When doctors said he would probably lose the sight in his right eye, Mr. Norfleet said, "Losing an eye is a small thing. 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. 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). 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. Scripture makes it pretty clear that brothers and sisters in Christ should not be suing one another (1 Corinthians 6:1-11). Consequently, the cause of suffering is an evil; so, suffering and evil can be identified with each other. It is victory over death. Let me explain. Pope John Paul II does not conceal the fact that suffering is something complex, enigmatic and intangible that must be treated with full respect and compassion and even with awe; but this does not justify the attempt to understand it, since only in this way will it be possible to come to terms with it. This is a huge mistake. ibid.,n. 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. 2 Corinthians 1:9 tells us that hardships and sufferings happen "so that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.". For I . While I Believe that the bible does not directly state that Christians Are to hold corporations and wrongdoers accountable on behalf of others, it is consistent with the focus on justice that scripture places on the law to hold that View. It is God the Father who provides the answer to the problem of suffering: it consists in the fact that he "gives" his Son to the world. Suffering and transgression were held to be the same, at least it was believed that suffering was caused by transgression. 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. If God ordained it, then perhaps we should endure it in full strength. My weakness made me more like a fragile, easily broken window than a solid brick wall. Jan's suffering has given her an appreciation of the reality of heaven, and she's been changed forever. In fact, our suffering is a sign of God's love. Trials are nothing . Can I sue for emotional distress after car accident? 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 psalmist learned this lesson as he wrote in Psalm 119:67: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. We keep wanting to go our own way, pretending that we are God. When a member is hurting, the church applies the bandages; when a member is down, the church encourages; when a member is in need, the church comes alongside to help. 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. Each of these are different ways that we can suffer, and when suffering comes, often several of these types of suffering are involved. The Gospel According to Matthew described the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness as a temptation to worldly power. Suffering makes us homesick for heaven. In God's sovereign scheme, pain and suffering are not only powerless to destroy the believer, they can result in a refined, resilient faith that perseveres and spurs others on in the same way, until we see our Lord and Savior face to face. The average payout for an injury from a car accident is $23,234 according to the Insurance Information Institute. or the next few minutes." Matthew 5:41-42 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. As for evil, it is a deprivation; it has no positive value in . 1:4) because we have experienced the reality of the Holy Spirit being there for us, walking alongside us in our pain. 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. God points to the peaceful attitude of suffering people to teach others about Himself. You might be using an unsupported or outdated browser. Solidarity belongs to divinized human life as a gift received which takes part in the mystery itself of God's very life. [deleted] Additional comment actions. A person should try to settle his claim before a lawsuit is filed. 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. Then we can turn around and walk alongside others in their pain, showing the compassion that our own suffering has produced in us. My friend Pete buried his wife a few years ago after a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. This is why the mystery of pain shifts from pain in itself to the mystery of solidarity. New York, meanwhile, has no caps on any damages, economic, non-economic or punitive. Cheryl's in-laws, both beset by lingering illnesses, couldn't understand why they couldn't just die and get it over with. . According to 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, lawsuits against believers are not permitted. The Purpose of Pain. 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). 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. This is not to deny that, if the issue is significant enough, it can sometimes make sense to resort to the legal system. 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.. I got facts in Sunday School, but I learned faith through trusting God in difficult circumstances. our 99 Self-Care Techniques for Christians, How God Used My Struggles with Scrupulosity to Teach Me His Amazing Grace. We find ourselves at the heart of the Christian mystery, inaccessible except through an experience of it: no one who does not know it can prove its efficacy or find its solution. 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. You have firsthand experience of both his sustaining grace and his purposeful design. The first thing you need to determine is whether a wrong has been committed and by whom. She loves teaching women and laughing, and if those two can be combined, all the better. 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. 12). 1. The average slip and fall settlement is between $15,000 and $45,000 for total damages. He has kept you through pain; he has reshaped you more into his image. Pain and suffering are subjective in nature. Obviously, if a Christian is suing you, it would be preferable to work out some kind of arbitration, as described above. He then briefly outlines the context of suffering, speaking of the vast field of suffering and of the suffering person. . Log in. He redeems all of it for His glory and our blessing. 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. Let's face it, left to ourselves we are a dirty, messy, fleshly people, and we desperately need to be made pure. California, for example, limits non-economic damages such as pain and suffering to $250,000 in . Past performance is not indicative of future results. If you have been injured or harmed in a situation such as a car accident, you will file a claim with the insurance company. Less serious injuries still can bring large settlements depending on the length of hospitalization, physical therapy, and counseling that is involved. In a lawsuit for personal injury, there are two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages. 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. Paul means that the court system exists for matters of this life that are outside the church. Copyright 2023 Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. Irondale, Alabama. The original version of this article is found at www.probe.org/the-value-of-suffering/. 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). In this essay I'll be discussing the value of suffering, an unhappy non-negotiable of life in a fallen world. 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. Nevertheless, if this brother refuses to listen to them, then this matter needs to be referred to the church for further action. 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. This aspect of suffering should drive us to long for a better . Whatever brings you closer to God is a blessing. In addition to the comments above, you should also know that you are likely obligated to arbitrate your claim with Kaiser rather than sue in court. 4. Reveal number tel: (855) 637-2987 . This is a Trinitarian and Christological solidarity in which the absolute fullness of life is attained through death. As we read in Proverbs, we are warned not to bring a matter to a court hastily. I have overcome the world" ( John 16:33 ). It gets us closer to what we were created to becompletely dependent on God. 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! The perfect Plan A of God's beautiful, suffering-free creation was ruined when Adam and Eve fell. But many times, pain and suffering settlements are calculated using one of two formulas used by insurance companies. You want to find an attorney who knows the jurisdiction in which your lawsuit will be filed and understands insurance laws and damages caps. Our culture disdains weakness, but our frailty is a sign of God's workmanship in us. The mystery of suffering is contained in the mystery of Love, in the mystery of the Spirit. A good beginning point is in the psalms of lament. ", Sometimes our suffering isn't a consequence of our actions or even someone else's. One first needs to frame the enigma correctly and begin to seek its cause. 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. Estimate the damages you are owed and send the responsible party a demand letter for that amount. Through Christ's solidarity with al humanity the human pain of all time; was suffered by Christ in his passion and his redeeming death. People who have been harmed in a variety of ways may qualify to pursue compensation for emotional pain and suffering. 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. . ibid.,n. It is quite understandable that this would happen. Taken from: L'Osservatore Romano Weekly Edition in English 7 September 2005, page 9. Her per diem is $192 x 30 days for a total of $5,760 for her pain . The Weekly Edition in English is published for the US by: The Cathedral Foundation L'Osservatore Romano English Edition 320 Cathedral St. Baltimore, MD 21201 Subscriptions: (410) 547-5315 Fax: (410) 332-1069 lormail@catholicreview.org, EWTN | 5817 Old Leeds Rd. 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. The Lord Jesus has a big job to do, changing His ragamuffin church into a glorious bride worthy of the Lamb. Pain is inevitable; none of us is able to opt out of it. d. a place where humans were banished from the. A personal injury claim is governed by the same principles of compensation as a workers compensation claim. The Holy Father tells us that in Old Testament biblical language, suffering and evil are at first identified with each other. The Pope enables us to penetrate into Revelation in order to move on to ascension in the mystery. But getting there is painful in the Lord's "laundry room." This word pair names one of the most difficult problems facing Christian faith and practice today. And from the Cross, not by virtue of the Cross but by virtue of the Father's omnipotence and the Spirit's solidarity and Love, the Incarnate Word recreates within us the authentic Adam, the man of truth, the model planned by God from all eternity so that we might be authentically human. Avvo has 97% of all lawyers in the US. A Christian may endlessly contend for God's existence through the intelligibility of the universe, the historicity of Scripture, or the . Suffering has taught my friend the lesson of total, humble dependence on God. California, for example, limits non-economic damages such as pain and suffering to $250,000 in malpractice suits. 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. 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). A personal injury claim is governed by the same principles of compensation as a workers' compensation claim. 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. The reason is because the standards, values, philosophies and culture of the world are opposed to Biblical values. Pain and suffering is one of the 76 Important factors affecting injury claims and settlements. To respond, the Pope leaves the areaof enigma and moves on to that of mystery. To determine whether you can sue for pain and suffering damages, you must first look at liability in your case. So often, people wonder what kind of cruel God would deliberately make a world so full of pain and suffering. Mediation or arbitration through the church or a professional arbiter offer pathways to reconciliation that seem far more compatible with the principles Jesus lays down in Matthew 18:15-20. Obviously, if a Christian is suing you, it would be preferable to work out some kind of arbitration, as described above. Some suffering is due to our sinful and wrong choices, but some is due simply to the world being fallen. All Rights Reserved. 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. . As painful as it is, suffering strips away the distractions of life. Suffering prepares us to minister comfort to others who suffer. The starting point for the Christian understanding of suffering is the messianic self-understanding of Jesus himself. The subjectiveness of the process underscores the importance of documenting any and all information pertaining to your case. The reason His strength can shine through us is because we know God better through suffering. Economic damages: $5,000. Karen told Sue she knew of a Christian counselor who did therapy at a reduced rate. 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). Prior to beginning any legal action, we should also take into account the emotional and financial costs associated with it. (See 1 Corinthians 6:12). Pastor Dick Bacon once said, "If this life were easy, we'd just love it too much. Since Christ is the most intimate model for every person, the Holy Spirit, the Love of God and redemptive suffering enter into the actual objective, and we might say ontological, constitution of humanity. His one aim is the production of saints. Resources But take heart! If we turn toward God in our pain, He can use our suffering to mature our faith. Suffering produces growth and maturity (James 1:2-4). 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? 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. This article is also available in Spanish. Three topics, among others, that the Pope addresses in his Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris with regard to suffering as a mystery are: "evil and suffering", "Christ takes on suffering", and "the value of human suffering". 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). 7). Evil is sin and suffering, death. God whispers to us in our pleasurebut shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.". 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. Adapted from Complete Guide to Faith-Based Family Finances by Ron Blue. Friend Pete buried his wife a few years ago after a battle with Lou Gehrig 's disease the lesson total. Starting point for the next time I comment anyone forces you to go one mile go! Being fallen counseling that is involved Pope leaves the areaof enigma and moves on to that of mystery and. Be using an unsupported or outdated browser church into a glorious bride worthy the. Must first look at liability in your case humans were banished from the it gets us closer to what were... Her per diem is $ 192 x 30 days for a better at www.probe.org/the-value-of-suffering/ wife. 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