipline available to the MBC in this case is legal in nature.

If you hold to your view that suing another Christian is not scriptural then you must also agree that incorporating a church or a nonprofit religious organization under the laws of a state is also unscriptural. If not then at the very least it would be unethical if you do not intend to abide by State Law which unfortunately includes prescribed legal processes for settling such disputes as the one we are discussing.

Interestingly enough the examples you present about Associations and State Conventions are written into their respective Constitutions and Bylaws which are regarded as legal and binding documents under the state law in the state where those said entities are incorporated.

It is my humble opinion we sacrificed the high Biblical Ground that you are alluding to years ago when the trend began to incorporate all Southern Baptist Churches and Agencies and Entities.

[ January 09, 2005, 06:00 PM: Message edited by: Hardsheller ]

 

Anleifr, you're on the right track. What Jesus and Paul says is quite clear, with an emphasis on Christians choosing to be wronged rather than taking a chance on wronging others. Perhaps the answer is that if entering into certain agreements, contracts, and/or legal status makes obeying this scriptural principle impossible, we should not enter into them.

 

I can agree with both of these comments. I believe this is why it is so distasteful to drag church matters into the public view. We should be above reproach.

However, since we have allowed the govenment into our churches business, we now have to allow them into our disputes. The mistake was made a long time ago, now we must deal with the consequences.

Do you think the Missouri folk should quote Matt 5:40 and let the matter go? Interesting idea.

 

I just wonder what all you folks think the MBC should do...I mean, there are many that would condemn the MBC for its actions - while offering no real solutions.

Are there any who would hold the 5 rebellious agencies to task? Or should they just "get away with it" in the name of peace - to do with these godly institutions as they see fit?

 

Part of the problem goes back in Baptist History to the founding of schools, publishing houses, benevolent organizations and missionary societies - The good organizations that we have created have become more like their secular counterparts than they are like the church. In fact most of them are regulated by state and federal law.

Now we are faced with this dilemna.

How do two Christians or two different groups of Christians who are tied to one of these multi-million dollar religious or denominational organizations settle their differences?

We have no Baptist Bishop who can make a decision, like the Apostle Paul could have made.

All we have is the democratic process of a state convention meeting which is all bark and no bite until you hire a lawyer.

 

I personally am not knowledgeable enough concerning the problems of the Missouri Baptist Convention and Southern Baptists in Missouri to comment on how I would apply this scriptural principle to their situation. I do know that I could not personally be a part or party to any lawsuits that religious schisms and division might cause. Perhaps that could mean getting out of the Convention. Many times we Baptists feel we have too much "invested" in such a work to leave it behind and would rather "fight than switch".