Appearing in Court

We should never appear in court voluntarily, because that would cause joinder and give them jurisdiction over us to take away our physical liberty. This is what happened to Paul in Acts 25 through 26. Paul's life was in danger, and he appealed to Caesar's courts (Acts 25:11-12,21,25; 28:19), and we see the possible outcome otherwise:

"Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar." Acts 26:32

In other words, the king himself, Agrippa, wished for Paul's immediate liberation; but this was now rendered impracticable, because he had appealed to Caesar. The appeal was no doubt recorded, and the whole affairs must now proceed to a full hearing. If Festus had decided before Paul had made his appeal, he would have been released; but as the appeal had now been made, to Caesar he must go.

Now, with Paul in this case, we must remember that it was a "special" circumstance, as we now know from Scripture. It was the Lord's will that he go to Rome.

But, as Paul wrote, we are specifically prohibited from going to courts before the natural man:

"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers." 1 Corinthians 6:1

The terms "unjust" and "saints" in the above verse are referring to unbelievers as opposed to believers. How incredible that the just should go before the unjust for justice! Why set them to judge who are least esteemed (i.e. the heathen) in the Christ's assembly (1 Corinthians 6:4)?

And our Lord said at Luke 12:11, "When they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers" Notice we are not to bring ourselves voluntarily to their courts, but they are the ones who must bring us to their courts. And do not worry about how you should answer them once in court, because we have these promises from God as Luke continues:

"...take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say."

"Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." Luke 21:14-15

What is the purpose for being "brought" to court? Peter states the purpose:

"For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God." 1 Peter 2:15-16

So, yes, you are going to be taken before the magistrate, but it's the will of God that you appear before magistrates, and it's also the will of God that you speak the Truth to them, so that they also will understand and come to the knowledge of God, through Christ Jesus:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

This is bearing witness to the world. When the world attacks you, you bear witness to the Truth. We are to bear witness of Christ Jesus in us that the world may see who He is, and have that evidence in the works that we do and the words that we speak. This is how we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). We are not the salt of the world, as others have misspoken, but only the light of the world. The world has no salt. We are "the salt of the earth" but not of the world (Matthew 5:13). The terms 'world' and 'earth' have different meanings. Jesus certainly made a distinction between 'world' and 'earth' when he said, "I have overcome the world" at John 16:33. This would not make any sense if he said, "I have overcome the earth."