“Are You Getting Cheated by Your Lawyer?”

Q: Stephen, you often warn Christians that they're getting cheated by their lawyers. What do you mean? Are you accusing your fellow attorneys of being dishonest?

A: No, my warning isn't about lawyers being dishonest, although I'm sure some are!

What I'm talking about is the fact that God's Word, the Bible, offers a rich array of relevant and practical wisdom on common legal situations. As a Christian, if you find yourself wrestling with a real life legal dilemma, but your lawyer doesn't offer you the benefit of God's full counsel on the situation you face, you just got cheated!

Secular legal advice is fine, as far as it goes. It can even be very helpful in gaining a preliminary understanding of the matter at hand. But for the Christian believer, secular legal advice alone can never be enough. There are eternal consequences at stake and higher purposes that must be properly considered. And for this, only God's advice is sufficient.

As a lawyer who has searched the Scriptures for insight on contemporary legal issues, I've discovered that God's counsel can lead us to find the true joy and peace of Christ, even in the midst of complex legal situations. On the contrary, I've discovered that secular legal counsel alone, devoid of God's wisdom, often leads into a bitter cycle of destroyed relationships and selfish dissatisfaction.

So, for Christians encountering the law, choosing to engage a lawyer who thoroughly integrates Biblical perspectives into the legal counsel they give is essential. Don't let yourself get cheated!

If you don't know a good Christian lawyer, you can contact the Christian Legal Society ( www.clsnet.org ) for a referral in your area. (The Christian Legal Society is the largest organization of Christian lawyers and requires its members to sign a statement of faith.)

Key Scripture: “ For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” Acts 20:27 (ESV)

Stephen's Bio

Stephen Bloom is a Christian lawyer and author of “The Believer's Guide to Legal Issues” (Living Ink Books, ISBN 0899570313). He is a frequent media guest, speaker and writer on Christianity and law. He is a Lecturer at Messiah College , and a Consultant at the United Methodist Stewardship Foundation of Central Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit his website at IsThereALawyerInTheChurch.com “The Believer's Guide to Legal Issues” is available at christianbook.com and other major online retailers.

Please note: This column contains generalized information only and is not a substitute for the specific legal advice of your own attorney.