Biblical Answer

The Sovereignty of God and the Problem of Medical Debt

The question of why God allows medical debt to destroy families is a complex and deeply personal issue. From a biblical perspective, the answer lies in the sovereignty of God and His role as a ruler rather than a creditor or master. God is not under an absolute indebtedness to humanity, founded on an independent agency or promise. Instead, He is the one who provides satisfaction for the debt of sin that humanity owes.

This perspective is rooted in the theology of Anselm, who argued that God became our debtor by promising what He pleased, not by receiving anything. In this sense, God pays our debt, not by canceling it or by being a creditor who can forgive it, but by suffering for us what He Himself need not suffer at all. This understanding of God's role as a ruler, rather than a creditor or master, is essential to grasping the problem of medical debt. It highlights the fact that God is not bound by the same limitations as humanity and can provide for our needs in ways that we cannot understand.

The Value of Suffering and the Providence of God

The question of why God allows medical debt to destroy families also raises issues about the value of suffering and the providence of God. From a biblical perspective, suffering can be a means of sharing the burdens of others and of providing for their needs. However, this does not mean that suffering is necessarily justified or that God is directly responsible for it. Rather, it highlights the fact that God is a sovereign ruler who can work all things together for good, even in the midst of suffering and hardship. This understanding of God's providence is rooted in the biblical promise that He is a just and justifier of those who trust in Him, and that He will work all things together for the good of those who love Him. (Rom 8:28) Ultimately, the question of why God allows medical debt to destroy families is a complex and deeply personal issue that requires a nuanced and biblical understanding of God's sovereignty and providence.