Is it a sin to sue people?

[handy]

My dad was a flooring installer, and for the most part worked as an independent businessman. He got to the point that he simply would never work for churches.

For some reason, churches were the worst about not paying him due wages. Since he had to buy all his own supplies and materials, he took a loss on several church jobs.

He never would sue a church, simply because of 1 Cor 6:1-2, but he wouldn't work for a church ever again.

He simply couldn't afford to. There was a time when we really were hurt financially, to the point of my mom not being able to buy groceries or pay bills, because a church didn't pay dad for the job he did. I saw the job, there wasn't anything wrong with it, they just didn't get the funds themselves, after contracting dad to do the work. So, we ate a lot of beans and mac and cheese for a while, until dad could finish another job and get some money in the house.

 

[jasoncran]

what do churched do people like that, i will never work for a church again. I will volunteer my time but not work because they expect the world and pay nothing for it. I have no probs with working hard at all , but dont use and abuse me. I'm not the only one i know that feels that way.

it's just not christ like. what did james say on that to the rich?

jason

 

[justvisiting]

This is most unfortunate, Handy. Reminds me of the parable Jesus mentioned:
Luke 14:28  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
I think some church boards ought to practice a little accounting...and not just faith.
1 Timothy 5:17  ¶Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
In this case the laborer is the builder of the church.
This is actually a good example of using faith incorrectly. A plan must be made with proper care for the laborers involved, otherwise, it is irresponsible.
Can you imagine if someone tried to run a business...without having concrete plans of paying the employees and bills. This is really a shame.
Any good Christian minister should have overruled this, knowing the debt would not be taken of. Shame for that. The church is not exempt from their debts.
Hope there are a whole lot better ministers out there than this example.

 

[justvisiting]

You know after thinking about it. I actually owe some debts to individuals. Made me feel kind of guilty.
I think to be fair, some ministers should be supported more than they are, also.
Christ forgave our debts. We should show the same generosity. God loves a cheerful giver, but I don't think we should obligate a person into giving, as the church did to your father.
They also have the responsibility of paying their debts.
I guess it happens to all of us. We point the finger...and our thumb is pointing right back at us.
Never the less...I think we should weigh each situation, instead of coming up with "pat" answers.
There is a time to go to court...and there is a time to give more of ourselves.
Life. Isn't it full of complications.

 

[LostSoul]

suffer yes, but sometimes if ones has kids what do you do?

You have asked a good question here....my folks too are a good example of this. At the present they face issues with the public school system in regards of my younger sibling who has disabilities. It has been drawn out to the point where they now have to ask themselves if they will be retaliating with some form of legal action themselves....

Sometimes the questions we likely need to ask ourselves is how much is too much? When do we need to step up and take action, and most importantly....what kind of action are we to take if we are to take any legal action at all?

I will not go into details...but although I am not the sort to believe in suing people...the public school system of the area and even the police department in the area are pretty corrupt. Children are neglected on a daily basis and something needs to be done.

For if we as parents, siblings, or grandparents do not start to speak up...then who will?

 

[Classik]

I believe that it is a sin for a Christian to sue a Christian. Brothers and sisters in the Lord can and should be able to work out an issue with each other without involving the courts.

Thread, although it's been old...I go with this.

 

[persecuted]

My position would be stay away from any church that presents a double standard on this. I was involved with a church where someone had been gang beaten with their life torn upside down and the church insisted to this person that they should not sue and should live and let live despite having the potential of a 6 (maybe 7?) figure lawsuit the damages were so horrendous. About two weeks later the same church invited a Jewish woman who wasn't even born until the 1960's to give a speech at the church about how German CHRISTIANS were to blame for the Holocaust and now German Christians should be paying damages to the Jewish community. It was like, wow, really, its not okay to sue regarding something that happened last week but something 70 years ago that has already been massively financially compensated for the German people in general and hence German christians as well is okay? Needless to say I've never had anything to do with that church since.

I would think in general if christians don't believe in lawsuits, then they should be setting up funds to compensate people who suffer life impairing grievious injuries because part of the legal system is to do just that: compensate people to help them get on with their lives.