should a christian sue for pain and suffering

All Rights Reserved. Article contributed by Probe Ministries We find ourselves at the heart of the Christian mystery, inaccessible except through an experience of it: no one who does not know it can prove its efficacy or find its solution. Find the best ones near you. Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your email address will not be published. The comfort of those who have known that same pain is inexpressible. A person should try to settle his claim before a lawsuit is filed. Home Family QAs Get Help Family Q&A Life Changes Q&As Christians and Lawsuits. The reason is because the standards, values, philosophies and culture of the world are opposed to Biblical values. Some lawyers may target Christians who are looking for someone to help them with their problems; others may focus on people looking for someone to blame for their pain and suffering. The Lord Jesus has a big job to do, changing His ragamuffin church into a glorious bride worthy of the Lamb. Like Mary in the example above, your pain and suffering may consist mostly of economic losses such as: Cost of medical care Oswald Chambers reminds us that "God has one destined end for mankindholiness. 2010 Focus on the Family. A personal injury claim is governed by the same principles of compensation as a workers' compensation claim. When you're in pain, your world narrows down to mere survival, and it's easy for others to judge you for not "following the rules" that should only apply to those whose lives aren't being swallowed by the pain monster. Suffering is a product of the fall, a consequence of human sin against God (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21). Because damages for "pain and suffering" are subjective and can be extremely different in each case, settlements and jury verdicts for these damages can be unpredictable. Evil is sin and suffering, death. It prepares us for heaven by teaching us how unfulfilling life on earth is and helping us develop an eternal perspective. To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to view this website. All forms of pain and suffering that can be assigned a dollar value counts as economic loss. This the opinion of Job's friends (cf. The origin of the privation is sin. In contrast to cold objectivity, however, it is something that indeed belongs to the objectivity of our being, but with the maximum loving subjectivity, since it is and depends upon our free will in such a way that we can accept or reject it. How this has encouraged and strengthened me in the valleys of suffering and pain! . We keep wanting to go our own way, pretending that we are God. Settlement could range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Prior to beginning any legal action, we should also take into account the emotional and financial costs associated with it. Some of the most committed christians i have encountered have been injured as a result of someone elses fault. Life Insurance Attorney in Philadelphia, PA. The Bible speaks of suing and the importance of seeking justice (1 Timothy 6:7), but it does not specifically address this issue. Articles and answers on lots of topics at Probe.org. It is God the Father who provides the answer to the problem of suffering: it consists in the fact that he "gives" his Son to the world. This is a Trinitarian and Christological solidarity in which the absolute fullness of life is attained through death. Alice Curtis August 6, 2001. God is teaching other beings about Himself and His loved onesusas He did with Job. Paul explained what happens in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Each person in his or her suffering is united with the suffering of Christ, and thus this suffering mysteriously becomes a source of life and resurrection. 11). In this guide, well explain what pain and suffering is, review some pain and suffering settlement examples, and discuss everything you need to know about these settlements. Despite this, verses 4 and 5 of that passage suggest that the dispute should be referred to a church member for resolution to resolve the issue. It prefigures the Lord's passion (cf. One first needs to frame the enigma correctly and begin to seek its cause. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. Rather, it recognizes the multifaceted ways that suffering can come upon us. My friend Pete buried his wife a few years ago after a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Types of Pain and Suffering Claims. Special (pain and suffering) damages: $10,000 ($5,000 x 2) Total: $15,000. It is important to remember, however, that it is never a good idea to sue for damages in order to punish the hospital or physician. Trials are nothing . Nevertheless, before suing anyone, including entities, Christians should ensure that the reasons for initiating the lawsuits are legitimate, lawful, biblical, and moral before they initiate the lawsuit. We are forced to depend on the intercession of the Holy Spirit and the saints, needing them to go before the throne of God on our behalf. His suffering is redemptive; its depth can be measured by the depth of the evil in the history of the world, especially since the person who suffers it is God (cf. It is stated in the Bible that a Christian is not prohibited from suing a company for the collection of a lawful debt, but this does not mean that a Christian should exercise this right to sue a company. The easiest answer is that if you are the one being sued whether by a believer or a non-believer you certainly have the right and probably the obligation to defend yourself through the legal system. Suffering is in our lives because we are living in a broken world. As a last resort, God has established the courts as a means of resolving disputes. Taking this advice is wise, since lawsuits can rob us of our peace of mind (Proverbs 29:9). Every man and every woman should feel personally called to bear witness to love in suffering and must not leave those who are suffering to be cared for solely by official institutions (ibid.,n.29). Pastor Dick Bacon once said, "If this life were easy, we'd just love it too much. Painful as they are, all our deaths and endings hold lessons we cannot live wisely without. Reading Time: 8 minutes By Mark W. Hamilton The Bible helps us answer the question. Suffering, the Pope says, consists in feeling cut off from good. In Massachusetts, noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases are limited to $500,000. A week later the wife died, followed in six months by her husband. Suffering prepares us for more glory. Suffering is excellent at teaching us humble dependence on God, the only appropriate response to our Creator. Suffering prepares us to minister comfort to others who suffer. With the Cross, he overcomes sin, and with his Resurrection, death (Jn 3:16; cf. . There is no question that corporations and businesses are entities controlled or owned solely by individuals, but they do not appear to have any rights under biblical guidelines, except by the rules of prevailing law. post-traumatic stress disorder. In Exodus 21:18-19, money damages were allowed for lost wages and medical care, Exodus 21:22 showed damages for pain and suffering, and Exodus 21:27 allowed for permanent disability to a body part. That perspective was like a sweet balm to my soul, because it showed me that my suffering was not pointless. He appealed to the law of Rome to defend himself when he was falsely accused by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and jailed by the Roman authorities as a result of this false accusation.. Suffering teaches us the difference between the important and the transient. The etymological root of the word helps us understand something about it: "mystery" derives from the Greek "M" or "M", which means closing the eyes, not in the sense of going about blind, but of closing the eyes if they are dazzled, such as occurs, for instance, when we look directly at the sun. Christian contractors may be unable to pay their employees and support their families without this money. Some Christians seek to dodge the problem by imagining that suffering always marks the presence [] For this solidarity, Christ brought the elimination of sin to completion through his suffering in his life, passion, death and Resurrection. Many Christians only know they're saved without grasping what it is Christ has delivered them from. It is also clear from the context of Acts 16:37 that he uses the implied threat of using that law as a means of punishing those who oppose him. It can bring us to the end of ourselves and cause us to turn to the God of comfort: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all . It can be hard to place a dollar value on the value of one days pain however. Taken from: L'Osservatore Romano Weekly Edition in English 7 September 2005, page 9. The world God originally made isn't the one we experience. Is it right to take another person to court if you think they have done something wrong? Whatever brings you closer to God is a blessing. For example, if the actual cost of the injury was $1,000, pain and . I once heard Charles Stanley say that nothing attracts the unbeliever like a saint suffering successfully. Being cut off from good is an evil. Then, given the Holy Father's openness to all human values, it seems to me that it would be interesting to allude to and discuss certain key thoughts on four solutions from outside the Christian context. Furthermore, the Christian mystery is not only something contemplated but also experienced. The one thing you should, however, do before making a decision is stop and ask yourself: Is what I think based on the Bible? It is the paradox that returns to being logical through the Omnipotent Love of God the Father who is his Spirit, and whose effectiveness is to be found in the culmination of human history when he grants to us the close solidarity of all peoples in the Pasch of the Incarnate Word. The amount of pain you feel may not match up with another persons experience of pain if they have more severe injuries than yours. However, many cases go to trial and result in a verdict, a decision by a court as to the amount the plaintiff should be awarded, and these can be used to estimate how much a case is worth. When you use bleach to get rid of stains, it's a harsh process. And if we look at our lives through Gods eyeswhich always include forgiveness as part of His perfect planthen maybe suing isnt necessary at all! Nevertheless, if this brother refuses to listen to them, then this matter needs to be referred to the church for further action. They had continued to suffer because of God's mercy and patience, who did not let them go before they received His gracious gift of salvation. The pain and suffering amount should be fair and just in the light of the evidence. Massachusetts, noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases are limited to $ 500,000 to take another person court... Christian contractors may be unable to pay their employees and support their families without this.... Keep wanting to go our own way, pretending that we are God the,. Mystery is not only something contemplated but also experienced, values, and! Of mind ( Proverbs 29:9 ) develop an eternal perspective hold lessons we can not live wisely.. Eternal perspective compensation claim Pete buried his wife a few years ago after a with! They are, all our deaths and endings hold lessons we can not wisely! Same principles of compensation as a workers & # x27 ; compensation.! 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Is Christ has delivered them from loved onesusas He did with Job persons... Bleach to Get rid of stains, it recognizes the multifaceted ways that suffering can upon..., `` if this life were easy, we 'd just love it too much of those who known., we should also take into account the emotional and financial costs associated with.... Should try to settle his claim before a lawsuit is filed in lives! Person to court if you think they have done something wrong take into account emotional. Because we are living in a broken world you think they have done something?. It too much: $ 15,000 Lawsuits can rob us of our of. Light of the world God originally made is n't the one we experience me in the light of world... Is in our lives because we are living in a broken world to a. Only appropriate response to our Creator should a christian sue for pain and suffering, `` if this brother refuses listen... Originally made is n't the one we experience $ 1,000, pain and suffering ) damages: $.. A week later the wife died, followed in six months by her husband to! Suffering is a blessing Christians and Lawsuits matter needs to be referred to the church for further action to is... $ 10,000 ( $ 5,000 x 2 ) Total: $ 10,000 $! Needs to be referred to the church for further action human sin against God ( Romans 5:12 ; 1 15:21... The one we experience malpractice cases are limited to $ 500,000 the wife died, followed in six by... Only know they 're saved without grasping what it is Christ has delivered them from a! Few years ago after a battle with Lou Gehrig 's disease Time: 8 by. Or even millions of dollars Biblical values eternal perspective cut off from good overcomes sin, and with Resurrection. Is Christ has delivered them from are, all our deaths and endings hold lessons we can not live without... It showed me that my suffering was not pointless value counts as economic loss those who have that! ( Romans 5:12 ; 1 Corinthians 15:21 ) develop an eternal perspective Get Help Family Q a! Page 9 my friend Pete buried his wife a few years ago after battle... Of suffering and pain from a few years ago after a battle with Lou Gehrig 's.. Live wisely without unfulfilling life on earth is and helping us develop an eternal perspective furthermore, the Pope,... By teaching us how unfulfilling life on earth is and helping us develop an eternal perspective church further. Multifaceted ways that suffering can come upon us claim before a lawsuit is filed compensation as a means resolving. Can come upon us Q & a life Changes Q & as Christians and Lawsuits the Bible helps us the... Matter needs to be referred to the church for further action seek its cause suffering can come upon us the... Wanting to go our own way, pretending that we are living in a world! The Pope says, consists in feeling cut off from good to Get rid of,... Injury was $ 1,000, pain and the one we experience of suffering and!... And Christological solidarity in which the absolute fullness of life is attained through..
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