Saturday, December 20, 2008
Help me...I'll Sue You
This was predictable. It seems that now in our sue happy culture if you actually follow Jesus' command to help those in need, you could be sued. That "prophetic" movie 'The Incredibles' had a great scene in which Mr. Incredible saves a man who jumps from the top of a building. The man is alive, but has some minor injuries. He sues him and wins. This sets off a slew of other lawsuits against other superheroes until all of them must go into hiding.
You can post anonymously if you like, but I'm curious: Knowing that you could be sued by someone you stop to help, will that cause you to hesitate more than you already do?
HT: Ben
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3 comments:
Question:
Knowing that you could be sued by someone you stop to help, will that cause you to hesitate more than you already do?
Response:
("more than you already do"!)
I think I hesitate so much already that this has little effect. It's only by God's grace that I ever help anyone - beyond my million (now million-and-one) excuses.
On the side...
This is similar to the warning that was given during CPR training - to carry a plastic barrier at all times in case you ever need to give CPR to a person with a communicable disease.
I think some states have laws to punish those who witness a person in need and fail to assist. Admittedly, I think this info is largely based on a Seinfeld episode.
I really hesitated to post this because it is so negative, but I decided to any way.
How come we fear what man can do to us and, usually, have little or no fear of God?
It is as if we say, "God, I know what you want me to do, but I might get sued (or hurt, or embarrassed, or ridiculed, etc...)." We may even comfort ourselves, and others, by saying things like, "God loves you, He wouldn't want you to get _______ (fill in the blank)."
Jesus said: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."(Mat 10:28 ESV)
Gospel anyone?
Tony: "negative"? Sounds more like light in the darkness.
If we ask ourselves, "Whom do I fear: God or man?", then we also ask ourselves, "Who is my authority: God or self?".
Jesus made this distinction repeatedly (e.g. Matthew 4, Matthew 10, John 17).
(Skip to the "***" below if you'd rather skip this personal comment)
I fail in this distinction. In this example of emergency assistance, I often fail to serve those in need and instead serve myself. Here are some of the thoughts that come to mind when seeing a car on the side of the road...
First, when seeing a car on the side of the road, there's a twitch to turn the steering wheel to go help. This is credited to the Holy Spirit - I know in my nature I would continue driving in ignorance.
Then, in the small window of just a few seconds before driving past the person, these thoughts:
"Who doesn't have a cell phone these days? - he can call for help."
"Even if I stop, they usually say everything is OK."
"I can't be late."
"My wife told me not to stop for strangers."
"What if this is some wierdo waiting to beat on someone with a tire iron?"
"What can I possibly do to help them (my mechanical skills are limited to changing a tire and filling the gas tank)?"
"If I stop, traffic will keep me from getting back on the road."
And in that moment of doubt, I pass the person - continuing to drive toward my destination.
Then, sometimes just a few seconds later and sometimes the next day or so: regret. Regret that I should have helped but failed. Regret that even in this small thing I sought to serve myself instead of my neighbor. Regret that should boil into fear of failing God, but that is instead frozen.
***
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent."
-Revelation 3:14-19(NIV)
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
-Romans 7:24-25(NIV)
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