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Location: Legal

When Do You Need to See a Lawyer?

by Crown Financial Ministries

(Adapted by permission from the Christian Legal Society and Peacemaker Ministries)

While social conflict is an ever-present human condition, and the rush to litigate seems to be an American trait, immediate
resort to legal action should not be a Christian one. Christ commands His followers to love their enemies as well as their
neighbors and to reconcile their relationships through confession, forgiveness, forbearance and voluntary agreement,
mediation and out-of-court arbitration. Because not every disagreement calls for a lawyer, it is important to know when
hiring legal counsel is a necessity and when alternatives can help you and your family to avoid losing time, money, and
valuable relationships. Keep these guidelines in mind.

Have you exhausted your spiritual remedies?

Remember that Scripture commands Christians to avoid lawsuits with other Christians. The apostle Paul reminded Christians
that it is better to suffer a slight than to hurt the church by taking another Christian to court (1 Corinthians 6:1-8).

Jesus set out the procedural steps we are to follow in reconciling disputes between Christians (Matthew 18:15-20). If you
have a civil conflict with a fellow Christian (such as a conflict over a contract or finances, or family problems such as divorce,
child custody or guardianship), pray about carrying out God's command to reconcile. Consult with a mature follower of
Christ, like your pastor or someone you trust who truly knows you and can speak to you honestly.

Consult the Peacemaker Ministries Web site (www.HisPeace.org) and read Ken Sande's helpful book The Peacemaker: A
Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict , 2nd Ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House 1997). Mr. Sande is a member of
the Christian Legal Society and the president of Peacemaker Ministries. He describes how you can analyze your conflict (and
each side's contribution to it) and the steps that you can take to initiate reconciliation, effectively speaking to those who
have offended you or who you have offended.

Have you counted the cost?

If your opponent is not a Christian (or is not even an individual person, but a company or organization), the Bible does not
preclude legal action. However, the Christian Legal Society suggests asking these critical questions before you decide to start
any lawsuit:

If I had six months to live, how much of my time would I spend on this litigation (Psalm 90:12)?
Will the action I take compromise my witness before non-Christians (1Corinthians 6:1-8) or be a stumbling block to
fellow Christians (Romans 14:13; 1 Timothy 4:12)?
Will my actions have potentially damaging consequences for innocent third parties (Matthew 18: 1-6; Mark 9:42;
Luke 17:1-5)?
What are my alternatives (Matthew 5:23-26; 6:8-15; 18:15-18)?
Am I as eager to forgive and be reconciled as I am to assert my rights (Matthew 6:12-15)?
In whom have I placed my real trust (Matthew 6:19-34)?

By honestly evaluating your situation and attitude, you may find that your civil disagreement can be settled outside a
courtroom with help from a minister or elder, an attorney trained in Christian conciliation, or a trusted advisor. However, you
may encounter circumstances that cannot be settled through conciliation and that do require an attorney''s help.

As a rule of thumb, if your problem is criminal-related, very complicated, or if the potential consequences of the problem are
serious, you will be wise to ask for legal advice. If any of the following events happen to you, you will need to hire a lawyer.

1. You are charged with a crime

2. You are served with a summons to appear in court or before a government agency
3. You are about to sign papers or contracts concerning a new business, a new home, a will, or estate plan
4. Your landlord or bank threatens you with eviction or foreclosure
5. Your property is about to be repossessed
6. Your wages are garnished
7. You are adopting a child
8. Your child is in legal trouble
9. Someone has sued you

Remember that Psalm 37:28 tells us, “The Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected
forever.” God expects us to be faithful to Him, not to win every argument on our own strength. In any dispute, we can rely
on Him to help us—whether through Christian conciliation or through legal assistance and sometimes using both means
together.

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