Very special?

[Momoftwo]

Hi,

I'm curious.

Are deaf, blind, handicapped people very special to God?

In my opinion, I think yes, deaf, blind, handicapped people are very special to God. God loves us all equally (normal people and not normal people) Normal people are still special to God but I feel that deaf, blind, handicapped people are more special to God than normal people. Why do I feel this way? It's because deaf, blind, handicapped people work very, very hard and it is a huge challenge. God found some people who are very strong so they can handle it very well when they are deaf or blind or handicapped. God needs those people to be deaf, etc so that way those people can do this for God's works. I asked many, many hearing people and even my hearing family - suppose if they were deaf, will they accept or don't want to be deaf? All of them said, "NO WAY, I don't want to be deaf!!" because they know that being deaf or blind or handicapped is really difficult. As for deaf person, it is very difficult to be deaf because it is so tough when you interact with normal people like communication difficulites, feeling of left out, etc. It is really frustrating in their whole life BUT they can handle it very well. God needs those people to be deaf, etc because God needs them to teach others about tolerate, patience, learning, etc.

My job is deafness for God's works.

I truly think that deaf, blind, handicapped people are very special to God. Normal hearing people should NOT be jealous of disability people for being very special to God. They have to understand the situation what God needs. It makes perfectly sense to me.

What about you?

Momoftwo

 

[Rose Immortal]

It makes good sense--I have been writing a story about a group of blind warriors and this topic came up.

There is a quote in the Bible that one is supposed to see the "grace of God" in those who are disabled, and I had this conversation in the story:

"...It's God who chooses if or how a child is born. And you know what Grandfather Michael says about why He chooses for some to be blind..."

"That it's possible someone might see the grace of God in someone like me," Erik paraphrased.

"Maybe for the people in the Scriptures that grace was shown when they were healed," Rue speculated, "but don't you think that for a lot of the blind, that expression of grace is in what they say and do just as they are? Leah's told me about all the good you've done for her...maybe because you have a different way of judging people--a way that let you see what an amazing lady she is. A lot of people couldn't recognize that, but you did. Do you really think Leah could lose sight of something so life-altering?..."


There was also this part, in which one of my warriors has a very neat experience during the worship service:

"I understand it now," Rue remarked to Grandfather Michael. They sat together in the grass on the practice field, the moisture of the last night's rain creeping slowly into their cloaks and robes, but neither one caring. Subtly the air whispered the promise of another round of showers that night. "The power you talk about, in the Eucharist. I really sensed it today...suddenly the whole thing is so much more evocative. It's almost as if it were designed for me. I let myself forget the sight of bread and wine, just for that time...and I couldn't help but think of the bitterness of blood when I tasted the wine. Perhaps achieving Remembrance is easier for the blind." According to the Aramansch doctrine of the Lord's Supper, it was not the bread and wine that transformed; it was the supplicant's meditation upon Christ's sacrifice that opened the heart to Him--this was Remembrance.

"Maybe so," Grandfather Michael answered. "It seems so much more real to me than any other part of worship because it's so immediate, so tangible. You are blessed to understand that, Rue...Remembrance is not always easy, and it can be more challenging for the sighted. They get there, but it takes the shedding of a lifetime of habits, of believing the eyes over the spirit and mind. I was speaking to Tamros about it once, and he told me how difficult it is for him. I say that not to demean him--he has an excellent head for theology--but he can be so tied to the written word sometimes that it's hard for him to make an immediate, sensual observation like that. Again, Rue...I hope you'll keep in mind what a wonderful gift that understanding is for you to receive--especially today. Don't let that slip away underneath the shock from this morning."


But, as Grandfather Michael does make sure to point out, I also think that those without obvious disabilities have their places and their things to teach, too. And many of us have burdens that the world may not always see. Sometimes even the "richness" itself that the "normally-abled" have is a burden to struggle against. I would not say that God loves the normally-abled any less, because He is impartial.

 

[Maria]

Hi,

I'm curious.

Are deaf, blind, handicapped people very special to God?

In my opinion, I think yes, deaf, blind, handicapped people are very special to God. God loves us all equally (normal people and not normal people) Normal people are still special to God but I feel that deaf, blind, handicapped people are more special to God than normal people. Why do I feel this way? It's because deaf, blind, handicapped people work very, very hard and it is a huge challenge. God found some people who are very strong so they can handle it very well when they are deaf or blind or handicapped. God needs those people to be deaf, etc so that way those people can do this for God's works. I asked many, many hearing people and even my hearing family - suppose if they were deaf, will they accept or don't want to be deaf? All of them said, "NO WAY, I don't want to be deaf!!" because they know that being deaf or blind or handicapped is really difficult. As for deaf person, it is very difficult to be deaf because it is so tough when you interact with normal people like communication difficulites, feeling of left out, etc. It is really frustrating in their whole life BUT they can handle it very well. God needs those people to be deaf, etc because God needs them to teach others about tolerate, patience, learning, etc.

My job is deafness for God's works.

I truly think that deaf, blind, handicapped people are very special to God. Normal hearing people should NOT be jealous of disability people for being very special to God. They have to understand the situation what God needs. It makes perfectly sense to me.

What about you?

Momoftwo

Amen ! I agree and it is very true. I would like to share somethin' what God says about deaf, blind and handicapped people... it makes them very special.

Leviticus 19:14
"Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD."

 

[VamPyroX]

If God exists...

We would all be special to God... EQUALLY. Whether we're deaf, blind, handicapped, etc... we're still the same to God. Saying that deaf people are more special to God is like saying that they're going to have a better change of going to heaven.

Secondly, isn't PRIDE a sin? If we were to say that deaf, blind, and handicapped people were more special to God than normal people... then those deaf, blind, and handicapped people would be guilty of sin. Since they're guilty of sin, more than hearing people... that makes normal people better because they don't take pride in being normal.

 

[Tousi]

Lol, Vampy! That was funny!

 

[jazzy]

I don't think certain people are only special to God. All of us are equal special to God whether we are deaf, blind or hearing.

 

[jazzy]

If God exists...

We would all be special to God... EQUALLY. Whether we're deaf, blind, handicapped, etc... we're still the same to God. Saying that deaf people are more special to God is like saying that they're going to have a better change of going to heaven.

Secondly, isn't PRIDE a sin? If we were to say that deaf, blind, and handicapped people were more special to God than normal people... then those deaf, blind, and handicapped people would be guilty of sin. Since they're guilty of sin, more than hearing people... that makes normal people better because they don't take pride in being normal.

True here. I do not see us being special because of our body being not perfect. It is more alike for them to take advantage of their own deafness to manipulate people.

 

[Momoftwo]

VamProx-

You said,
"Secondly, isn't PRIDE a sin? If we were to say that deaf, blind, and handicapped people were more special to God than normal people... then those deaf, blind, and handicapped people would be guilty of sin. Since they're guilty of sin, more than hearing people... that makes normal people better because they don't take pride in being normal."
-----------------------------------------------------------------

I don't agree with your statement. I don't know who you are - hearing or deaf. Anyway, it has to do nothing with pride.

This is my opinion that disability people are more special to God than normal people. Why? Ok....normal people who were born normal and raised without any struggles. My parents and 5 siblings never had any struggles because they are not disability. Let me give you some examples....

Normal people - divorced
Deaf people - divorced and deaf (frustration, leftout, etc)

Normal people - very poor, screw up life
Deaf people - very poor, screw up life, and deaf (frustration, leftout, etc)

So, disability people have more challenge than normal people.

It has to do nothing with being pride.

Let me ask you something....Do YOU want to be blind or handicapped? If you don't want to be blind or handicapped, WHY?? Is that hard????? Well, yes it is very hard. Disability people are WILLING to do the job for God's works so God feels that those people are very special to Him. Yes, we all are special to Him but for those disability people who are more special to Him. It is very clear to me. Normal people who say "no, disability people are not more special to God....we are all the same special to God...."....the truth is that normal people are jealous - that's part of sin....

Please don't fight with me and others on this message board.

Warm regards,

Momoftwo

 

[jazzy]

VamProx-

You said,
"Secondly, isn't PRIDE a sin? If we were to say that deaf, blind, and handicapped people were more special to God than normal people... then those deaf, blind, and handicapped people would be guilty of sin. Since they're guilty of sin, more than hearing people... that makes normal people better because they don't take pride in being normal."
-----------------------------------------------------------------

I don't agree with your statement. I don't know who you are - hearing or deaf. Anyway, it has to do nothing with pride.

This is my opinion that disability people are more special to God than normal people. Why? Ok....normal people who were born normal and raised without any struggles. My parents and 5 siblings never had any struggles because they are not disability. Let me give you some examples....

Normal people - divorced
Deaf people - divorced and deaf (frustration, leftout, etc)

Normal people - very poor, screw up life
Deaf people - very poor, screw up life, and deaf (frustration, leftout, etc)

So, disability people have more challenge than normal people.

It has to do nothing with being pride.

Let me ask you something....Do YOU want to be blind or handicapped? If you don't want to be blind or handicapped, WHY?? Is that hard????? Well, yes it is very hard. Disability people are WILLING to do the job for God's works so God feels that those people are very special to Him. Yes, we all are special to Him but for those disability people who are more special to Him. It is very clear to me. Normal people who say "no, disability people are not more special to God....we are all the same special to God...."....the truth is that normal people are jealous - that's part of sin....

Please don't fight with me and others on this message board.

Warm regards,

Momoftwo

There is alot out there who suffer worst than u and me. they are not deaf, blind or handicap. Being deaf is nothing compare to what others who suffer. they don't get any special treatment alike u, every other deaf and me.
U know your family deal with your deafness, do u think it is easy for them? I dont think so. Pride is something we all have even u and me too. I will give u an example, " I am God's special because I am deaf" Is it right thing to say? I don't think so. What about your kids, dealing with your deafness too. don't u think they are special too for having u a deaf mom?

got to go now

 

[Momoftwo]

Jazzy,

Who's more struggle - parents/siblings OR deaf? DEAF!

Don't you realize that many hearing people always said to deaf people "you are very special".....I always kept hearing the words "you are very special" all in my life and still now. No one said to my siblings "you are very special"...no one.

My kids are a little bit more special because they have deaf parents - a little bit more special than my siblings and normal people. My parents were a little bit more special - like my kids. That is my strong belief because it makes perfectly clear to me.

Warm Regards,

Momoftwo

 

[The*Empress]

Jazzy is right, because my Aunt in Law didn't want to deal with my deafness and my problems few years ago...

So God punished her... her oldest daughter died suddenly and now
she had a mini stroke last week Tuesday... and her left leg is paralyzed .
She is in Rehab, trying to learn how to walk.....

She didn't want anybody to know, she is very ashame of being a disabled.

My Aunt in Law now know how it feels to be handicap...
So now she will have to deal with her family members and friends taking care of her... and I hope her family members and friends will tell her
that they don't want to deal with her being crippled.
And she'll understand how I feel when she made me feel bad.
She'll understand what it is like being in my shoes.

Nah Nah NAh... what comes around, goes around. bad karma for her.

 

[Banjo]

Absolutely no one is superior nor inferior to each other. Not in the eye of God.

Thinking of yourself as being above the "normal" people is utterly selfish and childish. Period.

I'm deaf and I don't believe in such a thing. There is no accurate definition of normality to begin with. Everybody are different in their own ways.

 

[apathrev]

Saying that you believe God loves us all people equally, and then saying he favors a certain group is a contradiction.

 

[The*Empress]

Saying that you believe God loves us all people equally, and then saying he favors a certain group is a contradiction.

did the Bible say that God loves all people?

 

[Rose Immortal]

If God exists...

We would all be special to God... EQUALLY. Whether we're deaf, blind, handicapped, etc... we're still the same to God. Saying that deaf people are more special to God is like saying that they're going to have a better change of going to heaven.

Secondly, isn't PRIDE a sin? If we were to say that deaf, blind, and handicapped people were more special to God than normal people... then those deaf, blind, and handicapped people would be guilty of sin. Since they're guilty of sin, more than hearing people... that makes normal people better because they don't take pride in being normal.

Now that you've put this so eloquently, it's very clear. I think you are 100% right, and I say this as a believer.

I had been assuming that "special" simply meant "unique" and "uncommon" and that we were speaking of uncommon missions that a person might have in life. But some would assume that this means we would be more or less loved by God because of it. And that is totally incorrect.

I agree with you that God is impartial in His love towards us, and to assert that one group is automatically more special than the other is erroneous. We get no better or worse chance of going to Heaven because of what sort of body we are given. I think each of us is given exactly the burden that our spirit in theory COULD handle, so what that means is our chance of success or failure is actually EVEN with everybody else. Whether we carry that burden well or not is the important thing. We are equally responsible for our sins, and we all sin.

What makes that person distinct is the mission they are assigned. But more important than what sort of "burden" we are given (and each of us is definitely given one--assuming that others get off easy is a HUGE mistake) is the fact that each of us is given a unique mission that no one else could possibly handle, that requires you to be the best YOU that you can be--whether "normal", deaf, blind, paraplegic, whatever. If you fail to be that best YOU, then you have failed equally to the other person and will be judged by that impartial standard. What makes the deaf or blind person, or the one who struggles against depression special is NOT that they are more loved or have any greater chance of going to Heaven--it is simply the fact that they have a very unique, uncommon mission (such as the warriors in my story--it is their MISSION that makes them special, NOT that they are any better as people or any less accountable for their sins). But in the end, EVERYONE'S mission is critical for the Body of Christ to flourish. That includes the parts that take out the garbage.

I also think we should be careful before assuming we know what another person's burdens actually are FOR THEM TO ENDURE, in their own skin. Only they, and God, can know what that is truly like or make a fair comparison of one person to the other. Things like alcoholism, mental illness, traumatic past experiences, and so on are invisible things that you may not even realize a person has, especially if they cope well enough in your presence that you see no signs of it. And to assume that they are perfect only worsens it for that person because of this feeling that they must pretend in order to live up to that expectation.

If I should become blind or deaf, so be it--then that is what God has given me and I am sure it will affect how I carry out my mission. But if He does not choose to do things like that to me, then it does not mean He has decided that I am worth less to Him. Even if I am filling a role that is a dime a dozen--if I didn't do it that would still have consequences in His eyes.

I am not ashamed of any role, even if it IS inconsequential in the eyes of man, like taking out the garbage.

 

[apathrev]

did the Bible say that God loves all people?

John 3:16

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

[Rose Immortal]

did the Bible say that God loves all people?

I believe He truly does. That's why it grieves and pains Him to such a degree when people give themselves over to evil. I do not think He enjoys the feeling of anybody going to Hell. He doesn't celebrate that as we would if we knew who was and was not condemned.

 

[apathrev]

And for a more blunt response to this thread's topic:

Acts 10:34

34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

Romans 2:11

11For God does not show favoritism.

 

[The*Empress]

John 3:16

Yeah then the world killed his son. I wonder how God feel about us now?

 

[Rose Immortal]

I'm sure it hurt. Even in the Biblical account, especially if you accept Josephus' corroborating report of an eclipse occurring off of its scheduled time (and Josephus had no reason to want to offer such favorable evidence), God's grief was so great that it disrupted the very fabric of the universe for that time.

And one final, quick response. Since I am hearing, and sighted, and so on, that means I'm part of a huge set--I may seem replaceable. But what happens if I'm missing? Then the set is incomplete and you'd better send it back to the factory.