In some states, awards for non-monetary damages (such as pain and suffering) are capped at a certain amount. 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. I strongly believe that Christians can and, in some cases, should sue individuals or corporate bodies for a number of reasons that have been mentioned above. If you are unable to determine who was responsible, then you will have difficulty proving your case in court. As we read in Proverbs, we are warned not to bring a matter to a court hastily. or the next few minutes." Suffering makes us homesick for heaven. This makes it hard for judges, juries, and other decision makers to determine how much money should be awarded to an injured party because they dont know what type or degree of pain that individual has experienced since every case is different. Does pain and suffering make up the biggest part of the settlement? No wonder suffering hurts! I've been in your shoes." Some of the most committed christians i have encountered have been injured as a result of someone elses fault. Ever since the fall of Adam, we keep forgetting that God created us to depend on Him and not on ourselves. No set standard exists for calculating how pain and suffering should be compensated. In addition to individual suffering, there is collective suffering due to human errors and transgressions, especially war. I Believe This is especially true if you are a Christian. Painful as they are, all our deaths and endings hold lessons we cannot live wisely without. That truth about overcoming sustains Christians when suffering threatens to overwhelm. 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. Rather, the disputed matter should be arbitrated or judged by a wise Christian or Christians. 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). All rights reserved. We keep wanting to go our own way, pretending that we are God. Cardinal Barragn also visited several institutions connected with the Grunenthal Foundation for Palliative Care. 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 a matter of a real vocation, especially when one is united to the Church with a Christian profession. But what about lawsuits between Christians and non-Christians? Some states cap the amount of damages that can be awarded in a pain and suffering settlement. Christians suffer for a variety of reasons, including many of the same . Lawsuits can be useful when a contract is in dispute. She loves teaching women and laughing, and if those two can be combined, all the better. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, "This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an . . Prior to filing a lawsuit, a person should attempt to settle his claim before he files a lawsuit. 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. Let me explain. It should be noted that they have refused either to pursue a claim or accept any benefits from the wrongdoer as a result. 2023 Forbes Media LLC. God, therefore, may allow some level of pain and suffering to maintain the just and transcendent character of 'love'. What you are experiencing from God, you can give away in increasing measure to others. Matthew 5:25. Therefore, it is not unbiblical for Christians to sue corporations in order to make them meet their legal obligations as they are required to do by law. 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. We naturally try to avoid suffering at all costs. Has Focus on the Family helped you or your family? 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. Suffering is that which proves one's character and integrity along with both the object and quality of one's faith. Draft a demand letter. . Lewis seemed to have a good grasp on this. The mystery of suffering is contained in the mystery of Love, in the mystery of the Spirit. 1. Getting rid of wrinkles is even more painful: ironing means a combination of heat plus pressure. If God didn't make it painful, we'd never let go of it." The disciples experienced two different storms out on the lake. Oswald Chambers, Our Utmost for His Highest, September 1. 2. Many Christians wonder if it's okay to take medicine for the disease, illness, or other type of suffering God ordained. We usually don't have much trouble understanding that our Divine Bridegroom loves us; but we can easily forget how much He longs for us to love Him back. 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? 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.. Suffering teaches us the difference between the important and the transient. This includes being charitable towards those who have wronged us or caused harm. This gift of solidarity is the meaning of the Incarnation and the meaning of Jesus Christ. It feels like a warm blanket being draped around your soul. Feeling isolated is one of the hardest parts of suffering. Sometimes attorneys who cannot take a case themselves have a system in place to refer cases to other attorneys, sometimes for compensation. The subjectiveness of the process underscores the importance of documenting any and all information pertaining to your case. The Gospel According to Matthew described the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness as a temptation to worldly power. The perfect Plan A of God's beautiful, suffering-free creation was ruined when Adam and Eve fell. It's all part of a well-planned courtship. The Lord is creating for Himself a bride with sterling character, but it's not much fun getting there. Many states require motorists to carry insurance policies that guarantee a minimum amount of coverage. Pain and suffering. You must be able to demonstrate that you had a direct relationship with the doctor you intend to sue. This infinite solidarity is infinite Love, which is the Holy Spirit who has been poured out into our hearts, an infinite Love that is God himself. When a brother sins against you, Jesus says that you are to tell him his fault in front of just the two of you if he sins against you. Often, legal counsels will recommend that you file a lawsuit against your insurance company for loss as well as punitive damages. The Lord's purpose in both storms was to train them to stop relying on their physical eyes and use their spiritual eyes. 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. | Irondale, AL 35210 |. 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 . The Purpose of Pain. Then we can turn around and walk alongside others in their pain, showing the compassion that our own suffering has produced in us. There are several kinds of personal injury suits, all of which can result in pain and suffering settlements. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Solidarity belongs to divinized human life as a gift received which takes part in the mystery itself of God's very life. God whispers to us in our pleasurebut shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.". We learn in Hebrews 12:10 that we are enabled to share in His holiness through the discipline of enduring hardship. Like Mary in the example above, your pain and suffering may consist mostly of economic losses such as: Cost of medical care 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). But in matters of . 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. Common e xamples of emotional pain and suffering include: anxiety. Depending on the issue, you may have strong opinions about it. This means that "pain and suffering" compensation is not intended to compensate for a specific monetary loss, such as a medical bill and lost wages. James 1:2-4 reminds us that trials produce perseverance, which makes us mature and complete. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:4 that God comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.. Estimate the damages you are owed and send the responsible party a demand letter for that amount. Is it right for a Christian to sue? Visit Probe's website. You are learning both the tenderness and the clarity necessary to help sanctify another persons deepest distress. 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. 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. L'Osservatore Romano is the newspaper of the Holy See. ibid.,n. This market value on pain and suffering established by similar cases is a starting point from which lawyers operate. The apostle Paul wrote, We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:89). It can also be helpful to keep a journal documenting your emotional suffering. Christians should benchmark their decision against what they believe God would want them to do. I have overcome the world" ( John 16:33 ). She also loves speaking for MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and Stonecroft Min More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. For Christians, it is important to have a Biblical view of why God allows suffering and how we are to go through it. In these two verses, Paul lists several types of suffering mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. There is no easy answer to this question. 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. 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. That's what suffering will do for us. Emotional distress is a type of 'pain and suffering' damage. 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. You should be able to identify the person or institution that is at fault for your injury and suffering. Solidarity, as the foundation of the whole of existence, is not only sympathy with all, a way of being socially committed and aware that we all belong to the same race, culture, nationality, etc., but is also the experiencing of a bond with all other human beings so deeply within ourselves that it is not a qualification that comes to us as soon as we exist but constitutes our existence itself. In this essay I'll be discussing the value of suffering, an unhappy non-negotiable of life in a fallen world. It further affirms that suffering is a punishment inflicted for self-correction, since good follows evil, leading to conversion and to rebuilding goodness (cf. I would like to introduce you to the concept of Christian arbitration. 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. 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. Medical malpractice is alarmingly common in the United States. This means that pain and suffering is calculated over and above medical expenses at that rate. But take heart! In the end, God always judges our attitudes, and just because something is permissible doesnt mean its the right thing to do. 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. Tertullian said: "Credo quia ineptum".By experiencing relief from evil through suffering, and through that cruelest form of suffering which sums up all imaginable forms of suffering, the Cross, this "ineptum",becomes "aptum",the most just and rational that we can imagine, for it is the only way to experience happiness. I've become more dependent on Him and less on myself."3. 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. Although it is a little imperfect, attorneys will calculate pain and suffering at 1.5 - 4 times the amount of actual damages (costs of the injury / treatment). To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to view this website. Emotional and psychological trauma such as insomnia, fear, depressed mood, and anxiety. According to Jesus, you should settle an argument with an adversary even before you go to court. 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. Karen told Sue she knew of a Christian counselor who did therapy at a reduced rate. Suffering is an expected part of the Christian life. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. This definitive destruction of suffering through suffering leads us to destroy our actual suffering with the whole panoply of means at our disposal, as in the case of the Good Samaritan. 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