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Talk for Disability Awareness Sunday. It is said that one in ten people in our country has a disability, but almost all of us have a minor disability of some kind or other. In New Zealand, people with disabilities make up 20% of the population (New Zealand Census, 2001). The challenge for the church is that this group of people is generally not represented within its population. When we look at the Scriptures we find that this lack of inclusion of people with disabilities is not in line with the teachings and practices of Jesus. Even in the Old Testament it is clear that those with disabilities hold a special place in the heart of God. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" (Isaiah 58:6-7, NIV). Jesus himself demonstrated a keen interest in people with disabilities in his work and ministry. Time after time he is found curing the sick and reaching out to the disabled. On the occasion of his first public appearance (recorded in Luke 4:16-30) Jesus to sums up his ministry and mission on earth by saying: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19, NRSV). So we see that the ministry and mission of Jesus was closely connected to people with disabilities and there is a strong link between miracles of healing and preaching the Gospel. Furthermore, the disciples (and other followers of Jesus) were commissioned by Jesus to carry on this task. In the book of Acts which records the life of the early church, we find that the healing of illness and disability occurs principally in the context of mission (e.g. Acts 3:1-4:22; 9:32-35, 36-42; 14:8-18; 16:16-18; 19:11-12; 28:7-10). Spiritual "gifts of healing" are mentioned in 1Corinthians 12:9 and Prayer for healing is greatly encouraged (James 5:14-16). We also learn in the New Testament that a number of Jesus’ most faithful followers had disabilities of one kind or another. Timothy suffered from "frequent ailments" (1 Timothy 5:23); Trophimus was at some point too ill to travel and had to be left behind in Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20). The apostle Paul himself in 2 Corinthians 12:9 records the presence of a thorn in his flesh, possibly eye trouble (Galatians 4:13-15). Paul came to see suffering and disablities in theological terms that are helpful for us today. Namely, that the reversing of human ideas of power is a distinguishing characteristic of God's activity. In fact Paul invites all Christians to recognize and embrace their weaknesses and to find in them the source of their life in Christ rather than to look to their own abilities (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). "but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (NRSV). This is a valuable lesson that people with disabilities remind the wider community of: that each person ultimately has strengths and weaknesses and it is in our weaknesses that we learn to rely on Jesus and others to assist us and God is able to use our weaknesses for good if we work with him. It is thought that Paul’s thorn was possibly the reason that he went to Galatia ie to receive treatment there and so became the reason that he was able to take the gospel to the Galatians. His illness gave the people of Galatia an opportunity to express care for Paul and a rich relationship grew between them. Furthermore it is often the people who overcome the most extraordinary levels of the perceived limitations of suffering or disability that provide the greatest witness and source of inspiration. And we are yet again reminded that strength of character speaks louder than perceived ability or disability. Jesus passed on his mission and ministry to his disciples, and because of this I believe he will hold His Church responsible for the way it includes, reaches out to and meets the needs of those with disabilities both within its community and in the wider community also. This talk is based on visionnetwork position paper Found on the vision network website for Disability Sunday http://www.vision.org.nz/ Blessed are you who take the time to listen to difficult speech, for you help us to know if we can persevere we can be understood. Blessed are you who walk with us in public places and ignore the stares of strangers, for in your companionship we find havens of relaxation. Blessed are you who never bid us to “Hurry Up” and more blessed you who do not snatch our tasks from our hands to do them for us, for often we need time rather than help. Blessed are you who stand behind us as we enter new and untried ventures, for our failures will be out weighed by the times when we surprise ourselves and you. Blessed are you who ask for our help, for our greatest need is to be needed. Blessed are you who help us with the graciousness or Christ, who do not bruise the reed or quench the flax, for often we need the help we cannot ask for. Blessed are you when by all these things you ensure the thing that makes us individuals is not our peculiar muscles, nor our wounded nervous system, nor our difficulties in learning, but in the God-given self which no infirmity can confine. Rejoice and be exceeding glad and know that you have given us reassurance that could never be spoken in words, for you deal with us as Christ dealt with all His own children. |
