We are serious about our faith when it costs us to follow Christ and we don’t pull back or quit. Until then, what we say we believe matters little. It is when telling the truth costs us that we find out if we really believe “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” It is when standing for our faith costs us that we find out if we are willing to lose all things for Jesus’ sake. Until we keep the faith WHEN it costs us we don’t really know how serious we are about what we say we believe. Click here…
There are times it is better to take the hit (Get a black eye) than for the Bride of Christ to be harmed.
Paul is discussing Christians suing each other in 1 Corinthians 6:7 when he writes, “Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?” Paul’s point… it is more important that the reputation of Christ and the faith is preserved than winning or getting our way. It is better to take a hit… to get a black eye… to suffer loss… than to “win” and in the process cause people to stumble (CLICK).
Let’s not soften Paul’s words. He is talking about serious and important issues of life. He is talking about when Christians fight, argue, or disagree. The preferred course of action in those situations is for those in the church to settle the matter fairly, Scripturally, and equitably. But if that doesn’t work… take the hit. Absorb the hurt. “Lose” that you may “win.” That is better than giving people outside the church a stick to beat the Christian faith with!
Let’s not soften Paul’s words. Pick your issue… think of a situation… and walk through any number of conditions you’d like, but don’t soften Paul’s words. I know I may sound simplistic and I admit there are issues that have to be thought through… but it helps me to keep things simple. Others have good arguments for other views (Click here for some good suggestions). But I don’t want to soften Paul’s words.
Consider Jesus (Mt 5:39-41), “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Did Jesus mean it when He said those things, or was He just blowing smoke? Are those things true just as related to unbelievers, or are they for all of life?
Sooner or later we will be presented with a situation where the words of Jesus and Paul apply. We can choose to “win” by destroying our “opponent” (Christian brother/sister?), or we can “lose” and preserve the reputation of the faith. We can be “victorious” by coming out on top while giving people a cause to defame God’s name, or we can get a black eye and have God’s name glorified. Which will it be when we have a choice to make?
It is what we do when it costs us that reveals the depth of our faith. There are times when losing is winning.