A visitor to the Christianity forum brought up this concern:

Three years ago I was in a car accident and now am in the middle of a lawsuit with our insurance company to get my medical bills paid, which, as of today, are over 51,000 dollars. I was reading yesterday in the Bible where it says you should not sue or have lawsuits. Now I am torn. I so want to be a good Christian.

Am I wrong for trying to get my medical bills paid? This is troubling me terribly. As a relatively new christian, I don't understand the Bible very well, but I certainly want to do God's will. I pray daily to be the best Christian wife and mom I can be, so I certainly don't want to go against God's Word. Thank you to anyone who can help me.

My answer began with an explanation of the passage in 1 Corinthians 6, which deals specifically with lawsuits between believers. Paul was directly addressing conflicts within the church. As a testimony to unbelievers, he taught that Christians ought to demonstrate love and forgiveness and certainly be able to settle their differences without going to the secular courts. However, the Bible does not say a Christian can never file a lawsuit. In fact, Paul appealed more than once to the legal system, exercising his right to defend himself under Roman law.

The question spurred me to expand my answer into a study of what the Bible says about Christian lawsuits. If you'd like to take a look, we'll examine the biblical pattern for settling conflicts in the church. We'll also consider instances when legal action might be appropriate for a Christian. If you're facing a potential lawsuit, the article also provides practical and spiritual questions to help you decide on a course of action.

Read: What Does the Bible Say About Christian Lawsuits?

This week's post is a member-submitted, Christian poem called Who Do You Say That I Am? In one woman's words, the poem describes her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Image: © Davide Guglielmo
Who Do You Say That I Am?

Wondrous as the wind in its gentleness and fury
Holy as you're separate, yet deeply connected to me
Outside my understanding in the mystery of your being

Descended from your Father, for all mankind to see
Otherness yet sameness, beyond my comprehension

Read more ... Who Do You Say That I Am? by Sylvia Gillham.

Do you have an original Christian prayer that would encourage or benefit a fellow believer? Perhaps you've written a unique poem you'd like to share with others. We are looking for Christian prayers and poems to encourage our readers in their communication with God. To submit your original prayer or poem, please fill out this Submission Form.

I often receive questions about the biblical definition of marriage:

• Is a wedding ceremony required?
• Do I have to be legally married to be married in the eyes of God?
• Isn't a marriage ceremony just a man-made tradition?

The Bible does not give specific details or directions about a marriage ceremony, yet it does mention weddings in several places. Jesus attended the wedding at Cana in John 2. Wedding ceremonies were a well-established tradition in Jewish history and in Bible times. Scripture is clear about marriage being a holy and divinely established covenant. It is equally clear about our obligation to honor and obey the laws of our earthly governments, which are also divinely established authorities. But, before we go any further, let's stop and examine the issue.

There are three commonly held beliefs about what constitutes a marriage in the eyes of God:

1. The couple is married in the eyes of God when the physical union is consummated through sexual intercourse.
2. The couple is married in the eyes of God when the couple is legally married.
3. The couple is married in the eyes of God after they have participated in a formal religious wedding ceremony.

Let's break this down and see what the Bible says about the marriage covenant:

• Read: What is the Biblical Definition of Marriage?

"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."

(John 15:13, NLT)

The loved ones we remember on Memorial Day deserve special honor. By giving the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and for our freedoms, their service illustrates the mission of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who willingly laid down his life for us.

At 3 p.m. today, we can all take part in the National Moment of Remembrance by spending a minute in silence and prayer honoring the men and women who have died serving our country.

More About Memorial Day:

• Memorial Day - A Day of Remembrance
• History of Memorial Day
• A Memorial Day Testimony
• Memorial Day Prayers

_{Photo: Spike Mafford / Getty Images}