Small bunch of questions about the Bible and disability...

[Angela53510]

I was not born disabled, but in my 30's I got severe asthma. I got allergy shots, which triggered Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have been disabled since then, although I had a few good years, I can barely walk. RA gave me heart disease, and now I am even more limited. I had a few good years in the middle, but between med failures, the last 5 years have been really bad. At various points I was so bad I could not get out of bed, the pain and swelling was so bad. Now I have so much damage, I doubt I will be active again. One hand is twisted and deformed, I can't play flute or type with 2 hands.

I'm sorry to hear people have mistreated you. I get that from my family. Mostly because I don't look very disabled, they expect me to do what I have always done. Plus, I went to heart rehab, and blew my knee, & my knee has been in agony for 4 months. I need a knee replacement, I can barely walk. With elective surgery not yet happening in Canada, I might have to live in agonizing pain for a year, or maybe forever. But, I know God is sovereign and in control, and I trust that he cares for me, and will take care of me!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight!" Prov. 3:5-6

The first years I was unmedicated for RA. I got really mad at God, for 2 years. But God told me to read 5 Psalms a day, and after 2 years, I had met so many of God's people who were hurting or suffering. I would advise you to that. As for Leviticus, it is interesting to read from a scholarly viewpoint but it has NOTHING to do with the New Covenant, which is what we have with Jesus. It is a book written to the priests and Levites, about how to carry out the rituals for the Judaic Covenant, which was made to Abraham and his descendants. My advice would be to read a commentary on Leviticus, then tape the book shut and never read it again. Read the whole New Testament over and over.

When I was on good meds, God gave me this passage, which I memorized.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5 ESV

It doesn't matter if we get better, what matters is God loves us and sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. One thing I really learned after I became deformed and disabled, is that God loves me and he is leading and guiding me as he transforms me into the image of Christ!

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

What is perfect in this passage? It is related to completing a goal. The goal is to be more like Jesus in our character. More loving, caring, compassionate, merciful, kind and patient. And the Holy Spirit is working on our hearts and minds to make us more like Jesus. It's really a glorious plan, to have God himself come down from heaven, live as a man, then be resurrected.

Please start looking for positive things. I've never worried about my disabilities, because I have a great hope that God is transforming me by his grace and power.

 

[Dino246]

I was always taught that if you didn't follow God's word, you'd be cast down into the pits of Hell where you'd burn forever in Satan's fiery pits. ... So the preachers I'd listened to had that wrong.

Sadly, that wasn't the only thing. Somehow you've been taught a mishmash of confusing and erroneous junk.

In my original post I've put examples of other biblical quotes about God and disability but everyone seemed to ignore them which is fascinating. People seem to want to hold onto the 'Jesus loves everyone who loves Him' thing despite all the Bible says to the contrary.

Maybe consider the possibility that people who have read the Bible for decades actually understand it and see clearly the error you have made. We're not "ignoring" the passages you've quoted. Rather, we're telling you that you have misunderstood their applicability.

But all I say about the Bible is FROM the Bible and I can always show chapter and verse, like in the original post, where it says it. I'm not REVERSING any message, I'm going strictly by what the Bible says. Leviticus IS the main book where God shows his hatred of disability, though. And as the Bible is God's Word, you can't just dismiss Leviticus as being 'about Jews'. Jesus was King of the Jews. The Bible says so.

Chris,
As you have been respectful in your disagreement, I will be as well, but I won't pull my punches.

You do not have a correct understanding of the Bible and its contents. If I said otherwise, I'd be lying to you. Leviticus was written to ancient Israel. Reading it like it was written to you is like reading the laws of a foreign country and thinking yourself governed by them. You can quote Scripture all you like, but without right understanding of it, you are still incorrect.

Do Christians go around stoning adulterers? No, yet the Bible tells the ancient Israelites to do so. Do Christians go to Canaan and slaughter the inhabitants of Jericho? No, yet the Bible tells the ancient Israelites to do so.

Paul's letter to the Romans is also in the Bible, and in it, Paul wrote the following:

13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (emphasis added)

"The law" to which Paul refers is that contained in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Christians are not under it, as though we must obey every word. That would be impossible today; there is no temple, no priests, no Levites.

Please, instead of arguing further, find a local body of Christian believers and seek basic instruction in the Christian faith. Right understanding of the Bible will be part of that. Know that there are people here who want the best for you, and will endeavour to tell you the truth.

 

[Adstar]

This is a prime example of a person indoctrinated by men in the doctrines of men.. Viewing the Word of God through a preacher can end up leading one into a life time of false beliefs and torments..

That's why i always recommend to people to get into the Bible and read it for themselves.. Always praying for God to give them wisdom and understanding as they go through the Texts..

 

[Blain]

I was always taught that if you didn't follow God's word, you'd be cast down into the pits of Hell where you'd burn forever in Satan's fiery pits. So I looked into that in the Bible and discovered Revelations actually says Jesus has the keys to Heaven and Hell, and the only 'fiery pit' is a part of Heaven that happened to be volcanic, which happened to be the area Azrael came from. So the preachers I'd listened to had that wrong.

As far as 'God's only begotten son' bit goes, you've got Genesis 6, 2 to think about - just looked it up, couldn't remember which verse it was - "


1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

You'll notice the word 'sons' of God is plural. So God had MORE than one son, the Bible says so. And the Bible puts illness and disability in the same bracket many times. Natural causes of disability are not mentioned in the Bible. Disability is attributed to God. The general view of the Old Testament writers is that God brings disability as punishment for transgressions for sin or as an expression of God's wrath for people's disobedience. It is seen as a curse and as a result of unbelief and ignorance. If we don't follow our Father's Word, we are punished by being made disabled. Which doesn't seem fair on those of us BORN with disabilities - what transgressions did we cause from the womb?

In my original post I've put examples of other biblical quotes about God and disability but everyone seemed to ignore them which is fascinating. People seem to want to hold onto the 'Jesus loves everyone who loves Him' thing despite all the Bible says to the contrary.

Now I've looked up WoF - which I'd never heard of before - and it just seems to be a twist on this 'The Universe Will Manifest if you Ask It' thing that's been doing the rounds for ages and nope, I don't believe that. Do I believe in God's Word? For sure I do - but as the BIBLE says it, not as preachers twist it. Do I believe we're here to look after other life on the planet? I feed seagulls on bacon every day (or salami if the bacon runs out!) I leave bags of bread open that mice may feed (3 mice can reduce a sliced loaf to a bag of crumbs in 2 days!!) I have spiders' eggs on my wall and I watch their children hatch and go out into the world on parachutes of silk. And there's a screech-owl across the road who's furious with me because I keep rescuing his supper! (4 times thus far.)

I believe when Jesus says 'All are equal in God's sight' he means all creatures created by God who are therefore, in some way, in God's image. Us disableds, as the Bible tells us, have had our disabilities visited on us BY God. I try to make up for my pre-birth transgressions, whatever they were, by showing kindness to all God's creatures.

It's just I can't get past all the parts of the Bible that tell us God visited disability on us as punishment. I was born with mine. I've been beaten up no end - literally - by able-bodied people, robbed and very much hated on, and I don't really know what I've done to deserve all of it.

But all I say about the Bible is FROM the Bible and I can always show chapter and verse, like in the original post, where it says it. I'm not REVERSING any message, I'm going strictly by what the Bible says. Leviticus IS the main book where God shows his hatred of disability, though. And as the Bible is God's Word, you can't just dismiss Leviticus as being 'about Jews'. Jesus was King of the Jews. The Bible says so.

Yours respectfully

Chris.

You can know the bible and quote it but that doesn't mean you understand it. that is the issue with a lot of so called teachers and preachers these days, they know the bible verse by verse better than the back of their hands some even have degrees in bible studies yet they have no clue or understanding of the scriptures are actually saying.
They read it and look at and understand it logically with their minds but the bible is the one book that rivals against the flesh and fleshly thinking, yes you can and should look at it with some logic but mostly it is a book that can only be understood with the spirit and with the eyes of your heart.
It is not like other books it is not simply ink and papaer it is alove it has power it has his very heart5 and spirit in it being poured into every word in it.

I have brain damage twice in the same area and yet somehow I understand the word of God more than such people

 

[Angela53510]

@Blain

The Bible is clear we need to study to show ourselves as God's workers. You need the Holy Spirit, of course, to understand. Before God saved me, I couldn't understand the Bible at all, although I was trying!

BUT a good Biblical education from a recognized and accredited seminary won't lead you astray. When I first started a little Southern Baptist church, the pastor knew the bible so well, plus, everything he said confirmed what I was reading, and I cried out to God, I wanted to know, understand and how to interpret the Bible like that pastor did!

It only took a few months, for him to issue a call to the "young men" to attend our seminary. That call pierced my heart. It was mostly online, and it wasn't far enough away to be a problem for the campus intensive courses. ( None of they young men applied, and still haven't!)

It took me 7 years to get my MDiv,
But it was worth every moment and every penny. I thought I would just be studying the Bible, but I was given tools like the original languages, hermeneutics, (how to interpret the Bible) historical and geographical background, and tools for ministry, like biblical counselling teaching, preaching and administering a church, which my son who owns and runs an accounting business (with his Bachelor of Commerce) helped me do. But mostly, it brought me closer to God. I know some seminaries that happens, but not in my home seminary or 2 others I took transfer courses from! I met some of the most godly and intelligent people you could ever meet. They were a shining example of the path I needed to walk to help others. And my theological institute where I have been working on my PhD has been fabulous. They have put no pressure on me to return, but include me in everything. Our end of semester Colloquy was about discipleship and spiritual formation, and it inspired me not to get weary so close to the finish line.

So, Blain, be careful who you put down when you make such generic, sweeping attacks. I wish everyone could have the opportunity I have had to learn how to really study and learn the Bible. I know every time I see untrue or heretical statements, 95% if the time it is a lack of context that causes the problem. Not understanding context is a far bigger issue than being "over" educated.

When someone posts something absurd or stupid, I immediately go and read the passage, chapter or even the book. I see what they forgot to include that defines the verse. It's really very simple, and I do see lots of people with no Bible training do it well. So, being educated is not the goal. But for me, knowing how to study the Bible, and to help others was best learned in a seminary. For others, they have skills naturally that I had to learn. As for those who have neither skills nor aptitude, nor have studied, that is how you get people like this OP claiming the Levitical laws are what we must following, quoting verses out of context, and to what end? I certainly do hope he understands that he needs to follow Jesus, and forget about all this stuff he needs to unlearn, and focus on Jesus and the New Testament.

 

[Blain]

@Blain

The Bible is clear we need to study to show ourselves as God's workers. You need the Holy Spirit, of course, to understand. Before God saved me, I couldn't understand the Bible at all, although I was trying!

BUT a good Biblical education from a recognized and accredited seminary won't lead you astray. When I first started a little Southern Baptist church, the pastor knew the bible so well, plus, everything he said confirmed what I was reading, and I cried out to God, I wanted to know, understand and how to interpret the Bible like that pastor did!

It only took a few months, for him to issue a call to the "young men" to attend our seminary. That call pierced my heart. It was mostly online, and it wasn't far enough away to be a problem for the campus intensive courses. ( None of they young men applied, and still haven't!)

It took me 7 years to get my MDiv,
But it was worth every moment and every penny. I thought I would just be studying the Bible, but I was given tools like the original languages, hermeneutics, (how to interpret the Bible) historical and geographical background, and tools for ministry, like biblical counselling teaching, preaching and administering a church, which my son who owns and runs an accounting business (with his Bachelor of Commerce) helped me do. But mostly, it brought me closer to God. I know some seminaries that happens, but not in my home seminary or 2 others I took transfer courses from! I met some of the most godly and intelligent people you could ever meet. They were a shining example of the path I needed to walk to help others. And my theological institute where I have been working on my PhD has been fabulous. They have put no pressure on me to return, but include me in everything. Our end of semester Colloquy was about discipleship and spiritual formation, and it inspired me not to get weary so close to the finish line.

So, Blain, be careful who you put down when you make such generic, sweeping attacks. I wish everyone could have the opportunity I have had to learn how to really study and learn the Bible. I know every time I see untrue or heretical statements, 95% if the time it is a lack of context that causes the problem. Not understanding context is a far bigger issue than being "over" educated.

When someone posts something absurd or stupid, I immediately go and read the passage, chapter or even the book. I see what they forgot to include that defines the verse. It's really very simple, and I do see lots of people with no Bible training do it well. So, being educated is not the goal. But for me, knowing how to study the Bible, and to help others was best learned in a seminary. For others, they have skills naturally that I had to learn. As for those who have neither skills nor aptitude, nor have studied, that is how you get people like this OP claiming the Levitical laws are what we must following, quoting verses out of context, and to what end? I certainly do hope he understands that he needs to follow Jesus, and forget about all this stuff he needs to unlearn, and focus on Jesus and the New Testament.

I apologize if I made it seem as if an education in bible study makes you lack understanding that was not my intent, As you know Angela I hold you in very high regards when it comes to the bible and I am aware of your logic and understanding and bible education which is why you are one of the people who have degrees that I am proud to call my friend.

But the op and the people who have taught him do not understand the scriptures and he mentioned how he can post scriptures to prove things and that is why I countered the way I did though I suppose the way these people have doctrinated him and infuriated me may have made me say things I did not intend but I also do think you know how many claim to have degrees yet have a lacking in understanding the scriptures there have been plenty on here who have claimed such things against me in my defense for you being a pastor and teaching and while I admit I have a long ways to go I cannot stand that people hold such titles as teacher pastor or even being in a position of authority in the church and yet mislead and damage people like the op

 

[NOV25]

Dear Everyone.

OK. I've been to lots of churches. I've heard the Message many times that God loves everyone and gave his Son to prove it - BUT - the Bible says God doesn't go so much for disabled people, in fact he doesn't want them anywhere near him and I can prove that - I'm just wondering if anyone can help me understand WHY!


I'm disabled. All through my life I've been told God doesn't want disabled people in His church - it says that in Leviticus, how if you're disabled you're not allowed in His Church or to approach Him in any way. I've been told I am Nephilim, a product of one of God's SonS (note the plural - Genesis says God has more than one son, think it's Genesis 6.) and a human woman. So I'm not created in God's image - which is perfect and as I'm disabled I'm not! In Leviticus there's a whole long bit about how nobody with any imperfections may enter God's church or approach Him. And in the whole Bible disability's a taboo subject - you get Jesus curing SICK people but disability isn't necessarily a sickness. I've got Cerebral Palsy amongst others and that's not a disease, nobody can catch it from me (though I've had others tell me otherwise!)

In the Bible disability is viewed as a disease (The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible: 1962; Encyclopaedia Judaica: 1972). The most common diseases mentioned in the Bible are blindness, deafness, dumbness, leprosy, and paralysis. Visual impairment is the most common form of physical disability in antiquity. Aside from people like Isaac (Gen. 27:1), Jacob (Gen. 48:10), Eli (1 Sam 3:2 and 4:15), and Ahijah the Shilomite (1Kings 14:4), whose eyesight failed in old age, natural causes of disability are not mentioned in the Bible. Disability is attributed to God. The general view of the Old Testament writers is that God brings disability as punishment for transgressions for sin or as an expression of God's wrath for people's disobedience. It is seen as a curse and as a result of unbelief and ignorance (Jewish Encyclopaedia, 1920; The Talmud of Jerusalem, 1956; and Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1972).


The Bible portrays disability as a curse and as a result of disobedience, unbelief, and ignorance. In Leviticus 26:14-16, as one of the punishments for Israel's disobedience is expressed in the following way: "I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life." Samson also sinned against the Lord through his eyes; as it is written: "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife" (Judges 14:2). He was therefore punished through his eyes: "Then the Philistines seized him, gorged out his eyes" (Judges 16:21). Prov. 30:17 warns that the eyes, which are disrespectful to parents, will be plucked out by birds of prey.


The blindness of the wicked men of Sodom (Wisdom 2:21) and of Elymas, the magician who obstructed the work of Paul in Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12), are specifically attributed to divine punishment. The ancient nations regarded visual impairment as the lowest degradation that could be inflicted upon humans and, by extension, to a nation. The Deuteronomist suggests that visual impairment is a curse for disobeying the commandment of God. Israel was threatened for breaking the covenant.


The Lord will inflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of the mind. At midday, you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything that you do, day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you (Deut. 28:28-29).

Further examples that portray disability as a curse can be found in Zephaniah 1:17 and Zechariah 11:17. In Zephaniah, God promises to bring distress on the people because they have sinned against Him: "They will walk like blind men." God strikes his servant's assailants with blinding flashes (Gen. 19:11; 2 Kings 6:18-20 Acts 13:10-12) or with permanent blindness (Zech. 12:4; Ps 69:23) in order to protect his servants (see also Psalms 6:7 and 69:3).

When Jesus healed the physically impaired man who lay by the pool of Bethesda, He said to him: "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you" (Jn. 5:14). This clearly indicates that Jesus thought there was a connection between the man's disability and some sin. In the portico lay a multitude of PWD and this comment applied to them as well (Jn. 5:3).

Is there any way I may approach God despite my disabilities?

Also, I know the message we're given is Jesus loves us - but then why does he chuck the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (Revelations)? And why are we taught the Devil rules in a flaming Hell somewhere below the earth when he doesn't? The Bible says Azrael fell to Earth and rules here. Which means Earth Itself is Hell. Jesus is the path FROM Hell - Earth - to Heaven. BUT - only for those created in His Father's Likeness.

Which once more comes back to me being disabled. I'm not in God's Likeness because of that, so I've no right to expect a chance to be pardoned or go to Heaven, my disabilities automatically preclude me (Leviticus).

So what's the point of me being here at all?

Yours sadly

Chris.

Chris buddy, the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

We don't "approach" God bud, he approaches who he chooses and trust me, your palsy has nothing to do with the fact that he hasn't "approached" you yet.

In the mean time I would try to remember that this life is but a mist, value not it, but the perfect God who gave it.

 

[garee]

Dear Everyone.

OK. I've been to lots of churches. I've heard the Message many times that God loves everyone and gave his Son to prove it - BUT - the Bible says God doesn't go so much for disabled people, in fact he doesn't want them anywhere near him and I can prove that - I'm just wondering if anyone can help me understand WHY!


I'm disabled. All through my life I've been told God doesn't want disabled people in His church - it says that in Leviticus, how if you're disabled you're not allowed in His Church or to approach Him in any way. I've been told I am Nephilim, a product of one of God's SonS (note the plural - Genesis says God has more than one son, think it's Genesis 6.) and a human woman. So I'm not created in God's image - which is perfect and as I'm disabled I'm not! In Leviticus there's a whole long bit about how nobody with any imperfections may enter God's church or approach Him. And in the whole Bible disability's a taboo subject - you get Jesus curing SICK people but disability isn't necessarily a sickness. I've got Cerebral Palsy amongst others and that's not a disease, nobody can catch it from me (though I've had others tell me otherwise!)

In the Bible disability is viewed as a disease (The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible: 1962; Encyclopaedia Judaica: 1972). The most common diseases mentioned in the Bible are blindness, deafness, dumbness, leprosy, and paralysis. Visual impairment is the most common form of physical disability in antiquity. Aside from people like Isaac (Gen. 27:1), Jacob (Gen. 48:10), Eli (1 Sam 3:2 and 4:15), and Ahijah the Shilomite (1Kings 14:4), whose eyesight failed in old age, natural causes of disability are not mentioned in the Bible. Disability is attributed to God. The general view of the Old Testament writers is that God brings disability as punishment for transgressions for sin or as an expression of God's wrath for people's disobedience. It is seen as a curse and as a result of unbelief and ignorance (Jewish Encyclopaedia, 1920; The Talmud of Jerusalem, 1956; and Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1972).


The Bible portrays disability as a curse and as a result of disobedience, unbelief, and ignorance. In Leviticus 26:14-16, as one of the punishments for Israel's disobedience is expressed in the following way: "I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life." Samson also sinned against the Lord through his eyes; as it is written: "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife" (Judges 14:2). He was therefore punished through his eyes: "Then the Philistines seized him, gorged out his eyes" (Judges 16:21). Prov. 30:17 warns that the eyes, which are disrespectful to parents, will be plucked out by birds of prey.


The blindness of the wicked men of Sodom (Wisdom 2:21) and of Elymas, the magician who obstructed the work of Paul in Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12), are specifically attributed to divine punishment. The ancient nations regarded visual impairment as the lowest degradation that could be inflicted upon humans and, by extension, to a nation. The Deuteronomist suggests that visual impairment is a curse for disobeying the commandment of God. Israel was threatened for breaking the covenant.


The Lord will inflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of the mind. At midday, you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything that you do, day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you (Deut. 28:28-29).

Further examples that portray disability as a curse can be found in Zephaniah 1:17 and Zechariah 11:17. In Zephaniah, God promises to bring distress on the people because they have sinned against Him: "They will walk like blind men." God strikes his servant's assailants with blinding flashes (Gen. 19:11; 2 Kings 6:18-20 Acts 13:10-12) or with permanent blindness (Zech. 12:4; Ps 69:23) in order to protect his servants (see also Psalms 6:7 and 69:3).

When Jesus healed the physically impaired man who lay by the pool of Bethesda, He said to him: "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you" (Jn. 5:14). This clearly indicates that Jesus thought there was a connection between the man's disability and some sin. In the portico lay a multitude of PWD and this comment applied to them as well (Jn. 5:3).

Is there any way I may approach God despite my disabilities?

Also, I know the message we're given is Jesus loves us - but then why does he chuck the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (Revelations)? And why are we taught the Devil rules in a flaming Hell somewhere below the earth when he doesn't? The Bible says Azrael fell to Earth and rules here. Which means Earth Itself is Hell. Jesus is the path FROM Hell - Earth - to Heaven. BUT - only for those created in His Father's Likeness.

Which once more comes back to me being disabled. I'm not in God's Likeness because of that, so I've no right to expect a chance to be pardoned or go to Heaven, my disabilities automatically preclude me (Leviticus).

So what's the point of me being here at all?

Yours sadly

Chris.

Satan the accuser of the brethren (Christians) accuses them day and night.

We know the gospel teaches us the ministry of Christ was to bring sight to those who are blind and legs to the lame so that they might walk word used to understand . When we receive our new bodies they will not be disabled as these bodies of death called earthen vessels .Resist the the devil with as it is written. we are not to lrt of disabilities get in his way . it would seem you are suffering being strengthened by the work of his faith that works in us to both will and perform His good pleasure

Isaiah 29:18 And in that day shall "the deaf" hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

John having doubts sought a answer that confirmed the good news gospel

Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

And there they preached the gospel.And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.Acts 14: 7-12

 

[Prycejosh1987]

OK. I've been to lots of churches. I've heard the Message many times that God loves everyone and gave his Son to prove it - BUT - the Bible says God doesn't go so much for disabled people, in fact he doesn't want them anywhere near him and I can prove that - I'm just wondering if anyone can help me understand WHY!

If God allowed disabled people in his presence people would start believing that there are disabled people in heaven, naturally sin causes disability, If that was not true then adam and eve would of had disabled traits. They were perfect and God makes everything perfect, disabled people are not physically perfect. Its true love, besides disabled people can go to church like everyone else.

 

[Angela53510]

If by sin, you mean Adam and Eve sinning and the whole world falling, I agree.

If you mean by sin, that person who has been disabled since they were a year old, caused their own disability, I would loudly say no! I have a cousin who got JRA at 1 1/2. Obviously she did not sin. Neither did her parents, as Jesus told the disciples about the man born blind.

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." John 9:1-3

I have been disabled for 21 years, sick longer than that. I know how much God loves me, and he uses everything for good!

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

 

[CS1]

Dear Everyone.

OK. I've been to lots of churches. I've heard the Message many times that God loves everyone and gave his Son to prove it - BUT - the Bible says God doesn't go so much for disabled people, in fact he doesn't want them anywhere near him and I can prove that - I'm just wondering if anyone can help me understand WHY!


I'm disabled. All through my life I've been told God doesn't want disabled people in His church - it says that in Leviticus, how if you're disabled you're not allowed in His Church or to approach Him in any way. I've been told I am Nephilim, a product of one of God's SonS (note the plural - Genesis says God has more than one son, think it's Genesis 6.) and a human woman. So I'm not created in God's image - which is perfect and as I'm disabled I'm not! In Leviticus there's a whole long bit about how nobody with any imperfections may enter God's church or approach Him. And in the whole Bible disability's a taboo subject - you get Jesus curing SICK people but disability isn't necessarily a sickness. I've got Cerebral Palsy amongst others and that's not a disease, nobody can catch it from me (though I've had others tell me otherwise!)

In the Bible disability is viewed as a disease (The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible: 1962; Encyclopaedia Judaica: 1972). The most common diseases mentioned in the Bible are blindness, deafness, dumbness, leprosy, and paralysis. Visual impairment is the most common form of physical disability in antiquity. Aside from people like Isaac (Gen. 27:1), Jacob (Gen. 48:10), Eli (1 Sam 3:2 and 4:15), and Ahijah the Shilomite (1Kings 14:4), whose eyesight failed in old age, natural causes of disability are not mentioned in the Bible. Disability is attributed to God. The general view of the Old Testament writers is that God brings disability as punishment for transgressions for sin or as an expression of God's wrath for people's disobedience. It is seen as a curse and as a result of unbelief and ignorance (Jewish Encyclopaedia, 1920; The Talmud of Jerusalem, 1956; and Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1972).


The Bible portrays disability as a curse and as a result of disobedience, unbelief, and ignorance. In Leviticus 26:14-16, as one of the punishments for Israel's disobedience is expressed in the following way: "I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life." Samson also sinned against the Lord through his eyes; as it is written: "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife" (Judges 14:2). He was therefore punished through his eyes: "Then the Philistines seized him, gorged out his eyes" (Judges 16:21). Prov. 30:17 warns that the eyes, which are disrespectful to parents, will be plucked out by birds of prey.


The blindness of the wicked men of Sodom (Wisdom 2:21) and of Elymas, the magician who obstructed the work of Paul in Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12), are specifically attributed to divine punishment. The ancient nations regarded visual impairment as the lowest degradation that could be inflicted upon humans and, by extension, to a nation. The Deuteronomist suggests that visual impairment is a curse for disobeying the commandment of God. Israel was threatened for breaking the covenant.


The Lord will inflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of the mind. At midday, you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything that you do, day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you (Deut. 28:28-29).

Further examples that portray disability as a curse can be found in Zephaniah 1:17 and Zechariah 11:17. In Zephaniah, God promises to bring distress on the people because they have sinned against Him: "They will walk like blind men." God strikes his servant's assailants with blinding flashes (Gen. 19:11; 2 Kings 6:18-20 Acts 13:10-12) or with permanent blindness (Zech. 12:4; Ps 69:23) in order to protect his servants (see also Psalms 6:7 and 69:3).

When Jesus healed the physically impaired man who lay by the pool of Bethesda, He said to him: "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you" (Jn. 5:14). This clearly indicates that Jesus thought there was a connection between the man's disability and some sin. In the portico lay a multitude of PWD and this comment applied to them as well (Jn. 5:3).

Is there any way I may approach God despite my disabilities?

Also, I know the message we're given is Jesus loves us - but then why does he chuck the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (Revelations)? And why are we taught the Devil rules in a flaming Hell somewhere below the earth when he doesn't? The Bible says Azrael fell to Earth and rules here. Which means Earth Itself is Hell. Jesus is the path FROM Hell - Earth - to Heaven. BUT - only for those created in His Father's Likeness.

Which once more comes back to me being disabled. I'm not in God's Likeness because of that, so I've no right to expect a chance to be pardoned or go to Heaven, my disabilities automatically preclude me (Leviticus).

So what's the point of me being here at all?

Yours sadly

Chris.

I did not read the whole thing. Disability happens for various reasons.

1. from birth defects
2. accidents
3. war
4. sicknesses

Disabilities can be:

1. cognitive
2. physical
3. biological

None of that can stop the love of God for you or anyone who is disabled. John 3:16 Jesus speaking says God loved the world that HE gave His only son, and that includes those with disabilities. Jesus said do not prevent the children from coming to me, Jesus did not say only those with no disabilities. HE said ALL, whosoever will let them come.

 

[garee]

Dear Everyone.

OK. I've been to lots of churches. I've heard the Message many times that God loves everyone and gave his Son to prove it - BUT - the Bible says God doesn't go so much for disabled people, in fact he doesn't want them anywhere near him and I can prove that - I'm just wondering if anyone can help me understand WHY!


I'm disabled. All through my life I've been told God doesn't want disabled people in His church - it says that in Leviticus, how if you're disabled you're not allowed in His Church or to approach Him in any way. I've been told I am Nephilim, a product of one of God's SonS (note the plural - Genesis says God has more than one son, think it's Genesis 6.) and a human woman. So I'm not created in God's image - which is perfect and as I'm disabled I'm not! In Leviticus there's a whole long bit about how nobody with any imperfections may enter God's church or approach Him. And in the whole Bible disability's a taboo subject - you get Jesus curing SICK people but disability isn't necessarily a sickness. I've got Cerebral Palsy amongst others and that's not a disease, nobody can catch it from me (though I've had others tell me otherwise!)

In the Bible disability is viewed as a disease (The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible: 1962; Encyclopaedia Judaica: 1972). The most common diseases mentioned in the Bible are blindness, deafness, dumbness, leprosy, and paralysis. Visual impairment is the most common form of physical disability in antiquity. Aside from people like Isaac (Gen. 27:1), Jacob (Gen. 48:10), Eli (1 Sam 3:2 and 4:15), and Ahijah the Shilomite (1Kings 14:4), whose eyesight failed in old age, natural causes of disability are not mentioned in the Bible. Disability is attributed to God. The general view of the Old Testament writers is that God brings disability as punishment for transgressions for sin or as an expression of God's wrath for people's disobedience. It is seen as a curse and as a result of unbelief and ignorance (Jewish Encyclopaedia, 1920; The Talmud of Jerusalem, 1956; and Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1972).


The Bible portrays disability as a curse and as a result of disobedience, unbelief, and ignorance. In Leviticus 26:14-16, as one of the punishments for Israel's disobedience is expressed in the following way: "I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life." Samson also sinned against the Lord through his eyes; as it is written: "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife" (Judges 14:2). He was therefore punished through his eyes: "Then the Philistines seized him, gorged out his eyes" (Judges 16:21). Prov. 30:17 warns that the eyes, which are disrespectful to parents, will be plucked out by birds of prey.


The blindness of the wicked men of Sodom (Wisdom 2:21) and of Elymas, the magician who obstructed the work of Paul in Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12), are specifically attributed to divine punishment. The ancient nations regarded visual impairment as the lowest degradation that could be inflicted upon humans and, by extension, to a nation. The Deuteronomist suggests that visual impairment is a curse for disobeying the commandment of God. Israel was threatened for breaking the covenant.


The Lord will inflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of the mind. At midday, you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything that you do, day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you (Deut. 28:28-29).

Further examples that portray disability as a curse can be found in Zephaniah 1:17 and Zechariah 11:17. In Zephaniah, God promises to bring distress on the people because they have sinned against Him: "They will walk like blind men." God strikes his servant's assailants with blinding flashes (Gen. 19:11; 2 Kings 6:18-20 Acts 13:10-12) or with permanent blindness (Zech. 12:4; Ps 69:23) in order to protect his servants (see also Psalms 6:7 and 69:3).

When Jesus healed the physically impaired man who lay by the pool of Bethesda, He said to him: "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you" (Jn. 5:14). This clearly indicates that Jesus thought there was a connection between the man's disability and some sin. In the portico lay a multitude of PWD and this comment applied to them as well (Jn. 5:3).

Is there any way I may approach God despite my disabilities?

Also, I know the message we're given is Jesus loves us - but then why does he chuck the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (Revelations)? And why are we taught the Devil rules in a flaming Hell somewhere below the earth when he doesn't? The Bible says Azrael fell to Earth and rules here. Which means Earth Itself is Hell. Jesus is the path FROM Hell - Earth - to Heaven. BUT - only for those created in His Father's Likeness.

Which once more comes back to me being disabled. I'm not in God's Likeness because of that, so I've no right to expect a chance to be pardoned or go to Heaven, my disabilities automatically preclude me (Leviticus).

So what's the point of me being here at all?

Yours sadly

Chris.

Its only the disabled that need a physician .He is the physician of our new born again souls helping us to make the sufferings less as we rest in him .He promises us new incorruptible bodies.

Its the gospel that can work in a person causing them to arise and leap for joy knowing that they can walk by faith.

Using physicals hearing to represent the gospel

Acts14: 7-9 And there they preached the gospel. And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Many parables use the weak things of this life in a hope of strengthening feeble knees so that we might walk by faith and not after what the eyes see.

 

[JaumeJ]

If by sin, you mean Adam and Eve sinning and the whole world falling, I agree.

If you mean by sin, that person who has been disabled since they were a year old, caused their own disability, I would loudly say no! I have a cousin who got JRA at 1 1/2. Obviously she did not sin. Neither did her parents, as Jesus told the disciples about the man born blind.

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." John 9:1-3

I have been disabled for 21 years, sick longer than that. I know how much God loves me, and he uses everything for good!

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

To call your post timely would be an understatement. Thank you for this wisdom related dto all from above.