He will give us the comfort, peace, patience and strength we need. One morning I learned that his car had died on the way to church, and I said something about what a bummer it was. Suffering, the Pope says, consists in feeling cut off from good. Joni Eareckson Tada, no stranger to great suffering, writes, "Whether a godly attitude shines from a brain-injured college student or from a lonely man relegated to a back bedroom, the response of patience and perseverance counts. 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. More ouch! 2. Taken from: L'Osservatore Romano Weekly Edition in English 7 September 2005, page 9. . Medical malpractice is alarmingly common in the United States. Prior to filing a lawsuit, a person should attempt to settle his claim before he files a lawsuit. In Exodus 21:18-19, money damages are allowed for wages lost and medical care (Exodus 21:18-19), for pain and suffering (Exodus 21:22), and for the permanent impairment of a body part (Exodus 21:27). Ohio limits non-economic damages in all torts to $250,000 or three times economic damages, capped at $350,000 for a single plaintiff or $500,000 total if there are multiple plaintiffs. Romans 5:12 confirms that this happened after Adam's fall, "Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all . . Suffering makes us homesick for heaven. our 99 Self-Care Techniques for Christians, How God Used My Struggles with Scrupulosity to Teach Me His Amazing Grace. The multiplier is chosen depending on factors such as: For example, if a person is involved in a car accident and suffers whiplash, a concussion, and a broken arm, their medical bills could total $5,000. However, although God rejects this theory and approves Job's innocence his suffering remains a mystery: not all suffering is consequential to transgression, which is proof of Job's righteousness. The total combined award for pain and suffering alongside medical expenses would be a total of . From our solidarity with the essence of life which is the Risen Christ, we can understand our loving solidarity with Christ suffering on the Cross; just as the Risen Christ includes in his Resurrection the resurrection of humanity, of each and every one of us, so too the suffering of Christ contains the suffering and pain of each and every one of us. 2. Some do this through their work (doctors, nurses, engineers, plumbers, and so on). AN INDEPT LOOK INTO THE PHRASE GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES IN CHRISTIANITY, Christian Organizations that Help the Poor. If we turn toward God in our pain, He can use our suffering to mature our faith. And if you are faithful to cling to God now, I promise He will use you greatly to comfort others later." There is no doubt from what is written in the book of Acts that Paul recognized the authority and the responsibility of the government of Rome as well. Determining If You Can Sue for Pain and Suffering Damages. No wonder suffering hurts! Lewis seemed to have a good grasp on this. There is no such thing as pointless pain in the life of the child of God. Has Focus on the Family helped you or your family? Oswald Chambers reminds us that "God has one destined end for mankindholiness. After differentiating "natural" evil (e.g., tornados), "malicious" evil (e.g., sexual assault), and "accidental" evil (e.g., a bridge collapse)and observing that this isn't a uniquely Christian challenge ("No matter your worldview, you must face the reality of suffering and evil")Carson proceeds to reveal the six pillars. Ouch! . Sometimes He trusts us with great pain in order to make a point, whether the intended audience is believers, unbelievers, or the spirit realm. Unlimited Right to Sue - Under the No Limitation on Lawsuit Option, you retain the right to sue the person who caused an auto accident for pain and suffering for any injury. Suffering reminds us that we live in an abnormal world. However, each case is unique and the severity of injury and factors involved in that specific case will impact the settlement amount offered. 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?". After many sleepless nights wracked by various kinds of pain, my friend Jan now knows what she was saved from. 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. How to Ask for An Unspoken Prayer Request on Facebook? This means that pain and suffering is calculated over and above medical expenses at that rate. How Often Should You Take Communion According to The Bible. I got facts in Sunday School, but I learned faith through trusting God in difficult circumstances. 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. Scripture makes it pretty clear that brothers and sisters in Christ should not be suing one another (1 Corinthians 6:1-11). Consider how the Lord Jesus was the exact representation of the glory of the FatherI mean, He was all window and no walls! You also deserve to be compensated for the emotional pain that . Suffering gives rise to love for those who suffer, a disinterested love to help them by relieving it. Suffering is in our lives because we are living in a broken world. In light of the tragedies we've experienced lately, such as shootings and wildfires, some may ask why there is pain and suffering in the world. The solution to the mystery of evil is not only discovered through theological exposition but also by experiencing that something which, if steadily gazed at, darkens because of its excessive brightness yet is very real - we can say the most real reality -, for it is the only way to happiness. 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). Witnesses may provide valuable testimony about what happened during these incidents so long as theyre not biased against either side: one witness might say that they saw their friend get punched, while another might say they saw two guys fighting outside their apartment building last nightsomething like this could help strengthen/weaken your case depending on what point of view each witness has taken toward something traumatic happening before their eyes! Thus, suffering involves solidarity (cf. 1:4) because we have experienced the reality of the Holy Spirit being there for us, walking alongside us in our pain. Getting rid of wrinkles is even more painful: ironing means a combination of heat plus pressure. I once heard Charles Stanley say that nothing attracts the unbeliever like a saint suffering successfully. Painful as they are, all our deaths and endings hold lessons we cannot live wisely without. You may think that suing for pain and suffering will help pay some of these billsbut if your goal is actually helping another person in need (and thus following Gods command), then perhaps there are other ways that you could stretch your finances further in order to assist them with their needs or show mercy through giving charity rather than demanding payment for wrongdoing after receiving justice according*to Biblical principles.*. 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. . He was completely dependent on the Father, choosing to become weak so that God's strength could shine through Him. Be tolerant of one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against someone; just as the Lord has forgave you, you too should forgive each other (Colossians 3:13). Through suffering, human beings are incorporated into the pain of Christ. 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. It is the very reason why Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to standards of this . Since the injuries are moderate, the insurance company might use a multiplier of 3 and offer a settlement of $15,000 for the pain and suffering component of the lawsuit. Reading Time: 8 minutes By Mark W. Hamilton The Bible helps us answer the question. Take along one or two other people with you if he wont listen to you. L'Osservatore Romano is the newspaper of the Holy See. It is thought that one of the reasons that medical insurance is so expensive is that there are so many people who sue for things that were never under anyones control or were not caused by one individuals negligence in the first place. Suffering, the Pope says, consists in feeling cut off from good. 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 . Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. By Rick Warren. God, therefore, may allow some level of pain and suffering to maintain the just and transcendent character of 'love'. We need to be reminded that we are living in "Plan B." Jan's suffering has given her an appreciation of the reality of heaven, and she's been changed forever. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What Does the Bible Say About Helping Others Too Much? Pain and suffering damages are often the largest part of a . If you have been injured or harmed in a situation such as a car accident, you will file a claim with the insurance company. In addition to physical pain, the accident and your resulting injuries can also cause you mental distress. The first thing you need to determine is whether a wrong has been committed and by whom. If God didn't make it painful, we'd never let go of it." We'd love to hear from you, please enter your comments. Thus, human pain and suffering are transformed from something negative into something positive, into a source of life, as it were because they become redemptive. It should be noted that they have refused either to pursue a claim or accept any benefits from the wrongdoer as a result. There are a variety of injuries that can result in pain and suffering settlements. But in matters of . Your email address will not be published. Find the best ones near you. 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. 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. I got truth from studying, but I got to know the Savior through suffering. . This is why the mystery of pain shifts from pain in itself to the mystery of solidarity. February 28, 2023. Love is the only key to deciphering the enigma of pain and suffering: love that can transform nothingness into full reality. c. an ancient gift of the gods. 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. He never lost consciousness in the ambulance because he was too busy praying prayers of thanksgiving for his survival. This the opinion of Job's friends (cf. Ray and I lost our first baby when she was born too prematurely to survive. 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. One first needs to frame the enigma correctly and begin to seek its cause. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 reminds us that we are "destined for trials." Being cut off from good is an evil. Since it originates in privation, the inevitable question is: "Why did this deprivation occur, what is its cause?". May pain and suffering be transformed into a source of strength for all humanity. How this has encouraged and strengthened me in the valleys of suffering and pain! This is now official and organized through health-care institutions and the professionals who work in them, and also through volunteers. But even medicine is a gift from God where man tested God's creation and created medications that would help our fallen, human bodies. For example, if an individual's medical bills amounted to $50,000, the calculated pain and suffering for a 3X multiplier would peg damages at $150,000. Pete just shrugged and said, "This is nothing." With all this said, it is important to remember that you need to ask yourself if you would want to be forgiven by God if you were in trouble? As hurtful as it is, suffering can purify us if we submit to the One who has a loving plan for the pain. 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. God causes far more pain and suffering than . The Parable of the Good Samaritan corroborates what Christ said about the Last Judgment; "I was sick and you visited me". One of the counterintuitive truths about suffering is that it prepares Christians for more glory. Depending on the facts of the case and what method is used to calculate damages, pain and suffering will make up some . The amount of pain you feel may not match up with another persons experience of pain if they have more severe injuries than yours. depression. Many people are bothered by the fact that jury verdicts often seem to exceed the value of an injured partys damages in a case where the verdict was a defense verdict. (See 1 Corinthians 6:12). Sometimes we hurt so much we can't pray. . In Christ the enigma of pain and death is revealed. But take heart! 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. But how? Christian contractors may be unable to pay their employees and support their families without this money. Home Family QAs Get Help Family Q&A Life Changes Q&As Christians and Lawsuits. Answer. Suffering dispels the cloaking mists of inconsequential distractions of this life and puts things in their proper perspective. The nothing from which this new world of happiness or the definitive Paradise flows is not an innocent nothingness but a guilty nothingness that is the greatest evil - sin - which leads definitively to the Cross. Suffering is abnormalour souls protest, "This isn't right!" Throughout my time as a christian, i have heard many misconceptions about christians and their legal rights during this time. Is it right for a Christian to sue? Many Christians only know they're saved without grasping what it is Christ has delivered them from. Focus on the Familys counselors would be happy to listen to your concerns and come alongside you with some practical suggestions. To sue for pain and suffering or emotional stress, you have to file a personal injury lawsuit and prove that your employer was at fault. Let us flee from self-righteousness, and toward compassion, as our Lord has compassion upon us ( Psalm 78:37-39 ). In some states, awards for non-monetary damages (such as pain and suffering) are capped at a certain amount. Therefore, though it were an attack of an enemy, by the time it reaches me, it has the Lord's permission, and therefore all is well. As for evil, it is a deprivation; it has no positive value in itself and therefore cannot be a positive cause or principle, for its origin is a mere privation. With the peace of Christ upon our hearts, let us love our neighbors in their suffering. ibid.,n. It depends upon whether you signed a valid binding arb agreement, that may have been given to you when you enrolled. Paul writes, "We know that all things work . Theology of suffering is the study of what the Bible says about suffering while considering who God is and the current state of humanity. A description of the biblical steps can be found in Matthew 18:15-17. It is victory over death. In a lawsuit for personal injury, there are two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages. David Powlison answers this way: When youve passed through your own fiery trials, and found God to be true to what he says, you have real help to offer. To become weak so that God 's strength could shine through Him us the,. Me '' from: L'Osservatore Romano is the only key to deciphering the enigma of pain you may... May not match up with another persons experience of pain shifts from in! Clear that brothers and sisters in Christ the enigma of pain, my friend Jan now knows what she born. You, please enter your comments he never lost consciousness in the United States injuries that can in..., `` this is n't right! 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