This is what John wrote. He put into words (better than I could have) exactly how we feel. When people see Ethans helmet they take it upon themselves to tell us what we are doing wrong, and how we need to fix our son. Anyhow here is his story: So I’m in the parking lot of the church we’ve attended with family for the last several weeks with white cane in tow. This guy and his wife (who I later learn are first time visitors; never been to this church before) call out to me from about 15 feet away, “Sir excuse me, can I pray for you?” Of course if you were me, this has happened many times before. The cane is not just a symbol of blindness or independence, but for many Christians it is a symbol that my body is not fully abled and Satan has robbed me of the full life God intended for me (this was almost said verbatim by this man who called out to me in his eventual prayer). I should have just refused the prayer, but he droned on. I looked at him after he finished and said, “I need to say something and I hope it helps you in the future. I love Jesus. He made me how he wanted to make me and I love who I am. I am a blind missionary from Nepal who has a robust theology of disability. God’s power is made perfect in weakness. We live in a broken world. And I am weary, many people are weary of Christians feeling a deep need for our healing because we carry a white cane. You need to be careful my friend and understand that this is the life we lead.” Almost without flinching, he and his wife tried to say how they pray for people all the time randomly and then the man asked me to consider John 10:10 (which I quoted before he could get it off his tongue) “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy but I have come to give life to the full.” What a way to live. A theology and worldview that says all will be healed and problems in this life will be eliminated through the cross. This world is full of trial and tribulation as promised by Jesus. I am tired. . . many are so, so tired of ministry approaches that are the equivalent of a drive-by shooting that care nothing about the people they superficially serve. I’m on a rant because the incident echoes the larger problem of loveless ministry. . . 1 Cor. 13 “we can have faith to move mountains but if we don’t have love we are a clanging cymbal.” My whole morning at church all I could hear was an annoying cymbal in my ears. I’m fine. I believe deeply in healing and have seen so many people healed in the name of Jesus. It is wonderful. Jesus is my everything, but I just wonder how much most of us care for those we serve? Really care. I get sick to my stomach when I know several disabled and blind friends who have been so turned off by zealous, ill-informed Christians who make them feel terrible about themselves in their walk towards Christ. Not acceptable for mature Christ-followers who want to minister to the whole world. Anyways. Here is an excellent, short book on this topic that I recommend to all.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 18:15:41 +0000
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