Right Back At-Ya?

First came the lawsuit. An Atlantic City casino accused poker champ Phil Ivey of cheating at baccarat tables to win millions of dollars - something a British casino also has contended.

Now comes the counter-suit. Ivey and another man are suing the New Jersey casino, claiming it knew about defective baccarat cards but did nothing to stop them.

We could get into the pros and cons of "edge sorting" and "symmetrical card backs" here - but that's admittedly too wonky for us to consider. Instead, let's ask a more basic question. Should Ivey file a counter-suit in the first place?

There are many reasons why people file lawsuits -- and it's not simply poker players. Even "religious" people go to court about all sorts of issues. But the Bible has some surprising advice, that we think many people overlook:

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? - I Corinthians 6:7

The apostle Paul wrote this to a church group which had members suing each other (verse 1). That's not exactly the best example of Christian unity.  But what about lawsuits "outside the family"? Isn't that different?

You have heard that it was said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth". But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. - Matthew 5:38-39

We've heard even ministers try to spin this advice of Jesus Christ into a different meaning. But if Jesus meant it as simply as He said it, and people really applied it as He said it, the number of "sue-ers" (as the late Paul Harvey called them) would go way down.


Consider it this way: if anyone had cause to file suit and take action against mistreatment, it was Jesus  He was a Lord without sin. And yet when Jesus was arrested, he said....

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels? But how then would the Scripture be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? - Matthew 26:53-54

Instead of suing and delaying a trial for years, Jesus was submissive - and sacrificed His life within 24 hours of His arrest, to redeem the rest of us from our sins.  Which example do you think should we follow?