Title: Jesus and the Disabled
Contents
Title - Jesus and the Disabled
Jun-gu Shim (broadcaster, Banseok Church), who is a first-class blind person, pointed out, “If disabled people give up coming to church due to a disability, the church will not be able to avoid being criticized for not accepting the disabled as an object of spiritual recovery.”
The lack of interest in people with disabilities is also reflected in budgeting. With the exception of some churches, very little budget is allocated for people with disabilities. They are indifferent to the mission and welfare of the disabled. As a result, the evangelization rate for the disabled is less than 5%. This is a disappointing figure compared to the 30% evangelization rate for non-disabled people. The low rate of evangelization for the disabled is something that churches and Christians need to reflect on.
Many churches are burdened with accepting disabled believers as church members. Even Christians are uncomfortable with people with disabilities and do not show good tolerance for them. A mother missionary, working for the disabled, recently requested about 30 churches to provide a place of worship, but not a single church did so. An official from this missionary deplored, saying, “It was possible, but I did not know that I would be rejected this much.” The systems of churches and church schools do not operate in consideration for the disabled and children with disabilities. Even if they worship inside the church, there are many cases where they set up a mission for the disabled and worship separately. Ultimately, people with disabilities are forced to leave the church. It is difficult to find a case in which a church for the disabled and a church for the non-disabled exist separately like in Korea in other countries. As such, the Korean church does not accept disabled believers as members of the church community, but rather rejects it.
Regarding this, experts said, “If different worship services are held in a separate church, the understanding and interest of non-disabled people will be blocked at the source. There will be no choice but to lose,” he feared.
Disabled missionary experts say with equal unity that the church should show a mature image in which disabled and non-disabled people become one and unite. The present situation is by no means biblical. Evangelist Jang Jeong-ah (grade 1 blind) of our church said, “The disabled are only physically and mentally uncomfortable, but they are created by God just like the non-disabled. It is a very unbelievable idea to separate and differentiate for the same reason.” Evangelist Jang emphasized, “Even when it is difficult and difficult, we must show the image of a church where the disabled and the non-disabled become one.”
◇The view of the disabled in the Bible = In the Bible, the content of the disabled is described a whopping 160 times. 89 in the Old Testament and 71 in the New Testament. The Old Testament expresses the disabled in a generally negative sense, such as the cost of sin, the incompetent, and the curse. It is believed that God is in control of the human body, and there is a deep perception that disease is a 'judgment for sin' or a 'curse'.
However, moving on to the prophetic book, in the hope of the coming of Jesus Christ, all people, including the disabled, can be embraced in true peace from a new angle. In particular, the New Testament sees the disabled as beings for the respect of life and the glory of God. We are accepting the disabled as an object of evangelism and a developed sense of our neighbors to live together.
Jesus clearly declared that it was to show the work of God to the blind, not the consequences of sin (John 9:2-3). In particular, Jesus said that He came for the “poor, the captive, the blind and the oppressed” (Luke 4:18). And he showed a deeper interest and love for the one lost sheep than the 99 sheep in the cage.
These actions of Jesus and Bible verses are ultimately the biblical basis for the church to strive for the welfare of the disabled. Christianity is a 'religion of love', and Jesus taught and practiced love for neighbor as the core of the commandments and gospel (Mark 10:45; Luke 22:27). In addition, theology also speaks of 'Diakonia', that is, 'service' as the essential function and mission of the church. Social work is an important essence of the church, and welfare work for the disabled, which is classified as the most marginalized in our society, is a virtue that the church and its members must practice first.
◇Church's Recognition Change = An urgent priority to positively change the perception of the disabled by the Korean church and members in order for the mission of the disabled to be successful. Based on that awareness, the church should consider the disabled as the object of spiritual recovery and provide a place and space where they can worship together. In addition, inclusive education should be implemented in church schools so that children with disabilities are not discriminated against. In addition, efforts should be made to ensure that the church takes care of the disabled living in the local community and to meet the welfare needs of the disabled, such as education and medical care, by establishing networks with professionals.
◇Specific Program=The Korean church's missionary program for the disabled is very backward compared to other countries. Here are eight missionary programs for people with disabilities suggested by experts.
First, for missionary work for the disabled, volunteer education must come first. This education first recognizes the importance of missionary work for the disabled, educates the characteristics of the disabled, and acquires etiquette for the disabled. Second, we help people with disabilities who do not have a place to consult about new employment, marriage, etc. by developing a counseling phone line and mobile book business. Third, if each denomination, church, or missionary institution takes the lead and creates a joint workshop for the disabled along with vocational training, it can help the disabled.
Fourth, as a self-support fund accumulation and tie-up project, programs such as caring for one household in the first district by using the district organization within the church, helping the disabled families with district donations, and supporting one family in the church are to be developed. Fifth, it is to install a lift car on the ramp inside the church, secure a parking space for the disabled, and secure convenient facilities for the disabled, such as hiring a sign language interpreter.
Sixth, it should provide an opportunity for the saints to experience the difficulties of the disabled at least once. The seventh is to make sign language sermons for the hearing impaired and to produce Braille bulletins, Braille Bible books, and hymns for the visually impaired. Lastly, through seminars and cultural activities for the mission of the disabled, it is to help the disabled people who are wandering in various ways.