“Can Jesus Save You From Legal Issues?”

Q: Stephen, you get lots of interesting questions from people you meet, your readers, and visitors to your website. One unexpected question you've gotten is “Can Jesus save you from legal issues?” So, what's the answer, can He?

A: “Can Jesus save you from legal issues?” might sound like a naïve or desperate question, but my answer is yes, He can. In my twenty-plus years of law practice, I've come to realize that following God's counsel on legal matters can and does save people from much grief and heartache. I'm not claiming that God will help you win your case or avoid the consequences for your actions. But if you're willing to take the bold step of following God's advice in the circumstances you find yourself facing, God can and will deliver you from the miserable cycle of greed, retribution and destruction that accompanies most legal action.

God's Word provides so much rock solid legal guidance for Christians; practical counsel, like what to do if you're having a dispute with someone else. Jesus gives us a whole set of steps to follow, a way to resolve the situation long before it ever comes to the point of litigation. First and foremost, we are called to prayerfully consider overlooking the offense. Sometimes we can do that, sometimes we can't. But when we do, that step alone saves us from so much unnecessary legal trouble!

When we can't overlook an offense, the next step Jesus gives us is clear. And, no, it's not to call your lawyer! Jesus tells us we must go and talk to the person, directly, to honestly confront the problem and try to work it out. That's the step most people skip. It's not easy, because it takes some courage to face a problem head-on. But when we have the guts to have that tough conversation, God often uses it to resolve the problem and restore the relationship.

If the direct one-on-one conversation doesn't do the trick, Jesus still doesn't want us to file suit. His next step is for us to take two or three others along and confront the problem again, directly. Yes, another tough conversation! And if even that doesn't work, then we should seek help from the leadership of our church, still in the hope of resolving the problem without resorting to a lawsuit. Only when all that fails should we even consider legal action. And even then, filing suit is not something God encourages!

Helping you avoid unnecessary litigation is just one way Jesus can save you from legal issues. Of course, He is God and He's got plenty of other methods available, including working outright miracles. But when you follow the basic advice Jesus gives in the Bible, often you'll find a miracle isn't even necessary!

Key Scripture: “ A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11 (TNIV)

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.