In the context of the Bible, a grievance refers to a complaint or a feeling of being wronged, often involving a sense of injustice or unfair treatment. The concept of grievance is addressed in various ways throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of resolving disputes, seeking justice, and maintaining peace within the community of believers.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides numerous examples of grievances and the appropriate responses to them. In Exodus 18:16, Moses describes his role in resolving disputes among the Israelites: "Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions." This highlights the importance of seeking wise and godly counsel in resolving grievances.

The Law given to Israel also includes specific instructions for handling grievances. Leviticus 19:18 commands, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." This directive underscores the necessity of forgiveness and reconciliation, rather than harboring resentment.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles further develop the principles for addressing grievances. Jesus teaches in Matthew 18:15-17 about the process of resolving conflicts within the church: "If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church."

The apostle Paul also addresses grievances in his letters. In 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, he admonishes believers for taking their disputes before secular courts rather than resolving them within the church community. Paul emphasizes the importance of seeking resolution among fellow believers, reflecting the unity and love that should characterize the body of Christ.

Principles for Addressing Grievances

1. Seek Reconciliation: The Bible consistently encourages reconciliation and peace. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus instructs, "Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

2. Pursue Justice: While forgiveness is paramount, the Bible also upholds the pursuit of justice. Micah 6:8 states, "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

3. Avoid Retaliation: Romans 12:19 advises, "Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" This teaches believers to trust in God's justice rather than seeking personal revenge.

4. Practice Forgiveness: Forgiveness is a central theme in addressing grievances. Colossians 3:13 encourages, "Bear with each other and forgive any complaint you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Conclusion

The biblical approach to grievances emphasizes reconciliation, justice, and forgiveness, reflecting the character of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. By following these principles, believers are called to maintain unity and peace within the community of faith, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel in their relationships.1. (n.) A cause of complaint, or the complaint itself; a wrong done and suffered; that which gives ground for remonstrance or resistance, as arising from injustice, tyranny, etc.; injury.

2. (v. t.) Grieving; grief; affliction.

GRIEVANCE

grev'-ans (`amal): Occurs only in the King James Version as a translation of Habakkuk 1:3, "Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance?" (the Revised Version (British and American) "look upon perverseness"); `amal is also translated "perverseness" by the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) in Numbers 23:21, "perverseness in Israel"; Isaiah 10:1, the King James Version "grievousness," the Revised Version (British and American) "perverseness." In Habakkuk 1:13, the King James Version translates the same word "iniquity" (margin "grievance"), "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity" (margin "grievance"), the Revised Version (British and American) "perverseness." The word means originally "toil," "labor" with sorrow, misery, etc., as the consequence, and is often so translated. It is the word in Isaiah 53:11, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied."

W. L. Walker

5999. amal -- trouble, labor, toil
... grievance, iniquity, labor, mischief, misery, painful, perverseness, sorrow,.
From amal; toil, ie Wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. ...
/hebrew/5999.htm - 6k

Their Real Grievance is not that Athanasius is a Coward, but that ...
... Chapter II. 10. Their real grievance is not that Athanasius is a coward, but
that he is free. Who then does not perceive their craftiness? ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/10 their real grievance is.htm

May 2. "Always Causeth us to Triumph" (ii. Cor. Ii. 14).
... morbidness. You want to cherish the little grudge, and sympathize with
your hurt feelings, and nurse your little grievance. Dear ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /may 2 always causeth us.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Receive Money for Things Annexed to ...
... a church, as we have also said with regard to sacred vessels (Reply OBJ[2]). Or
again, Abraham is to be excused because he thus freed himself of a grievance. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 24.htm

Of Querulousness.
... importunity, to entertain a man's company with remonstrances of his own infelicities
and misadventures, and he that will relate all his grievance to others ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section x of querulousness.htm

The Acts of Barnabus.
... And when I remained for three Sabbaths in entreaty and prayer on my knees, I was
unable to prevail upon him about myself; for his great grievance against me ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the acts of barnabus/the acts of barnabus.htm

Preface
... had their "black Bartholomew," the Bishops and the Established clergy had theirs
also ; indeed, not a few of the ministers who made such a grievance of being ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/luckock/studies in the book of common prayer/preface.htm

The Daily Walk with Others (iii. ).
... and how to get out of it; what are the Bishop's rights over the Curate, and how
the Archbishop may interpose if the Curate pleads a grievance against the Bishop ...
/.../moule/to my younger brethren/chapter vi the daily walk.htm

Purity and Peace in the Present Lord
... experiences in religious activity supply illustrations only too easily) they had
let the spirit of self come in; jealousy and a sense of grievance lay between ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/moule/philippian studies/chapter xi purity and peace.htm

The Puritan Innovations
... had no personal liking for Calvin, and if he had been the only discontented complainant,
probably little notice would have been taken of his grievance, but a ...
/.../studies in the book of common prayer/chapter ii the puritan innovations.htm

Habakkuk-On his Watch-Tower
... even cry out unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save! Why dost Thou
shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For ...
/.../whyte/lord teach us to pray/ix habakkuk-on his watch-tower.htm

Grievance (7 Occurrences)
... tyranny, etc.; injury. 2. (vt) Grieving; grief; affliction. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. GRIEVANCE. grev'-ans (`amal): Occurs ...
/g/grievance.htm - 10k

Grievances (1 Occurrence)
... Grievances (1 Occurrence). Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another and readily
forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. ...
/g/grievances.htm - 6k

Opponent (13 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Corinthians 6:1 If one of you has a grievance against an opponent, does
he dare to go to law before irreligious men and not before God's people? (WEY). ...
/o/opponent.htm - 10k

Offences (21 Occurrences)
... Mark 11:25 But whenever you stand praying, if you have a grievance against any one,
forgive it, so that your Father in Heaven may also forgive you your offences ...
/o/offences.htm - 12k

Lookest (8 Occurrences)
... of thy youth. (YLT). Habakkuk 1:3 Why dost thou cause me to see iniquity,
and lookest thou upon grievance? For spoiling and violence ...
/l/lookest.htm - 8k

Grief (252 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Cause of sorrow or pain; that which afflicts or distresses; trial; grievance.
3. (a.) Physical pain, or a cause of it; malady. Int. ...
/g/grief.htm - 45k

Griefs (7 Occurrences)

/g/griefs.htm - 8k

Irreligious (7 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 6:1 If one of you has a grievance against an opponent, does he dare
to go to law before irreligious men and not before God's people? (WEY). ...
/i/irreligious.htm - 8k

Interested (4 Occurrences)
... Acts 19:38 If, however, Demetrius and the mechanics who support his contention have
a grievance against any one, there are Assize-days and there are Proconsuls ...
/i/interested.htm - 8k

Readily (22 Occurrences)
... BBE). Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another and readily forgiving each
other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just ...
/r/readily.htm - 13k

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Grievance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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