8605 Explorer Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920-1051. 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. 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. James 1:2-4 reminds us that trials produce perseverance, which makes us mature and complete. . The Bible does talk about mediation, which could be considered a form of suing for your rights. 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. Sometimes attorneys who cannot take a case themselves have a system in place to refer cases to other attorneys, sometimes for compensation. 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. Scripture makes it pretty clear that brothers and sisters in Christ should not be suing one another (1 Corinthians 6:1-11). It is far from easy to define the cause of suffering or of the evil connected with it. The reason His strength can shine through us is because we know God better through suffering. An eternal God provides humans with an existence beyond the grave. The mystery of suffering is contained in the mystery of Love, in the mystery of the Spirit. But many times, pain and suffering settlements are calculated using one of two formulas used by insurance companies. Reveal number tel: (855) 637-2987 . We learn in Hebrews 12:10 that we are enabled to share in His holiness through the discipline of enduring hardship. There are several references in the Bible to compensating a person for a loss they have suffered. How Often Should You Take Communion According to The Bible. Some do this through their work (doctors, nurses, engineers, plumbers, and so on). I like something else Oswald Chambers wrote: "Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness."2. Suffering is powerfully able to get us back on track. 5 stars 7 reviews. The Pope ends by saying that the mystery of man is revealed in Christ, and the mystery of man is very specially connected to suffering. He wanted them to grow in trust and dependence on the Father. The Lord Jesus has His work cut out for Him in purifying us for Himself (Titus 2:14). Copyright 2023 Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. Irondale, Alabama. Suffering has taught my friend the lesson of total, humble dependence on God. No wonder suffering hurts! Deprivation does not demand a positive cause but the search for its origin. 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 . The church is meant to be a refuge for those suffering. 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. 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. And He was the strongest person the world has ever seen. Suffering prepares us to minister comfort to others who suffer. And neither does it mean that Scripture doesnt tell us how to think about our suffering now. Home Family QAs Get Help Family Q&A Life Changes Q&As Christians and Lawsuits. 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. Consequently, the cause of suffering is an evil; so, suffering and evil can be identified with each other. When someone is injured by another person or business, there are two ways to approach the situation: suing or forgiving. grief. It feels like a warm blanket being draped around your soul. 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 . Within this therapy, they talk about pain and suffering through a context called Distress Tolerance. Suffering prepares us for more glory. It can be hard to place a dollar value on the value of one days pain however. Church problems should not be taken to the court system, but . All rights reserved. God says a lot about suffering in Scripture so that you know where to look when the pain comes to you. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Paul said he delighted in weaknesses, hardships, and difficulties "for when I am weak, then I am strong.". The point of Job's trials was to enable heavenly beings to see God glorified in Job. Less serious injuries still can bring large settlements depending on the length of hospitalization, physical therapy, and counseling that is involved. 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. Get Your Free Consultation From a Top Lawyer. Prior to beginning any legal action, we should also take into account the emotional and financial costs associated with it. 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. Only by experiencing the mystery can we penetrate it with our minds. Obviously, if a Christian is suing you, it would be preferable to work out some kind of arbitration, as described above. 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. 5. 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). Injuries that arent physical still can bring large pain and suffering settlements, such as a wrongful termination that causes significant humiliation or depression. Some Christians seek to dodge the problem by imagining that suffering always marks the presence [] I know the Bible says Christians should not sue Christians, but is it okay to sue non-Christians? In addition to physical pain, the accident and your resulting injuries can also cause you mental distress. The Gospel, alone, is not the only form of justice that is Perfect, But this is the best form of justice that may be able to help many family members who lose family member(s) through the Wrong doing Of another in the form of injury or death due to the wrongdoing of another. 12). Oswald Chambers, Our Utmost for His Highest, September 1. Only by living the mystery of Christian suffering can we get an idea of what suffering means and, as the Pope said previously, transcend it and overcome it. 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. 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. 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. 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. In addition to physical pain, plaintiffs can recover for the permanent physical . . Log in. The type varies - it may be physical, relational, mental, emotional, financial, social, or spiritual - but it all hurts. The apostle Paul, on the other hand, said something that I believe is very important: Do not act out of selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also look out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4). 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). One morning I learned that his car had died on the way to church, and I said something about what a bummer it was. 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. Suffering often develops compassion and mercy in us. 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. Past performance is not indicative of future results. And what is the link between experiencing suffering and equipping for ministry? The total combined award for pain and suffering alongside medical expenses would be a total of . According to Jesus, you should settle an argument with an adversary even before you go to court. 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. 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. 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?". 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. Sue Bohlin looks at suffering from a Christian perspective. Whatever brings you closer to God is a blessing. The per diem method sets a dollar amount for each day the claimant experienced the pain and suffering and is expected to continue to experience it. 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. But in order for someone to say those powerful words"I know just how you feel because I've been there"that person had to walk through the same difficult valley first. Since it originates in privation, the inevitable question is: "Why did this deprivation occur, what is its cause?". Many Christians only know they're saved without grasping what it is Christ has delivered them from. Christian Versus Christian Civil Dispute: According to 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, a Christian is not to civilly file a lawsuit against another Christian in a secular court of law. (5) Suffering is a Process. Christians suffer for a variety of reasons, including many of the same . Feeling isolated is one of the hardest parts of suffering. 12:6). As hurtful as it is, suffering can purify us if we submit to the One who has a loving plan for the pain. Often, legal counsels will recommend that you file a lawsuit against your insurance company for loss as well as punitive damages. 2022 12 Aug. 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. Should Christians be involved in lawsuits? I have an appreciation of heaven gained from a different experience. One first needs to frame the enigma correctly and begin to seek its cause. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How Can Two Walk Together Except They Agree? Physical pain may include a broken bone, skin tissue damage, back-pains, headaches or other physical manifestation of an actual harm. Pain and suffering are the door to the encounter with Christ and in him to the experience of his presence as life and resurrection, through the work of the Spirit of Love, who is the Holy Spirit This is what Our Lady, the Virgin Mary was the first to do, and with her, all the saints. ibid.,n. This reality is a stark reminder that we have not reached the new heavens and new earth. A temptation to power and self-exaltation lay in the late Jewish promise of the coming of the Messiah-Son of Man. 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. If we turn toward God in our pain, He can use our suffering to mature our faith. You Have the opportunity to help protect others from suffering injury or even Death, you Are protecting their families, and you are doing your part to ensure that your community and society are safer as a Whole. To determine whether you can sue for pain and suffering damages, you must first look at liability in your case. 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. That truth about overcoming sustains Christians when suffering threatens to overwhelm. Consequently, the cause of suffering is an evil; so, suffering and evil can be identified with each other. The Bible teaches that Christians can sue if they need compensation for the injuries they have suffered, but it also teaches them to forgive their enemies (Matthew 5:44). 2. [deleted] Additional comment actions. If this is your situation, you should keep in mind that, from a practical standpoint, its rare for anyone to emerge as a real winner from any kind of lawsuit. He then briefly outlines the context of suffering, speaking of the vast field of suffering and of the suffering person. Losing heart is a great spiritual danger. 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. Evil is sin and suffering, death. Calculating Pain and Suffering Can Be Complex. Jesus told His followers, "In this world you will have trouble. Suffering has done that for me. The Lord Jesus has a big job to do, changing His ragamuffin church into a glorious bride worthy of the Lamb. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Suffering conforms us into God's . He will make it work together with all life's experiences for good. substance abuse. Through suffering, human beings are incorporated into the pain of Christ. There are a variety of injuries that can result in pain and suffering settlements. This the opinion of Job's friends (cf. Most problematic of all is the scenario in which a Christian wants to bring a lawsuit against a non-Christian. Youll want evidence that shows how the wrongdoing led directly back to your injury; this could include photos of any injuries sustained after each incident of abuse, hospital records from any visits following an accident or assault, etc.. If God ordained it, then perhaps we should endure it in full strength. . 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. 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! ", God never wastes suffering, not a scrap of it. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. 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. Let us now try to describe suffering. depression. As Christians, we are not to seek revenge for wrongdoing (see Leviticus 19:18 and Deuteronomy 32:35), and this includes suing for more than what is actually lost or suing in order to make a point. Posted on Feb 6, 2012. The lack of meaning, the lack of direction, the radical anticulture, contradiction, death: in a fullness of meaning, of orientation, in an ascendant culture, in joyous affirmation, in life: folly and stupidity, in what is wisest and most sensible, it is the intimate solidarity of love triumphant that raises, in loving solidarity with the most atrocious suffering that kills. In Matthew 5:25, Jesus tells us that. Matthew 5:25. Suffering teaches us the difference between the important and the transient. The definition is vague, but the law allows you to file an insurance claim for pain and suffering compensation. Reading Time: 8 minutes By Mark W. Hamilton The Bible helps us answer the question. Suffering brings a "one day at a time-ness" to our survival. In this way we are within the nucleus of salvation. 2010 Focus on the Family. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. *** b. a source of wealth to conquer in the name of one's ancestors. 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. Christians may also face trials and suffer simply because we live in a world full of sin. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" ( Revelation 21:4 ). This is why the mystery of pain shifts from pain in itself to the mystery of solidarity. 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. Suffering reminds us that we live in an abnormal world. That's what suffering will do for us. California, for example, limits non-economic damages such as pain and suffering to $250,000 in . Adrian Rogers Love Worth Finding. Furthermore, the Christian mystery is not only something contemplated but also experienced. our 99 Self-Care Techniques for Christians, How God Used My Struggles with Scrupulosity to Teach Me His Amazing Grace. But not always. The Parable of the Good Samaritan corroborates what Christ said about the Last Judgment; "I was sick and you visited me". 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). We'd love to hear from you, please enter your comments. You might be using an unsupported or outdated browser. Many Christians wonder if it's okay to take medicine for the disease, illness, or other type of suffering God ordained. 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. 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. To enter into the mystery, let us be guided by God himself. "1, It's also important for all wives, but most especially the future wife of the Son of God, to have a submissive heart. While our natural reaction to pain is to avoid it, get rid of it, or numb it; we need to realize that God allows pain. After many sleepless nights wracked by various kinds of pain, my friend Jan now knows what she was saved from. I Believe This is especially true if you are a Christian. L'Osservatore Romano is the newspaper of the Holy See. Fortunately, the same book assures us that discipline is a sign of God's love (Heb. It is a matter of a real vocation, especially when one is united to the Church with a Christian profession. d. a place where humans were banished from the. Exodus 21:27. The cost for severe injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury, will likely be multiplied by a higher number. Generally speaking, then, its a good idea to avoid lawsuits. Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Suffering dispels the cloaking mists of inconsequential distractions of this life and puts things in their proper perspective. 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. Total combined award for pain and suffering settlements, such as a traumatic injury... Or other physical manifestation of an actual harm said about the Last Judgment ; `` was... Sign of God 's love ( Heb that trials produce perseverance, which could be considered form! 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In the mystery of pain shifts from pain in itself to the mystery solidarity... Counseling that is involved a life Changes Q & as Christians and Lawsuits cause mental! Are a variety of injuries that can result in pain and suffering to mature our faith, engineers plumbers... That discipline is a stark reminder that should a christian sue for pain and suffering are within the nucleus salvation... Worthy of the coming of the Messiah-Son of man depending on the value of &. Person for a loss they have suffered answer the question is far from easy to define cause. Glorified in Job the same book assures us that discipline is a stark reminder that we have reached... Bring large pain and suffering settlements are calculated using one of the Messiah-Son of man Last!