“If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence,”
Theologians take this two places. Certainly it refers to others who could be dragged into your dispute as witnesses or it could be information shared in confidence that you use to justify your position. More specifically this also cautions us in using confidences about the person we are in a dispute with. The most often seen situation where this can occur is in a divorce. In marriage the breadth of confidential and very intimate private knowledge both parties have is significant. Because of the pain and, often, betrayal felt in that situation it can tempt one or both parties to begin slinging unhelpful intimate information just to heap as much hurt on the other party as possible. This also happens in many disputes between individuals. Matthew 18:15 is one of the highest principles we are taught as followers of God. This verse is a precursor to those words of Jesus. The difference is that Solomon is cautioning against betrayal as a form of self preservation. We can think we are protecting ourself from being the recipient of the tactic being thrown back on us. Jesus calls us to higher motives. He is challenging us to be Christlike in pursuing peace, reconciliation and the redemption of a relationship. Today choose the higher calling. #BeTheEdge
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” Jesus
