DISABILITY
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International Review of Mission looked at the same idea , ‘ People with Disabilities – In Order to Belong , They Need to Be Missed ’.
I wonder how many of us as church leaders actually miss disabled people , or any other group of marginalized people . As a missional message , that should challenge us hugely . We should have a desire to communicate the gospel to this large portion of our population to whom Jesus has come to bring good news . Disabled people within the UK represent 18 % of our population – what a missional opportunity we have . Is there anything remotely close to that percentage in the church you attend or serve at ?
What scripture has to offer disabled people
Before being ordained , I was involved in the national campaign for disabled people to be included within society , it is called the Disability Movement . I spoke to a friend who was also involved with it , and told him that I was going to become a vicar . His reply was to ask why was I ‘ turning to the dark side ’ because the church has done so much damage to people with disabilities : from ‘ deliverance ’ ministry imposed on those with epilepsy and other disabilities , to the exclusion and mistreatment of disabled people . When I talked to him , however , I was able to say that it all depends on how you read scripture , and that there are plenty of great examples within the Bible of how God used people with disabilities . Moses had a stammer ; Jacob received a new identity after wrestling with an angel / God and became Israel with a limp . Paul had his ‘ thorn in the flesh ’ yet God used him mightily for his church .
There is the story of Mephibosheth , lame in both feet , in 2 Samuel 9 , and of how King David welcomes him to
THE STORY EMBRACES AN ATTITUDE OF LOVE FOR THE STRANGER , RATHER THAN THE MORE RESTRICTIVE LOVE FOR NEIGHBOUR . IT ADVOCATES WELCOME FOR THE ALIEN , IT DEMONSTRATES HOW THE LAW , PROPERLY INTERPRETED , OFFERS PROTECTION AND SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED .
come and eat at the king ’ s table . Here is a story of generosity , grace , and invitation into the king ’ s residence . If we were to take that and apply it to Christ in the Luke 14 parable of the great banquet , we see the church in a very different light . Sadly , that has not often been the experience of many people with disabilities .
We see through Isaiah ’ s suffering servant [ Isaiah 53:1-3 ] a description of what the future Messiah would be like . Disabled people experience many of these similarities , and so can relate to the passage , from being viewed as having no beauty to attract others , to being despised and rejected by humanity . Disabled people are familiar with pain and being held in low esteem , and society often views disability as a curse or a punishment , with those who are disabled being seen as stricken and afflicted by God . Certainly , when I was in Malawi , the societal attitude towards disability indeed was that it was a punishment from God . While in our Western , politically correct society , we think it inappropriate to see disability as a punishment from God , this thought often resides below the surface . Yes , there are times when our own sin can cause disability but that is self-inflicted or the result of another person and not a punishment from God . However , the gospel is a message for all , because ‘ we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God .’ [ Romans 3:23 ]
Healing !
I have been a Christian now for about 40 years , and I never felt the need not to have my disability until I became a Christian ! There was this often-unspoken feeling of ‘ not being complete ’, or people saying ‘ just think what God could do with you if you were healed ’. I am a charismatic who believes and has seen God work miracles , in mine and other people ’ s lives . I find the assumption that I am incomplete and should want to be physically healed from my disability offensive . I believe I am created in the image of God and fearfully and wonderfully made [ Psalm 139 ]. My desire is to become more like Christ , as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 , ‘ And we all , who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord ’ s glory , are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory , which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit ’. What would transform me more into the image of Christ is not being able to walk but sinning less . What separates me from God is my sin , not my wheelchair . I have been amazed at God ’ s grace that he should choose to use me for his kingdom . It appears , in his view , that ‘ My grace is sufficient for you , for my power is made perfect in weakness .’ [ 2 Corinthians 12:9 ]
Yet there are some people who desire to be healed by God , and it is our privilege to offer prayer and seek God ’ s response , not to blame and pour on guilt because they have not been healed . Sadly , often people who have sought prayer have been left feeling it is their fault , because they don ’ t have enough faith , or there is some deep unconfessed sin . I believe , first and foremost , that God wants to communicate his love for such a person , in their pain , discomfort and