Disabilities: One Lutheran’s
Perspective
The
issue is a very sensitive one. It is one
that can hit close to home at any time, especially in our congregations. Yet it affects me every day. The issue I am talking about is my
disability. More importantly, how people
react to it.
We
have come a long way towards bringing people with disabilities into the fabric
of our society, including the life of the church. But there is always that uneasiness when, for
example, on any given Sunday morning a person in a wheel chair or any other
visible disability shows up simply for The Divine Service. A myriad of
questions can go through a person’s head ranging from “who’s with the person?”
to “how do I act now?” It’s almost
automatic.
On
one hand, much has been done to try to fix the problem. I have cerebral palsy and I am well aware on
how big “awareness and sensitivity training” has become. One can almost make a living out of it. To further help, I have seen churches start
special groups or “ministries” and even hold “disability awareness” or
“physically challenged” Sundays. Please
don’t get me wrong, such training or events may have their place. At times, however, I wonder if they get to
the real source of our discomfort.
Perhaps
the source of the issue is not a lack of understanding or compassion on either
person’s part. Nor can we say that it’s
some emotion that we feel at the time.
Maybe the problem goes deeper than that.
Just maybe the situation forces us to look at something we don’t like to
admit. It is the exact same thing that
causes all that is “wrong” in the world; natural disasters, sickness, disease,
and even death. I of course am talking
about original sin and, as a result, the law.
Let’s
think about it from both perspectives.
To the person that is meeting the disabled person, he is now seeing
first hand exactly what Adam’s disobedience brought about, something our flesh
can’t handle. We want to think
everything is OK. We try to deceive
ourselves into thinking we are basically good people and, for that reason, God
has been good to us in whatever way we want to measure that, be it health,
financial status, or possessions. Now we
see less than perfection in front of us, forcing us to consider that we, too,
are not what we think we are. Our souls
are awakened to the fact that there is nothing we have done or can do that God
should favor us. In fact, because sin
infects every part of us, we are total enemies of Him. Meanwhile, the disabled person also feels
discomfort. Further, he might feel frustrated that he is misunderstood or being
separate from everyone else. This is yet
another reminder of what we deserve; nothing less than being totally cut off from
God. As hard as we try to put the
thought out of our minds, words of a familiar hymn begin to reverberate through
our being:
All
mankind fell in Adam’s fall
One
common sin infects us all
From
sire to son the bane descends
And
over all the curse impends.
LSB
462 v. 1
A
doctor who was treating me one time for a persistent infection told me “Once we
figure out what the cause is, it will be easy to find the right cure.” We have already identified what the cause of
the uneasiness around people with disabilities.
Now the cure should be obvious.
Simply put, it’s the Gospel. It’s
nothing but Christ and his saving work.
For we know that through His suffering and death on the cross, not only
did he take upon himself the weight of all our sins, but also the effects of
our sins. I, for one, certainly realize
that it does not mean disabilities go away or are any pre-conceived ideas about
the disabled removed. Yet, what we
experience in such situations, Christ himself experienced. He took our place for all those times we
misjudge someone, for any reason, and by offering His life and rising from the
dead, we can take comfort in the fact that we too, are free from our sins. What’s more, situations like this, although
still awkward, have absolutely no power over us.
Now,
in true Lutheran manner, we can ask here “What does this mean?” Earlier, I mentioned the ways churches tend
to “over compensate” in order to make the disable more comfortable. There is nothing wrong with anything that
fosters inclusion and understanding of people with disabilities. We can also say that there is no one “sure
fire method” to do this since, even people with the exact same diagnosis can be
affected differently. However, my view
is that many times such activities become the main force in working with the disabled
rather than letting sound doctrine and practice be the
guiding norm.
The
story of the healing of the paralytic I believe provides a good example. We are probably familiar with the story. But have you ever noticed what order the
events take place? From Mark’s account
(Chapter 2), we learn this man was lowered through a hole made in the
roof. We are then told in verse five,
“and Jesus seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are
forgiven.’” Think about it. In a sense, when Jesus encounters this man,
his first action is to pronounce absolution, much like the beginning of the
Divine Service. Yes, this
man is healed, but only after the scribes begin to protest. Even then, Jesus makes it quite clear that
this healing is happening “so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on
earth to forgive sins.” (Verse 10)
Sure,
I struggle with my disability at times.
I do not believe that there is a disabled person who does not. However, like any person who has his share of
problems, whether the issue is physical, mental, emotional, or pertaining to
any of life’s problems, I need to find relief.
Contrary to what many churches may teach, it can’t be found by reading a
popular self-help book. It can’t be
found by becoming active in this or that special group or the church’s latest
“ministry”. Believe me; I have been in
churches, all LCMS that take that position.
I have found that the only place where I find that relief
I need is within the church itself. It
comes as the pastor announces that my sins are forgiven. It comes as I hear the Word of God, both law
and Gospel, boldly proclaimed. It comes
when I come to the altar every week to receive His body and blood and what it
bestows. This is where I, as we all
should, finally find peace and relief I so desperately want.
I
don’t think this little piece will have a great effect on how churches and
people with disabilities they come in contact will interact with each
other. That is not my intent
anyway. However, it is my hope and
prayer that these thoughts will give us the encouragement we need when we are
faced with a similar situation. And may
our Lord Savior keep us all in the faith, knowing that He has paid for our
sins, and that we can rest knowing we are truly the children of our great and
loving God. Amen.
Scott
D. Dehn
New Hope, Minnesota