Biblical Answer

The Problem of Medical Debt

The question of why God allows medical debt to destroy families is a complex and multifaceted issue. From a biblical perspective, God is not a creditor who demands payment from His people. Rather, He is a loving Father who desires a personal relationship with each individual. God's relationship with humanity is not based on debt, but on promise and covenant. As Anselm noted, God became our debtor by promising what He pleased, not by receiving anything (Augustine, Sermon 16).

The Role of Suffering

The problem of medical debt is often tied to the broader issue of suffering in the world. Why does God allow pain and suffering to continue? One possible answer is that God is not a God of debt, but a God of mercy and love. He is not bound by a contractual obligation to provide for His people, but rather He chooses to provide for them out of His own free will. This means that He can choose to allow suffering to continue, even when it seems unjust or unfair. As the Bible says, "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" (Numbers 23:19).

The Sovereignty of God

Ultimately, the question of why God allows medical debt to destroy families is a mystery that may never be fully understood. However, as believers, we can take comfort in the fact that God is sovereign over all things, including the trials and difficulties that we face. He is not a distant or uncaring God, but a loving Father who desires to draw near to us in our suffering. As the Bible says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). This means that even in the midst of suffering, God is working all things together for our good, and for His glory.