Reading the April 7th and May 5th
posts will give you background to understand this one better. This post continues with more specific
concerns and personal experiences on the topic.
In Part 2 I
discussed the devaluation to human life and lowering of quality of life as
evidenced by the acceptance of abortion in the past few decades. The trial last
month of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell brings to the light some of
the darkness surrounding the abortion industry. The formal charges centered
around the deaths of four babies who were born and could have survived had they been given medical attention and the
death of a mother who overdosed on drugs administered by an untrained
assistant. Emergency personnel trying to save the mother's life were barricaded
from entry, at least in part to hide the evil proceedings going on inside the
building. Many say these types of
conditions are the norm, not the exception, for abortion facilities. If death is intended as the outcome for the
baby, why should we be surprised of the unsanitary and illegal practices of
abortuaries?
In a
similar line of thinking, if our hearts become callous toward the plight of
preborn children being treated unjustly, abused, and killed in their mother's
womb, why would it surprise us that injustice, abuse, and social ills in general would be occurring in greater
numbers than ever in our society?
Three thousand years later, the truth of Psalm 41 still commands our
attention: "Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers
him in times of trouble" (v1).
The strength of a community is known by its weakest link. There is a direct connection between
genuinely helping the poor and needy and God's blessing and favor resting on a
community. I believe God calls his
people (in our nation) to confess and repent for not taking this truth
seriously enough (see previous posts).
Acceptance of abortion has led to
the slippery slope of devaluing life and other things like euthanasia, infanticide,
respect for gender of birth, and even the sacredness of marriage. Some people
groups have been affected more than others. It is commonly recognized that 70% of abortion facilities are located in
so-called 'minority neighborhoods.'
Certain ethnicities have been targeted more that others.
The casualness of abortion has also
contributed greatly to a decline in love and respect for post-birth persons
with disabilities. Lives not worth
saving in the womb has translated into lives not esteemed merely for their
humanness.
Pre-born children fit the category of persons with
disabilities as well since their abilities to survive outside the womb are not
developed. In God's sight, worthfulness
has nothing to do with ability Romams
12 1-2 reminds us that offering our
body to God is a spiritual act of worship.
All we have to offer is what God gave us to offer. Psalm 139 tells us that He created us and
formed us as he wills. Therefore, our
body as He created it should be respected and valued. This view of our body is in contrast to a world view with
emphasis being placed on performance and productivity.
As a person with a visual impairment
I am particularly aware of, and identify closely with, people in
underprivileged classes. Society’s attitude towards people with disabilities is
generally demeaning and lacking inclusively.
People with disabilities are generally viewed as “needy” only, instead
of valuable contributors who possess a piece of what is needed for the
community as a whole to thrive. Unfortunately, the Church seems to be as guilty
as the society at large in the failure to provide people with disabilities
dignity, opportunity, equality and empowerment. If the civil rights struggle to
improve conditions for people with disability is compared to the civil rights
movement of the ’60s—Rosa Parks being asked to give up her seat on the bus for
a white person— might be compared to a person with a disability being told they
shouldn’t be trying to board the bus. Lack of employment opportunities, poverty,
and social isolation are common place and at much higher rates among this group
than the public at large. There are some wonderful people doing some great
things to address these problems. I would be remiss in failing to acknowledge
and thank these persons. On the other hand, much of the assistance offered is
patronizing because it fails to include the participation and contributions of
persons with disabilities themselves.
By default, as a member of the
“disability community,” I have become an advocate forced to take occasionally
unpopular positions on matters in the community at large. This is not a
position I would choose, but by God’s grace I can help others bear their
burden, to some degree at least. For
example, it took about three years for the process of installing an Accessible
Pedestrian Signal (APS) at a dangerous traffic intersection in our local
town. Safety concerns; in general seem
to receive more favorable attention for correction when they do not involve
specific concerns for the safety of
persons with disabilities. Many communities flat out refuse to cooperate with
accommodations for persons with disabilities.
I mention all this because participation in society as part of an
“oppressed class” creates even more opportunities to understand and practice
the grace of forgiveness and other topics of Refuge and healing.
Jesus’ teachings consistently
contrasted the physical realm with the spiritual. Most of the physical healings
recorded in the gospels were performed with a direct message of spiritual
healing. Jesus healed peoples’ eyesight to demonstrate the spiritual blindness
of people of the day (particularly the religious). Our generation is no less
“blind.” We are blind to the bitterness, resentment and blame in our hearts.
Even God’s people are often blind to the power of forgiveness, and the world of
freedom waiting outside the walls of the prison of darkness. “The most pathetic
person in the world is someone who has sight but has no vision” (Helen Keller).
Most profoundly, Jesus communicates
this in the story of the man born blind that is healed in John chapter nine. I
think many miss the main point of the story explained in the last few verses.
“Jesus said ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the
blind will see and those who see will become blind.’ Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked,
‘What? Are we blind too?’ Jesus said,
‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you
can see, your guilt remains.’” (John 9:39-41)
Blindness is the spiritual condition of those unable to
surrender to God the right to judge the guilt of offense. Jesus opens spiritual
eyes. Jesus only frees those from debtor’s prison who first see their captive
condition. Those who think they see well enough without Christ’s intervention,
are doomed to a life characterized by blindness. The parts of our heart not yet
surrendered to Christ for His
judgment will grow like a cataract gradually creating greater degrees of
blindness. There is no neutral territory. We allow the eyes of our heart to be
opened wider to God’s message of forgiveness, overtaking the darkness, or we
choose to close the eyes of our heart (being content in unforgiveness),
surrendering to darkness.
In the story mentioned above the
physically blind man was accused by religious people of both having some sort
of sin in his life, and not having enough faith to be healed (physically). They
became trapped into thinking their physical sight qualified them to judge the
“blind” man’s spiritual condition.
Hence Jesus warned, “now that you claim you can see, your guilt
remains.” Jesus was interested in
healing the “whole person.” Understanding and practicing forgiveness is the
centerpiece of spiritual vision and peoples’ freedom in Christ. I have
experienced an incredible amount of healing in my own life. As I have allowed
God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to change my heart from the inside out, my
responses to life circumstances improve; past, present and future. Triggers
from past hurts no longer have the intensity they once did. Fellowship with God
is more intimate because many blocks have been removed. The future looks
brighter as God multiplies the seeds of my repentance (from ungodly judgments)
to yield an increased harvest of good fruit.
I hope that something I may write serves to equip, challenge and motivate you
to take the next step deeper in your commitment to restoring
justice for those losing their lives to abortion,
infanticide,
and euthanasia. And I pray, that the
church will strengthen
its resolve in the areas of teaching our children moral responsibility,
cultivating family relationships, responding to people with
disease, injury, or disability, and
helping the many emotionally and
spiritually malnourished people whose needs can only be met through the life-changing
power of Jesus Christ.
Luke 19:10
says that Jesus, "came to seek and to save that which was lost"
(NASB). Everyone experiences losses in
life. Losses are painful and keep us
mindful of our need for a Savior who has sought us out, and given us the
ability to be restored. The pain of
physical loss is nothing in comparison to the eternal loss of separation from
God. All are born into a condition of spiritual disability. We choose to live in darkness (dis-ability),
or we choose God's grace (his-ability).
I pray that you may know the enabling power of Christ to meet you at
your point of spiritual, physical, or emotional disability. "I pray that
out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit
in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:16-17).
Note: The book Escaping the Pain of Offense:
Empowered to Forgive from the Heart discusses themes of dealing with
disappointments, offense and finding freedom in forgiveness. This book is designed to help people
(especially in the Christian faith) to
discover and dislodge things in life that lead to defeat. Don't miss out on
your chance to use this book as a helpful tool in discovering Refuge in Christ.
It can be purchased by clicking here:
http://bluerockbnb.com/healing/book_main.htm . If you get anywhere near
Pennsylvania for vacation or on business, be sure to look us up for lodging
at http://bluerockbnb.com
by Ed Hersh, Blue Rock BnB Healing Ministry
