Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/303

48* He is not thinking here of a Gentile court of Justice according to whose pattern one of the wiser members would become judge and settle the case between brother and brother, for such a court is based on coercive power, and all those who want their case decided before a court must submit themselves to the jury. (He is thinking) of something much simpler and closer to truth when he says: "Can it be that there is no man wise enough among you to decide between members of the brotherhood? Have you become so poor in wisdom?" – He knows that they have more sense (than that) because he gives thanks to God that in every way they were enriched in Him with all speech and all knowledge. And to those enriched with knowledge of chastisement he says: "Why, having wisdom and knowledge, do you not decide between members of the brotherhood in accordance with the gospel, endeavoring to do away with the grievances?" Here judgment means the recognition of injustice and the elimination of injustice first by administering an admonition and, second, by bringing the brothers to peace by reconciliation and forgiveness of injustice.

If there has been committed an injustice that could be remedied by material restoration, the guilty brother should use this form of reconciliation with the innocent one. I-Corinthians 1:5.