The original version of this article is found at www.probe.org/the-value-of-suffering/. 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. Often times, yes. In Christ the enigma of pain and death is revealed. 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. Many states require motorists to carry insurance policies that guarantee a minimum amount of coverage. Should I sue them for my pain and suffering? To respond, the Pope leaves the areaof enigma and moves on to that of mystery. 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. Pain is inevitable because we live in a fallen world. The disciples experienced two different storms out on the lake. 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. We don't have a choice whether we will sufferour choice is to go through it by ourselves or with God. 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. First, choose your state: . He does not attempt to do so with the nebulous obscurity of myth but penetrates to the very core of the Christian faith. California, for example, limits non-economic damages such as pain and suffering to $250,000 in malpractice suits. The expense in terms of time, money and emotional outlay usually offsets any potential financial gain that might be expected from the case. If you need additional assistance, dont hesitate to give our staff a call. There is no such thing as pointless pain in the life of the child of God. One of the effects of suffering is to loosen our grasp on this life, because we shouldn't be thinking that life in a fallen world is as wonderful as we sometimes think it is. 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. James 1:2-4 reminds us that trials produce perseverance, which makes us mature and complete. Visit Probe's website. That's what suffering will do for us. 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. Determining If You Can Sue for Pain and Suffering Damages. My weakness made me more like a fragile, easily broken window than a solid brick wall. if You take me through today . Painful as they are, all our deaths and endings hold lessons we cannot live wisely without. It is only the dazzling light, its excessive brightness, that prevents us from seeing anything in front of us, and it is in this that we car make out the mystery of suffering. Suffering is in our lives because we are living in a broken world. They may also target those who are less educated or financially struggling, knowing that they will be more likely to take legal action. Let me explain. 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). Before you can recover any compensation for your injuries, you must be able to prove liability against the defendant. That means the defendant must have: Owed a duty to you; . ibid.,n. As we read in Proverbs, we are warned not to bring a matter to a court hastily. What happens when one Christian sues another Christian? Suffering can make us long for the new heaven and the new earth where God will set all things right again. c. an ancient gift of the gods. 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. 12). It's difficult to put a value on a person's mental and emotional well-being because it's purely subjective. 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. But God brings suffering in our lives for the sake of our eternal joy yes, even glory. 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?". When doctors said he would probably lose the sight in his right eye, Mr. Norfleet said, "Losing an eye is a small thing. A good beginning point is in the psalms of lament. Since it originates in privation, the inevitable question is: "Why did this deprivation occur, what is its cause?". The simple answer is yessometimes. Christian K. Lassen II View Profile . But not always. 1. ibid.,n. Reading Time: 8 minutes By Mark W. Hamilton The Bible helps us answer the question. Our understanding of the inevitability of suffering does not mean that we should regard it with complacency. grief. Used with permission. It is far from easy to define the cause of suffering or of the evil connected with it. Pain and suffering is a type of non-economic damage that the victim has suffered. 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. 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. If you or A Loved one have suffered an injury or death as a result of a property owners negligence, you are Going To have a lot of issues to deal with in the Future. All forms of pain and suffering that can be assigned a dollar value counts as economic loss. Serve the defendants notice of your lawsuit. Lewis seemed to have a good grasp on this. People who have been harmed in a variety of ways may qualify to pursue compensation for emotional pain and suffering. Home Family QAs Get Help Family Q&A Life Changes Q&As Christians and Lawsuits. Exodus 21:27. 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. 2023 Forbes Media LLC. Mental Pain and Suffering. 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. Christians were murdered, women raped and sold into slavery along with their children, and whatever property they owned was either destroyed or stolen from them. Jan's suffering has given her an appreciation of the reality of heaven, and she's been changed forever. It's all part of a well-planned courtship. Thanks to the Greek language however, a distinction is made particularly in the New Testament between suffering and evil. 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." 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. Jesus himself deeply disappointed . I believe that each person needs to examine their own heart and decide what is right for them. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 reminds us that we are "destined for trials." 9:10, May 1, 1995, 1. 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. Sally's per-diem is $80 x 30 days for a total of $2,400 for her pain and suffering. Lawyer directory. 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. Injured people sometimes use claims related to pain as a way to justify higher payouts than those warranted by actual damages caused by negligence or wrongdoing; these types of lawsuits are generally referred to as pain and suffering cases because their goal is simply to receive compensation for an injury-related problem without regard for how much damage was actually done (i.e., whether or not someone was hurt). ibid.,n. I have an appreciation of heaven gained from a different experience. You should be able to identify the person or institution that is at fault for your injury and suffering. The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. God whispers to us in our pleasurebut shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.". 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. Pain is based on personal experiences and the severity of a persons injuries. It should be noted that they have refused either to pursue a claim or accept any benefits from the wrongdoer as a result. The Pope enables us to penetrate into Revelation in order to move on to ascension in the mystery. The point of Job's trials was to enable heavenly beings to see God glorified in Job. I think that the more important question should be, Am I bringing glory to God? If you are not sure if your decision is the best one, then ask a trusted Christian friend or family member who has known you for a long time. First, consider the following: This passage tells us that we should be willing to forgive others just as God has forgiven us. The Lord is creating for Himself a bride with sterling character, but it's not much fun getting there. Christ provides an answer to the problem of suffering by offering his unreserved availability and compassion; his presence is effective: he gives help and gives himself (cf. Emotional distress is a type of 'pain and suffering' damage. To enter into the mystery, let us be guided by God himself. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How Can Two Walk Together Except They Agree? After many sleepless nights wracked by various kinds of pain, my friend Jan now knows what she was saved from. How Often Should You Take Communion According to The Bible. Then we can turn around and walk alongside others in their pain, showing the compassion that our own suffering has produced in us. The Parable of the Good Samaritan corroborates what Christ said about the Last Judgment; "I was sick and you visited me". Can I sue for emotional distress after car accident? Love is the only key to deciphering the enigma of pain and suffering: love that can transform nothingness into full reality. Sometimes we hurt so much we can't pray. Let us now try to describe suffering. 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. Not being judged is a great comfort to those who hurt. Log in. There's another aspect of bringing comfort to those in pain. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. I believe that insurance companies and corporations should be held accountable for their negligence, but what is more important is the attitude of a Christian as well as his or her submission to Gods will as a Christian. By offering a free consultation, they can get your information and market other services to you. Theology of suffering is the study of what the Bible says about suffering while considering who God is and the current state of humanity. I've been in your shoes." Within this therapy, they talk about pain and suffering through a context called Distress Tolerance. In other types of cases you may need to file a lawsuit or have your attorney share the merits of your case with the person or company who harmed you before they will offer a settlement. Those who hurt we are living in a fallen world pain ; it is His megaphone to rouse a world.. 1:2-4 reminds us that trials produce perseverance, which makes us mature and complete turn around walk... 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