Are lawsuits unchristian?

[arunangelo]

     The scriptures are very clear about forgiveness and mercy.  In James 2:13 we are told that mercy is above law.  In Matt. 6:14-15 we are told that we would not be forgiven if we do not forgive others.  In the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 6:12) we ask God to forgive us the way we forgive others. In Luke 17:4 Jesus tells us that we must forgive others repeatedly.  In Romans 12: 17-21 Paul tells us to not pay evil with evil, never take revenge, feed our enemy, not allow evil to defeat us and to over come evil with good.  He further tells us in 1Cor. 6:7 that a legal dispute is a sign of our complete failure; and that it is better to be wronged or robbed than to wrong others or rob them.

     In the Old covenant people lived by the laws that were written by letters carved on stone (2 Cor. 3:7).  Therefore, it was, eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Lv. 24:20).  In the New Covenant, we live by the Spirit; which means, the Spirit of God is imprinted on our fleshy hearts (2 Cor. 3:3).  We are therefore, taught (Matt. 5: 39-40; Luke 6: 30; Matt. 5: 44) to offer no resistance to the person who is evil; offer the other cheek when struck on one; if any one sues us for our tunic, hand him our cloak as well; give to everyone who asks and do not demand back what others have taken from us; love our enemies; and pray for those persecute us.

    When we wronged God and rejected His friendship, He did not sue us or take revenge, or condemn us or give up on us or hold resentment against us. On the contrary, because of His love for us, He wanted to save us from death. He therefore, compensated for our sins (that we committed against him), forgave us, and put His life back in us by sacrificing His own. In other words, He the victim, compensated for the crimes, we the convicts, committed against Him by His own life. In fact He even died for those who tortured Him and killed Him. In doing this He showed us that to truly love and forgive, is not only to give up resentment or claim we have against our offenders, but also to compensate for their wrongdoings.  We as Christians should do the same by praying for our offenders and sacrificing our own self in the process of helping them to recover from their wrongful way of life.

  Since God has forgiven us of all our grave offenses we have committed against Him, we must forgive our fellow human beings of their offenses.  This reason is illustrated in the story of the unforgiving servant (Matt. 18:21-34), who owed a very large debt to his master.  His master forgave the entire amount, out of compassion and mercy. The servant however, did not show the same mercy to his fellow servant and sued him for a much smaller debt.  The master therefore, imposed severe punishment of the unforgiving servant.  Since God forgave us of all our sins by sacrificing His own life, how can we ever sue anyone for anything?

[Reba]

Ex 22:9

9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
KJV

The above is just one chapter and verse are posted so the context is easly read.

Scripture shows a repayment for a wronged person. The lawyers today  have taken this way beyond the reach of this verses. Understanding the verses to say something like if you are wronged you have a recorse. They do not imply sueing as a way to 'get rich' or 'hit it big'.

[arunangelo]

In the old Covenant people lived by the laws, that were carved on stone. In the New Covenant we have to live by the Spirit of Christ, which is Divine Mercy. In other words, the heart of redemption is Mercy and forgiveness. Therefore, if we go by the letter of the law, but reject mercy and forgiveness, we reject redemption (Matt. 6: 14,15). Jesus showed us that to truly love and forgive, is not only to give up resentment or claim we have against our offenders, but also to compensate for their wrongdoings. Jesus did not sue those who hurt and killed Him.  He offered them salvation by dying on the cross. He offered the other cheek.  We have only two choices, to live like Jesus did or to reject His life.

[Reba]

In the old Covenant people lived by the laws, that were carved on stone. In the New Covenant we have to live by the Spirit of Christ, which is Divine Mercy. In other words, the heart of redemption is Mercy and forgiveness. Therefore, if we go by the letter of the law, but reject mercy and forgiveness, we reject redemption (Matt. 6: 14,15). Jesus showed us that to truly love and forgive, is not only to give up resentment or claim we have against our offenders, but also to compensate for their wrongdoings. Jesus did not sue those who hurt and killed Him.  He offered them salvation by dying on the cross. He offered the other cheek.  We have only two choices, to live like Jesus did or to reject His life.

Would you have Charle Manson in your home or how about letting Mike Jackson babyset your kids?  There are still laws  and some need to be to letter. Would ya let Ted Bundy date your daughter? Jesus did not stop the crufixion of the others on their crosses, He well could have.

[HeavenIC]

Example of should we sue?

My father in law (FIL) went to the VA Hospital to have open heart surgery approx. 4 yrs ago.  We have no proof but when we got to see him after in ICU he was bruised on one side and had a goose egg knot on the back of his head.  My mother in law (MIL) who just happens to be a registered nurse asked him did he know how it got there.  Of course he doesn't, he just had major surgery!  We seem to think that they may have dropped him moving him from the operating table to a gurney.  Anyway FIL says he won't sue VA because they are taking care of him.   Fast forward to this March, 2005.  FIL goes to VA for routine colonoscopy (SP?).  MIL asks them to check his heart because of past surgery, they don't, while having polyps removed without any type of anesthesia, he proceeds to have another heart attack!.  His heart stops, they bring him back, and put him in ICU.  While in ICU, his care is sloppy, nurses try to give medicine incorrectly, MIL is watching and stopping careless nurses, who are getting mad at her in the meantime.  FIL is having trouble breathing due to fluid on lungs, but nothing really is being done for him.  Approximately 2 nights later, a nurse deems FIL able to be placed out on floor because he can tell her his name.  She puts him in a regular room with another man and leaves him.  He starts to not be able to breathe and rings his bell but no one comes to help him.  The man next to him calls for help and finally someone comes and they put him back in ICU.  MIL wakes up from sleep worried and calls hospital only to find out all of this is taking place.  VA says they can't do anything for him for two weeks and sends him home.  2 days later he cant breathe and hasnt' slept in about a week, so MIL takes him to closest hospital to us, who draw fluid off of lung and look at the damage to heart and say he needs more heart surgery.  They keep him and do surgery nextday.  VA turns down paying local hospital, saying it was not an emergency.  It takes about two hours to get to VA hospital from our house.  Hospital bill is now 140,000.00.  Should he sue VA to pay local hospital?  I would think so, just for what they owe him in pain and suffering, he should never owe for going to the VA ever again.

Now should he sue for millions of dollars? No, but if they did him this way, how many others get the same treatment?  If they would have taken care of him in the first place, he wouldn't have had to go to the other hospital.

Please pray for them about this situation, the local hospital is wanting their money soon, and I think it's a crying shame that it turned out like it has.

[Soldier4Christ]

HeavenIC,

There are many ways for proper redress through the VA. First of all contact the VSO (Veteran Service Officer). There is one available at most VA Clinics/Hospitals. The VSO knows the proper procedures to follow and usually has a lot of clout to get proper results in these areas. Trying to sue the VA usually takes a long time in court and gets you nowhere. It is better to get the VSO on your side who knows all the ins and outs of the system.

In addition to this there are other ways to get assistance besides the VA to get bills paid without resorting to lawsuits. Most civilian hospitals have a social worker that can help you find the necessary help in getting the bills paid.

I have used the VA facilities for many years and have not had any major problems with them. When I did it was a matter of just staying calm and using the available resources for proper redress.

Besides using the VSO, there are Veterans organizations such as the DAV and VFW that can help. I also urge people to contact their congressmen to try to improve VA benefits and care.

[sabrina]

Man that VA story is scary?  But that is how the government is......they pay high salariesssss to people who could care less about the vets in their care. its a shame.

[Soldier4Christ]

Man that VA story is scary?  But that is how the government is......they pay high salariesssss to people who could care less about the vets in their care. its a shame.

Not all government facilities are like that. I have received some of the best care from VA facilities by some of the most caring people. Yet I received some pretty lousy care from a non-va hospital. It all depends on the people at that facility.

[M]

1Cor 6  refers to lawsuits among believers.  The issue addressed was when one Christian brother was sueing another Christian by a civil court of unbelievers.  

I did remember one civil suit where a girl was sueing the priest at a Catholic church because she was not allowed to be an altar girl.  She claimed sexual discrimination.  The Bishop had forbidden girls from serving mass.  

Other lawsuits are by people in wheelchairs who decide that their church should install automatic door openers and elevators when the church can't afford it.  There might be a wheelchair ramp but they have decided that is isn't good enough for their wheelchair.  

There are many lawsuits today bankrupting churches because someone says that they were abused thirty, forty or even fifty years ago in a church or church run school.  Many of the abusers are dead and some of the schools no longer exist.  The plaintiffs' motives are mostly to receive money and revenge, not justice.