Is disability God given?

[Neenie]

OK.. I’ve read all the posts; some have made me see a new perspective on things. I just find it scary to believe that God lets these problems among humans on purpose because of sin. God knew it would abound that when he created this world there would be sin* because of choice. But allows disease and disability on certain people, which confuses me. One of the reasons why I made this thread is because I thinking about “unfairness” My brother is going to be much more limited in this life than someone who God created without disabilities. People without disability have more potential to enjoy and succeed in life than those that do, yet God still expects worship from everyone in return lol. I see unfairness and it’s making me doubt the Christian faith. And it’s not just this issue that confuses me, it’s homosexuality that does just as much. I’ve been on this site for a while, and I’ve switched back and forth from ultra fundamental beliefs to ultra liberal. I’m seriously considering deconverting, because I no longer have the faith I had when I first become a Christian at the age of 17 when I was young and so naïve. It doesen’t make sense to me anymore. But that’s changing the subject, and I’ll keep that for a thread somewhere else.


Thanks for you're replies

 

[xhristlives]

I believe that all forms of disability, illness or disease are just random occurances...certain people r not picked out to have a disabilty, it just happens...

I mean, if certain people were picked out, why would some b able 2 accept it, and others go on 2 hate God 4 it...

 

[bliz]

One of the reasons why I made this thread is because I thinking about “unfairness” My brother is going to be much more limited in this life than someone who God created without disabilities. People without disability have more potential to enjoy and succeed in life than those that do, yet God still expects worship from everyone in return lol. I see unfairness and it’s making me doubt the Christian faith.

Your brother's life will be more limited in some ways, but less limited in others. As for enjoying life, many people with disabilities are far happier and enjoy life so much moe than people who do not have disabilities. A whole lot of things you worry and are concerned about, he will never be concerned with. And how do you measure success? If you keep score with money and power, than, no, your brother will not be "successful". But that is such a limited way of looking at success, for people with disabilities and people with "normal" abilities.

I think you need to redefine success - not just for your brother, but for yourself as well.

I’ve been on this site for a while, and I’ve switched back and forth from ultra fundamental beliefs to ultra liberal. I’m seriously considering deconverting, because I no longer have the faith I had when I first become a Christian at the age of 17 when I was young and so naïve. It doesen’t make sense to me anymore. But that’s changing the subject, and I’ll keep that for a thread somewhere else.

I was at a conference for Christian law professors and heard a speaker challenge his fellow educators that if they are having trouble integrating their legal understanding with their Christian faith, perhaps it is becasue they are trying to integrate their high level legal minds with a 5th grade Sunday school education about God.

A 17 year old faith will not hold up very well in the adult world. You are dealing with things you never imagined you would have to deal with and thinking about things that never crossed your mind before. Before you dump Christianity, try on a mature, adult version of the faith. I assure you, it will be a much better fit.

 

[Poohbear246]

Everyone has "disabilities". Some physical, some mental, some emotional. Anyone can find a reason to pick on someone else. Try to find a way to make things postitive. Maybe a school more open to what's going on is a start.

This is an excellent observation, and many disability theorists feel the same way. I know that many people are uncomfortable with the idea that God *causes* disability when he could alleviate it. As a disabled person myself, though, I find the opposite conclusion a little insulting actually. That is, the idea that God didn't cause it, that my sufferings are a result of a past evil or a past original sin. I think God certainly did intend for me to be this way for a reason, the fact that he did cause it means that he is doubly watching over me. I don't really want to disassociate God from my condition because that would just make the situation even more bleak.

I agree with the above poster. It is rough, it will always be rough. But the support and love that he gets at home can be soooo helpful. Enriching activies that his parents and family think up for him can teach him volumes about love and acceptance. Unfortunatelty a big part of life is learning that people can be jerks. And when they are prejudiced, you can learn how to brush it off by saying: "God, my family & my friends love me. If these people don't see the value in me, then *they* are the ones who are not worth it." That's not to say it won't hurt -- but there are things of much more value that you can turn to.

 

[Neenie]

Your brother's life will be more limited in some ways, but less limited in others. As for enjoying life, many people with disabilities are far happier and enjoy life so much moe than people who do not have disabilities. A whole lot of things you worry and are concerned about, he will never be concerned with. And how do you measure success? If you keep score with money and power, than, no, your brother will not be "successful". But that is such a limited way of looking at success, for people with disabilities and people with "normal" abilities.

I think you need to redefine success - not just for your brother, but for yourself as well.

You’re right…I think I’m looking at it too much from a worldly perspective on success. The world measures a persons worth on money and intelligence. That’s wrong, and I myself am guilty of trying to live up to that. I’m also thinking about what you said that my brother wouldn’t be concerned about these things as much as me, that makes sense because he does have some friends and things aren’t too bad for him most of the time. It just makes me angry that he gets discrimination because this disability that God gave him.

I was at a conference for Christian law professors and heard a speaker challenge his fellow educators that if they are having trouble integrating their legal understanding with their Christian faith, perhaps it is becasue they are trying to integrate their high level legal minds with a 5th grade Sunday school education about God.

A 17 year old faith will not hold up very well in the adult world. You are dealing with things you never imagined you would have to deal with and thinking about things that never crossed your mind before. Before you dump Christianity, try on a mature, adult version of the faith. I assure you, it will be a much better fit.

Yeah, I regret making that reactionary statement before. But you are right again ..I think about things and deal with different issues now than when I was 17. Before I had just read and believed, and went to church every Sunday. But now I’m completely confused on a lot of issues that have made me depressed and doubt God. I haven't been to curch for a while, and how I get a mature faith I don’t know yet. I have to force myself to read and believe the bible, when I don’t feel much trust or love towards God. I just feel like giving up sometimes. I don’t mean to offend anyone here, but I've seen that some christians can get nasty when someone questions the faith, which is understandable I guess...

If I wasn't a believer I wouldn’t blame God for anything. Now that sounds attractable to me

 

[bliz]

These events in life are hard. And it is very hard to see someone you love hurt or treated unfairly. My mother had Alzheimers. God and I went round and round over that for quite a number of years.

I firmly believe that God can stand up to a good hard questioning. We are allowed to question God. We are allowed to get angry with God. We can tell Him the honest truth about how we really feel - He already knows, anyway! He can take our anger and our doubt and our fear. The Christian faith and God are not fragile and in need of our shelter and protection.

When I finally began to talk to God just saying what I thought and felt instead of what I was supposed to say, then my spiritual life really began to grow and I began to hear God talking to me.

If you visit a church that does not welcome your questions and anger, find another one. There are many that will, and those churches are ones that can help you find an authentic, vibrant life in Christ.

 

[we5frogs]

Just another perspective - my son Gavin has Aspergers's syndrome (a high functioning form of autism) and Tourette's syndrome (tics). He is 14 now, and when he and I talk he sometimes says such interesting things, that I have to right them down. He tells me that he sometimes thinks it is other people who are disabled instead of him because:

- "I concentrate on things really hard to stay focused, while others are running around missing so much neat stuff"

- "I know what my limitations are, and can work around them, but lots of folks have things that hold them back in life, but they don't even know about them"

- "I have met lots of really cool people that most folks would never talk to because they look or act different, to me everybody has something interesting, and I know how it feels when I tic and they avoid me"

- "you know how most people have that filter we talked about, where they don't hear and see things that sometimes distract me? Well, with that filter on I wonder if they miss the neat things like the smell when the donuts are baking down the street at the donut shop, or the way flies walk up the window and never fall down"

- and last, when he was only 9- "I know that it is wrong to laugh at people who are disabled, and I should try to help them and talk nice to them, so doesn't that mean I have something good that most other people don't?"

I guess it's all in the way you look at the world, and yourself. If your brother is comfortable with himself, and content with his life for the most part, then look for the wonderful things about him that make him different, and for the gifts he has been given that the rest of us must do without.

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