Taken from: L'Osservatore Romano Weekly Edition in English 7 September 2005, page 9. James 1:2-4 reminds us that trials produce perseverance, which makes us mature and complete. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Suffering reminds us that we live in an abnormal world. He was completely dependent on the Father, choosing to become weak so that God's strength could shine through Him. We can comfort others with the comfort that we have received from God (2 Cor. This is in addition to a separate amount covering the medical bills and lost work the plaintiff has as economic damages. Should Christians be involved in lawsuits? Suffering has done that for me. That perspective was like a sweet balm to my soul, because it showed me that my suffering was not pointless. Two people can be involved in the same accident and suffer the same injuries, but one person may suffer more emotional trauma than the other. 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. By offering a free consultation, they can get your information and market other services to you. . . Suffering develops holiness in unholy people. Does pain and suffering make up the biggest part of the settlement? Then . Lets say a Christian contractor performed work on a brother Christians house, but the brother refused to pay. That can dictate the average amount of money in a pain and suffering settlement, with no state requiring less than $10,000 in coverage for bodily injury. We would suggest that its best to begin by seeking mediation or arbitration. We'd love to hear from you, please enter your comments. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! A hospital and a doctor have liability insurance to cover incidents that occur as a result of negligence on their part. If you have been injured or harmed in a situation such as a car accident, you will file a claim with the insurance company. 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.. He will make it work together with all life's experiences for good. Prior to filing a lawsuit, a person should attempt to settle his claim before he files a lawsuit. Rather, the disputed matter should be arbitrated or judged by a wise Christian or Christians. Thus, suffering involves solidarity (cf. Pope John Paul II states: "Suffering is something which is still wider than sickness", because there is a "distinction between physical suffering and moral suffering" (Salvifici Doloris, n. 5). Pain and suffering can can be a blessing. People put questions to God about its cause and frequently reach the point of denying him when they are unable to discover the reason for it (cf. Christian contractors may be unable to pay their employees and support their families without this money. Because we live in a world broken by sin, life is painful. In the event that one suffers personal loss as a result of the negligence or deceit of a business or company, should a Christian file a lawsuit against them? Let us now try to describe suffering. According to another passage in Exodus, when a servants master knocked out his tooth by accident, the servant was allowed to go free. As for evil, it is a deprivation; it has no positive value in . Its important to find an attorney who is respected in his or her area of law so you can negotiate the largest pain and suffering settlement possible. I would like to introduce you to the concept of Christian arbitration. 1 answer; Social Studies; asked by Kaai97; 518 views; You corrected this sentence: Don't talk about me as ancient: Don't talk about me as if I'm ancient. The Lord Jesus has a big job to do, changing His ragamuffin church into a glorious bride worthy of the Lamb. I know the Bible says Christians should not sue Christians, but is it okay to sue non-Christians? Common e xamples of emotional pain and suffering include: anxiety. Many Christians only know they're saved without grasping what it is Christ has delivered them from. The whole context of 1 Corinthians 6:1-6 deals with disputes in the church, but Paul does reference the court system when he speaks of judgments concerning things pertaining to this life. There are a variety of injuries that can result in pain and suffering settlements. Following a car accident, plaintiffs can generally sue for monetary damages (such as medical bills, medications, assistive technology, and lost wages), as well as for non-monetary damages, like pain and suffering, which includes . Love is the only key to deciphering the enigma of pain and suffering: love that can transform nothingness into full reality. The Bible tells us that the world is at enmity with God and at enmity with Christians. This reality is a stark reminder that we have not reached the new heavens and new earth. You also can find your local, county-level bar associations and see who leads the personal injury and medical malpractice sections, or which section of law is applicable to your situation. The church is not meant to be a loosely bound association of functional Lone Rangers. You must be able to demonstrate that you had a direct relationship with the doctor you intend to sue. The comfort of God that we can extend to others isn't limited to the church and is not limited to shared experience. Articles and answers on lots of topics at Probe.org. Your email address will not be published. The Holy Spirit is the Love of the Father and of the Son, and it is only through the Love of the Spirit that we can glimpse this mysterious, redeeming solidarity. Used with permission. Suffering prepares us for more glory. Suffering is a product of the fall, a consequence of human sin against God (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21). This means that if you choose not to take legal action against someone who has hurt you or your family, then you will be able to move on with your life instead of having the burden of dealing with court documents and lawyers tied up in your mind and heart. You are learning both the tenderness and the clarity necessary to help sanctify another persons deepest distress. Joni Eareckson Tada, When Is It Right to Die? This article is part of the 10 Things You Should Know series. By Rick Warren. He then briefly outlines the context of suffering, speaking of the vast field of suffering and of the suffering person. They would be entitled to compensation for their economic injuries separately (the cost of medical care and lost wages). Towards the end of the book Business by the Book, published by Thomas Nelson, I provide the following answer: In view of the fact that there were no corporations in existence when the Bible was written, the best we can do in order to relate the principle to the closest parallel of that time: a government agency. 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. 5. [deleted] Additional comment actions. The multiplier method totals all the plaintiffs medical bills from the injury and multiplies that total by a number between 1.5 and 5. One of my dearest friends shared with me the prayer from a heart burning with emotional pain: "Papa, I know I can make it through the next fifteen minutes if You hold me and walk me through it." Several years ago I realized that instead of despising the fact that polio had left me with a body that was weakened and compromised, susceptible to pain and fatigue, I could choose to rejoice in it. You should be able to identify the person or institution that is at fault for your injury and suffering. I have an appreciation of heaven gained from a different experience. Cheryl's in-laws, both beset by lingering illnesses, couldn't understand why they couldn't just die and get it over with. Deep suffering of the soul is also a taste of hell. This means that pain and suffering is calculated over and above medical expenses at that rate. Also, the Bible discusses the consequences of suing another Christian, so we can infer that there are negative consequences for doing so (1 Corinthians 6:1-8). 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. If you can see the purpose beyond the pain, you will understand God's ability to leverage the suffering in your . The life of God is infinitely perfect in each one of the divine Persons through the internal solidarity between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. AN INDEPT LOOK INTO THE PHRASE GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES IN CHRISTIANITY, Christian Organizations that Help the Poor. What you are experiencing from God, you can give away in increasing measure to others. 7). The classic Scripture for the concept that suffering displays God's strength through our weakness is found in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, where we learn that God's grace is sufficient for us, for His power is perfected in weakness. In many cases the legal system can sort out the facts and come to a resolution far more quickly and effectively than the concerned individuals could on their own. Rhonda is an executive secretary earning $24 per hour. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Let us flee from self-righteousness, and toward compassion, as our Lord has compassion upon us ( Psalm 78:37-39 ). So when I say to a mother or father who has also lost a child, "I hurt with you, because I've lost a precious one too," my tears bring warmth and comfort in a way that someone who has never known that pain cannot offer. . In the event that a Christian decides to go to court, he or she should only win the amount of actual losses suffered, such as medical expenses, lost income, loss of transportation, repairs, loss or damage to equipment or property, medical services, and travel time. Often times, yes. Cases include: Pain and suffering can be caused by injuries such as: Factors that affect the amount of a pain and suffering settlement include: In most cases the settlement you are seeking is paid by an insurance company and the policy limits control how much of a settlement they offer. May we always seek to wrap our arms around the enfeebled, to clutch them to ourselves as if they were our own children. If you need additional assistance, dont hesitate to give our staff a call. How does the Christian respond biblically? Other factors could involve the newsworthiness of your case, how far along in litigation the case is, and whether you bear any responsibility for the accident or injury. As the saying goes, Everything is legal, but not everything is profitable.. 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. Wherever there is suffering, there is a battle a battle for your soul. Pain and suffering. There are also times when this collective suffering becomes more acute. Among the many reasons God allows us to suffer, this is my personal favorite: it prepares us to be the radiant bride of Christ. In order to make up for the loss of the servants tooth, this was to be done as compensation. . For all intents and purposes, this means that the doctor was officially serving as your physician for at least the period of time in which the negligence occurred. Pinterest. 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. In this way, the mystery of suffering-love enters into the very constitution of God incarnate, the Son made flesh through the work of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 5:41-42 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Get Your Free Consultation From a Top Lawyer. 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. Most problematic of all is the scenario in which a Christian wants to bring a lawsuit against a non-Christian. Sometimes suffering literally prepares us for heaven. Evil is not a positive entity but a privation. In fact, a Johns Hopkins study found that medical errors kill more than 250,000 Americans every year, making it the third-leading cause of death behind only heart disease and cancer. But God brings suffering in our lives for the sake of our eternal joy yes, even glory. It is the very reason why Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to standards of this . 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. Painful as they are, all our deaths and endings hold lessons we cannot live wisely without. It gets us closer to what we were created to becompletely dependent on God. After hearing their testimonies, few would deny that suffering produces beauty and maturity of spirit. This is a Trinitarian and Christological solidarity in which the absolute fullness of life is attained through death. Applying a biblical worldview to this difficult subject results in a distinctly different approach to suffering than our natural inclination of blame and self pity. Today the existence of evil still looms as perhaps the largest objection to the Christian faith. God, therefore, may allow some level of pain and suffering to maintain the just and transcendent character of 'love'. One can thus realize and understand what would otherwise be an untenable paradox, scandal and folly: the Cross is glorious; having been the evil most feared as total death, it becomes the glorious beginning of the whole of the second creation. Pain is inevitable because we live in a fallen world. A man is required to recover for the time he lost when he is struck by another man, as stated in Exodus 21:18-19. Those who suffer tend to have tender hearts toward others who are in pain. The simple answer is yessometimes. Economic damages: $5,000. Many states require motorists to carry insurance policies that guarantee a minimum amount of coverage. You can give all the money from any potential settlement award directly back into charity instead of keeping it yourself; this way God gets credit for helping fight injustice even though He doesnt usually use lawsuits as one of His weapons in this battle on earth! Suffering can make us long for the new heaven and the new earth where God will set all things right again. Types of Pain and Suffering Claims. However, each case is unique and the severity of injury and factors involved in that specific case will impact the settlement amount offered. If you can see the purpose behind the pain, you can find the way out of this lie. Some Christians seek to dodge the problem by imagining that suffering always marks the presence [] But losing Becky has enabled me to weep with those who weep with the comforting tears of one who has experienced that deep and awful loss. Claims Amount = $2,000 + $300 X [1.5 to 5%] For a serious debilitating injury, like a disfigurement or brain damage, your claim is estimated to be in the range of $11,500.00 to $23,000.00. For example, if a plaintiff incurs $3,000 in medical bills . Jesus himself deeply disappointed . All Christians suffer. These verses are like sandpaper on our modern sentiments about suffering. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What Does the Bible Say About Helping Others Too Much? The Bible speaks of suing and the importance of seeking justice (1 Timothy 6:7), but it does not specifically address this issue. ibid.,n. She also loves speaking for MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and Stonecroft Min More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Sally makes $10 per hour at a fast-food restaurant. Either you have, you are, or you will through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Suffering conforms us into God's . we just need to trust Him. This gift of solidarity is the meaning of the Incarnation and the meaning of Jesus Christ. For example, if a person is hit by a bus and has extensive injuries which will take a year to recover from and the insurance company places a value of $300 for each day, the settlement offer would be $109,500. 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 . Reveal number tel: (855) 637-2987 . The point of Job's trials was to enable heavenly beings to see God glorified in Job. There are many other options available besides suing those who have wronged us. One first needs to frame the enigma correctly and begin to seek its cause. Depending on the facts of the case and what method is used to calculate damages, pain and suffering will make up some . Suffering Because of The Culture / Systems of the World. Medical malpractice is alarmingly common in the United States. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. But developing holiness in us is a worthwhile, extremely important goal for the Holy One who is our divine Bridegroom. If this doesnt work, and if a lawsuit seems warranted, you should get the counsel of a Christian attorney who is in a position to supplement his legal expertise with wisdom drawn from the Bible. Chambers, June 25. . All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Paul confronts that type of thinking when he writes, Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). Sometimes we hurt so much we can't pray. Claims Amount = $2,000 + $300 X [5 to 10%] Current pain and suffering is the time period from the time of your injury, to the completion of all your medical . We see this biblical truth illustrated through the persecuted church. As hurtful as it is, suffering can purify us if we submit to the One who has a loving plan for the pain. Suffering gives rise to love for those who suffer, a disinterested love to help them by relieving it. Lawsuits can be useful when a contract is in dispute. Suffering brings a "one day at a time-ness" to our survival. You can sue for pain and suffering for economic and non-economic losses. Ephesians 5:26-27 tells us He is making us holy by washing us with the Wordpresenting us to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish. I think that the development of the Pope's thought climbs six steps towards the fullness of the mystery of suffering and pain; we can sum them up as follows: Suffering is not in itself evil but is the effect of a negative cause. The question of whether or not a Christian should file a lawsuit for pain and suffering is not explicitly addressed in the Bible.. One of the most incredibly comforting things we can ever experience is someone else's tears for us. . c. an ancient gift of the gods. The Lord's purpose in both storms was to train them to stop relying on their physical eyes and use their spiritual eyes. One of the counterintuitive truths about suffering is that it prepares Christians for more glory. Find a lawyer near you. If a title is currently unavailable through Focus on the Family, we encourage you to use another retailer. Draft a demand letter. Focus on the Familys counselors would be happy to listen to your concerns and come alongside you with some practical suggestions. Get Your Free Consultation From a Lawyer Near You. This the opinion of Job's friends (cf. A personal injury claim is governed by the same principles of compensation as a workers compensation claim. 2023 Forbes Media LLC. Feeling isolated is one of the hardest parts of suffering. The amount of pain you feel may not match up with another persons experience of pain if they have more severe injuries than yours. Some suffering is due to our sinful and wrong choices, but some is due simply to the world being fallen. What happens when one Christian sues another Christian? It is therefore advisable that the primary objective of the settlement of a dispute out of court, which provides reasonable compensation for the injured party, should be to reach an out of court agreement. Jesus said that we should settle with an adversary on the way to court. There is no such thing as pointless pain in the life of the child of God. For this solidarity, Christ brought the elimination of sin to completion through his suffering in his life, passion, death and Resurrection. Suffering has taught my friend the lesson of total, humble dependence on God. Pain and suffering damages are often the largest part of a . Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, "This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an . Exodus 21:22 states that if men who were fighting struck a pregnant woman during a fight and she gave birth prematurely but without serious injury, then the offender had to pay a fine equivalent to what the womans husband demanded and the court approved. It further affirms that suffering is a punishment inflicted for self-correction, since good follows evil, leading to conversion and to rebuilding goodness (cf. Some states cap the amount of damages that can be awarded in a pain and suffering settlement. Suffering is abnormalour souls protest, "This isn't right!" Suffering and transgression were held to be the same, at least it was believed that suffering was caused by transgression. Instead of seeing that inability to pray as a personal failure, we can rejoice that our perception of being totally needy corresponds to the truth that we really are that needy. Related Topics: Discipleship, Discipline, Sanctification, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Life, Suffering, Trials, Persecution, Women's Articles, Sue Bohlin is a speaker/writer and webservant for Probe Ministries, a Christian organization that helps people to think biblically. God says a lot about suffering in Scripture so that you know where to look when the pain comes to you. "5 The reality of God's power, His love, and His character are made very, very real to a watching world when we trust Him in our pain. As we read in Proverbs, we are warned not to bring a matter to a court hastily. There are better ways to handle disputes among believers. C.S. Economic Losses. It should be noted that they have refused either to pursue a claim or accept any benefits from the wrongdoer as a result. Copyright 2023 Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. Irondale, Alabama. That means the defendant must have: Owed a duty to you; This is the central mystery of the entire Christian religion, not in the abstract nor in an immensely remote way, but in a closeness present in human history into whose temporal dimensions eternity bursts, through the historical Incarnation of the Word with his birth, life, passion, death and Resurrection. Rather, it recognizes the multifaceted ways that suffering can come upon us. It's difficult to put a value on a person's mental and emotional well-being because it's purely subjective. Jesus told His followers, "In this world you will have trouble. Money damages are allowed for lost wages and medical care (Exodus 21:18-19), pain and suffering (Exodus 21:22), and for a permanent disability to a body part (Exodus 21:27). Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. This aspect of suffering should drive us to long for a better . To maximize the viability of your case, your lawyer may want to file a lawsuit to resolve evidence issues and other legal matters that can lead to a larger settlement if you are successful. Being cut off from good is an evil. In the counseling world, there is a counseling therapy called Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) that was specifically created to help people with the most severe mental illness and trauma symptoms that work well within Christian counseling. Pain and suffering is something that cannot be easily quantified, making it difficult to prove. The book of Job shows us there can be two ways to respond to suffering: one that curses God because of suffering and one that praises God, even in the midst of suffering (Job 2:910). Matthew 5:25. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragn, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, gave a lecture in July, in Aachen, Germany, on "Pain, an enigma or a mystery?". Mystery, in the Christian faith, is not darkness but dazzling brightness. This compensation comes from two main sources. But not always. 3. Almost everyone is living with some kind of pain. Paul said he delighted in weaknesses, hardships, and difficulties "for when I am weak, then I am strong.". God warned Adam that eating the forbidden fruit would result in death ( Gen 2 ). 2022 12 Aug. One first needs to frame the enigma correctly and begin to seek its cause. | Irondale, AL 35210 |. The problem is especially difficult when it comes to the question of whether christians can bring lawsuits against others for personal injury. A doctor-patient relationship exists. It may well be about other people, preparing you to minister comfort and hope to someone in your future who will need what you can give them because of what you're going through right now. Some do this through their work (doctors, nurses, engineers, plumbers, and so on). Suffering produces growth and maturity (James 1:2-4). 2010 Focus on the Family. Jesus wants not just a pure bride, but a mature one as welland suffering produces growth and maturity in us. Physical pain may include a broken bone, skin tissue damage, back-pains, headaches or other physical manifestation of an actual harm. Basically the majority of christians see god and Satan as equal or mostly equal figures fighting for the souls of humans rather than the actual biblical relationship between them of Satan being a tool god uses to test the faith and morality if humans. Employment and civil rights law also can lead to cases that result in pain and suffering settlements for the emotional distress caused by the behavior or action that is alleged. In fact, in the Book of Job and someother Books of the Old Testament the answer is that the cause of evil the transgression of the natural order created by God. Some of the most committed christians i have encountered have been injured as a result of someone elses fault. Jesus endured all that suffering as an innocent man. Something went wrong. But if youre sued by a non-Christian, you may not have an opportunity to seek reconciliation and resolution anywhere except in a court of law. Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. In Massachusetts, noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases are limited to $500,000. Deep suffering of the soul is also a taste of hell. depression. If a Christian refuses to have the matter resolved by the church or by a Christian, then you can take him to court if he refuses to resolve the matter through the church or by a Christian. The Bible doesnt whitewash our experience of suffering by saying that its all of one stripe. This often leads people into a serious search of the divine. Less serious injuries still can bring large settlements depending on the length of hospitalization, physical therapy, and counseling that is involved. Meghann Cuniff is a legal affairs journalist who is a veteran of daily newspapers and has deep experience reporting on complex civil litigation, including mass torts and class actions, securities cases, patent disputes and high-stakes litigation involving major tech companies. There's another aspect of bringing comfort to those in pain. Determining If You Can Sue for Pain and Suffering Damages. When you use bleach to get rid of stains, it's a harsh process. (Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, 166). In accepting it we become totally human through suffering-love; in rejecting it, on the contrary, we destroy ourselves as human beings through suffering and hatred. If you believe you or someone you love were the victim of medical malpractice, contact Morgan & Morgan. It can be hard to place a dollar value on the value of one days pain however. Losing heart is a great spiritual danger. There is a statement in Deuteronomy 25:1 that states, When men have a dispute, they must take it to court, and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty. Deborah held court under a palm tree in the book of Judges and the Israelites came to her to resolve their conflicts. Obviously, if a Christian is suing you, it would be preferable to work out some kind of arbitration, as described above. . "1, It's also important for all wives, but most especially the future wife of the Son of God, to have a submissive heart. I love this paraphrase of Romans 8:28: "The Lord may not have planned that this should overtake me, but He has most certainly permitted it. Let me explain. He redeems all of it for His glory and our blessing.
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