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Archive for October, 2011

Looking deeper into the Word has benefits

Posted in commentary, Scripture on October 11, 2011| 1 Comment »

The journals I review on disability and theology are frequently disappointing because the authors don’t work very hard at understanding the scriptures.

Pastor John recently gave a chapel talk on that very subject, pointing out that laziness is frequently a better explanation for the conclusions people come to rather than ‘courageous’ insight.

But one writer, the parent of two children with disabilities, posted an article in The Journal of Religion, Disability and Health that produced some interesting insights because she worked harder to see and understand what God may be doing in a particularly difficult text: Leviticus 21:16-23.

Entitled Disability as Enacted Parable, Jennifer Cox concludes this about the Biblical text (paragraph format is mine):

People with disabilities are not different from people without disabilities in that each desires meaning and purpose in his or her life.  Many, no doubt, seek to make sense of the difficulties they face as a person with a disability.

If disability can be understood as having a positive purpose in Leviticus 21:16-23 there is no reason that disability cannot have a positive purpose in the present.

Many people with disabilities may be understood as living out an enacted parable that “speaks” a word from God to the world. Such a “word” would have far more impact when lived out in the life of a person with a disability than a word that is simply spoken.

Jennifer Anne Cox, “Disability as Enacted Parable” in The Journal of Religion, Disability and Health, Vol. 15, Issue 3, 2011, p. 252.

I agree with that conclusion!  My son has no spoken spiritual language, but God is glorified in his life in some really unexpected and unusual ways.  God has used him, and others with disabilities of all kinds, to have impact on my life and the life of the church.

I didn’t agree with everything in the Cox article, but I appreciated her engagement with the Word itself, and how it took her to an interesting, positive conclusion about God’s work in the world through disability.

Ironically, in the same issue of that journal, another writer dismisses Leviticus 21:16-23 in a few sentences, even indicting God at several points.  I know doing things like that can ‘feel’ courageous, but the contrast with the Cox article simply made this other writer look lazy.  This same writer also dismisses passages like Mark 2 (the healing of the paralytic) with a single sentence.  Why this is considered good scholarship is a little bewildering.

So, the discipline that Jennifer Cox brought was not because of her editors.  But, Lord willing, maybe that contrast will be noticed by others who will then be encouraged to dig deeper, question their own biases and motives (rather than easily and quickly believe they can understand God’s motives), and pray for discernment and insight.

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“Behind the law of heredity is the Law giver.” A.W. Pink

Posted in commentary, Quotes on October 10, 2011| 1 Comment »

Daniel (my middle son) and I walked up to the local seminary library on Saturday to check out the recent edition of a quarterly journal on religion and disability that is unavailable online.  Let’s just say that most of what we found wasn’t that helpful.  Generally the articles aren’t helpful for just two reasons: scripture doesn’t have any authority (if it is referred to at all); and God’s love is defined by human desires and ‘wisdom.’  The glory of God is rarely even considered!

On the other hand, A.W. Pink is usually helpful and God-centered!  I found this in the Bethlehem library on Sunday:

“And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the (mute) or deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?” (Exodus 4:11)  It seems evident from this that, in the previous verse, Moses was referring to some impediment in his speech.  In reply, the Lord tells him that He was responsible for that. The force of what Jehovah said here seems to be this: As all the physical senses, and the perfections of them, are from the Creator, so are the imperfections of them according to His sovereign pleasure. Behind the law of heredity is the Law giver, regulating it as He deems best.

A.W. Pink, Gleanings in Exodus, p. 38.

“As He (the omnipotent, omniscient, loving, wise, just creator and sustainer of all things) deems best ” – now there’s reason for hope, comfort and joy!

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Abortion and the Unborn Child in International Law – the San Jose Articles

Posted in commentary, News on October 9, 2011| 1 Comment »

A group of lawyers, ethicists, and government officials from a number of countries came together to respond to a growing effort by United Nations committees and officials to force nations to increase access to abortion.

This group has created and released the San Jose Articles to respond to this pro-abortion effort.

It hasn’t gotten a great deal of press, and it should.

In the press conference at the United Nations, the signatories of the San Jose Articles pointed out that there is no United Nations resolution that demands an increase in abortion access.  Yet, some UN officials have behaved as if there is:

Asked to specify what United Nations treaties and officials had recently pointed to a right to abortion under international law, Mr. Ruse said that a few weeks ago, the Special Rapporteur on Health and the High Commissioner for Human Rights had made statements to that effect.  In addition, Kosovo, Timor-Leste, Kenya and other nations that had signed United Nations treaties were increasingly being told that they must legally uphold abortion rights based on non-discrimination, public-health and reproductive-health grounds.  Mr. Rees added that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) were also promoting abortion rights.  (Press conference on launch of San Jose Articles, 10/6/2011)

This is important – no such ‘right to abortion’ exists under international law, yet the United Nations has officials claiming it does and those officials are bullying smaller countries and governments.

In their own words, why they felt the need to respond:

Why the San Jose Articles?

It is now commonplace that people around the world are told there is a new international right to abortion.

Those who receive this message are people who have the power to change abortion laws; parliamentarians, lawyers, judges and others.

Those delivering this message are influential and believable people; UN personnel, human rights lawyers, judges and others.

The assertion they make is false. No UN treaty makes abortion an international human right.

Even so, the assertion is gaining traction around the world. The high court of Colombia changed their country’s abortion laws based on this false assertion. More are considering such a change.

The purpose of the San Jose Articles is to provide expert testimony that no such right exists. The San Jose Articles were prepared an a group of 31 experts in international law, international relations, international organizations, public health, science/medicine and government. The signers include law professors,  philosophers, Parliamentarians, Ambassadors, human rights lawyers, and delegates to the UN General Assembly.

The purpose of the San Jose Articles is also to demonstrate that the unborn child is already protected in human rights instruments and that governments should begin protecting the unborn child by using international law.

We hope that experts around the world will place a copy of the San Jose Articles on their desks and that the next time they hear this false assertion they share this expert testimony.

It is also our hope that the San Jose Articles will begin to appear in law review articles, in Parliamentary resolutions and in the debate of the UN General Assembly.

Finally, it is our fervent hope that governments will begin to utilize their right to refer to existing international law to protect the unborn child from abortion.

Those who make the false assertion that there is new international right to abortion have had the microphone too long.

The San Jose Articles take that microphone away.

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God deliberately does what is counter-intuitive

Posted in Quotes, Scripture on October 8, 2011| 1 Comment »

I have been reading a little treasure of great thinkers and preachers and writers on the subject of death – and experienced wonderful encouragement!  O Love that Will Not Let Me Go: Facing Death with Courageous Confidence in God is a fantastic collection of works by names like Piper, Keller, Owen, Edwards, Luther, Spurgeon and Calvin, all brought together by Nancy Guthrie.

It is full of God-centered gems of truth, helping put language to things my family has experienced and probably yours has as well.

Like this one on why God deliberately calls weak, hurting people to reach out to other weak, hurting people:

One of the great lessons I learned through my illness is that God will frequently call us to come alongside others who are facing the same circumstance we are.  I call it “incarnational illness.” God deliberately intersects our lives with the hurting at the very moment when we hurt. Why does he do this? Because he knows that weakness is the perfect soil for growing dependence in him.  Stripped of our own gifts and resources, we are perfectly positioned to trust him.

John Eaves, “A Witness in the Way We Die,” in O Love that Will Not Let Me Go, edited by Nancy Guthrie, p. 75.

John Eaves’ God-centered illustration drew me back to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, and encouraged me to rejoice in a wonderful truth – our weakness allows Christ to look even more glorious!

But he (the Lord) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV).

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“Whatever is troubling and making you unhappy, go to him about it.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Posted in Quotes on October 7, 2011| 1 Comment »

Martyn Lloyd-Jones has been dead for more than 20 years.  I am really glad he wrote books and recorded sermons!

And I appreciate this reminder – we can go to Jesus with anything.

I do not care what it is that makes you restless and ill at ease. It may be the possibility of war, it may be illness, it may be business troubles, it may be your own weakness morally in the realm of the will – whatever it is, whatever is troubling and making you unhappy, go to him about it.  He is the one who loved you enough to die for you.  He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled, p. 27.

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God just continues to pour out hope through his Word!

Posted in commentary, Scripture on October 6, 2011| 1 Comment »

Reading through the Bible isn’t like reading other books.  I have a certain anticipation about what God might reveal.  Some days that takes work.

And then some days God simply says – enjoy!

I don’t have anything new or insightful in what follows.  I just soaked in God’s goodness in Ephesians 3:7-21 and invite you to do the same.  Here’s a little of what I saw:

  1. His free gift of grace.
  2. The fact that he created all things – like a little boy with multiple disabilities
  3. We have access to the Lord of all the universe!
  4. He strengthens us.
  5. He is doing things beyond what we ask – or even think!

There’s more to enjoy, and I’ve included the full text below.

Yes, “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!”

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

(Ephesians 3:7-21 ESV)

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“Basically, I wake up every morning in desperate need of Jesus.” Joni Eareckson Tada

Posted in Quotes on October 5, 2011| 4 Comments »

Joni gave a great interview with Tabletalk Magazine for their October edition, Dealing with Death and Disease.  You can read the entire interview here: A Purpose in the Pain: An Interview with Joni Eareckson Tada.

Here is an excerpt (paragraph formatting is mine):

TT: Which passages of Scripture have given you encouragement during your struggles with disability and cancer?

JT: Psalm 79:8 says, “May your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need” (NIV).

Basically, I wake up almost every morning in desperate need of Jesus — from those early days when I first got out of the hospital, to over four decades in a wheelchair, it’s still the same. The morning dawns and I realize: “Lord, I don’t have the strength to go on. I have no resources. I can’t ‘do’ another day of quadriplegia, but I can do all things through You who strengthen me. So please give me Your smile for the day; I need You urgently.”

This, I have found, is the secret to my joy and contentment. Every morning, my disability — and, most recently, my battle with cancer — forces me to come to the Lord Jesus in empty-handed spiritual poverty. But that’s a good place to be because Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3, NIV).

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Helpful, but not the answer

Posted in News, Scripture on October 4, 2011| 1 Comment »

Thank you to @snappin_min who pointed me to @lovethatmax who linked to a study that was just released by the American Journal of Medical Genetics.

Brian Skotko has made his career working with families and children dealing with Down syndrome, and I’m very glad he has.  Once again, he has partnered with other researchers looking at various medical, social and cultural issues related to Down syndrome.  This time he and his collaborators were looking at the quality of life in families with a child who has Down syndrome.  Their findings are encouraging and have been reported in the article, “Having a son or daughter with Down syndrome: Perspectives from mothers and fathers.”  (Kudos to the American Journal of Medical Genetics for making this article available online for free!)

  • 99% reported loving their child with Down syndrome.
  • 79% report their outlook on life is more positive because of their child with Down syndrome.
  • Only 11% reported the child with Down syndrome was putting a strain on the marriage – exactly the same number who reported their children without Down syndrome were straining a marriage.

Articles like this are so important because women frequently report a negative bias on the part of their health providers when a diagnosis is first made.  Abortion is frequently anticipated by medical professionals before a conversation has even begun.  Expectant mothers are too frequently told the worst case scenario rather than given a fully-informed view based on the actual experiences of families who have a child with Down syndrome.

Dr. Stotko’s newest study is designed to help provide better information to both families and health care providers.

But, while helpful, this study is not the answer.  Those who make the case that families shouldn’t have to take on the ‘burden’ of parenting a child with Down syndrome will probably point to the following:

  • The average household income of people who responded was more than double the national average, suggesting these families have more financial means to deal with issues related to disability than a typical family.
  • Those reporting a connection to the Catholic church are over-represented in this study (34% of study participants vs. 24% of Americans as a whole); the Catholic church supports babies being allowed to live.
  • 88% of families in this study are married; only 4% reported being divorced (other categories were widowed, single, and living with partner).

Hardest of all, 4% of respondents regretted having their child with Down syndrome.  We should all hurt for those families – they need help.

But possibly the most limiting thing is the reliance on reports of feelings.  We all know that feelings can change, both for the positive or the negative.  And we know that we frequently need to preach to ourselves to remember the truth, to make sure that our fickle feelings don’t guide us down a dangerous path.

The truth is this: God knows the ends from the beginnings (Isaiah 46:8-11); makes all things turn out for good for his elect (Romans 8:28); and supplies every need (Philippians 4:19).  We can trust him when nothing else makes sense.

So, let us use studies like this to help save babies and encourage families!  But let us do so carefully.

For that 4% who live with regret about the life of their child with Down syndrome, let us pray for them and reach out to them with the truth that is far more glorious than their limited experiences.  And we can boldly yet humbly guide others as we have been guided, including health professionals, toward the truth and the certainty of the sufficiency and glory of Jesus Christ.

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“Left to ourselves, we become careless in the duty of numbering our days.” Albert Martin

Posted in Quotes on October 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Someday, no more disability.  But God clearly uses disability to keep us oriented to and dependent on him.

And someday, no more death.  But Albert Martin, in his new book, helpfully points out that even our last enemy, death, is used by God for his glory and our good in this present age:

Left to ourselves, we become careless in the duty of numbering our days. We so easily drift into living as though we will be here on this earth forever. . . Few things more quickly and effectively snap some of the shackles that bind us to this world than does the death of a dearly loved one. Tenderly, holding their lifeless form in our arms, or wistfully looking as they lie in a coffin, such experiences become powerful voices. These voices call out, urging us to obtain the wisdom that alone can enable us to live as those who “number our days.”

Albert Martin, Grieving, Hope and Solace: When a Loved One Dies in Christ, pp. 95-96.

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Death, Disease and the Gospel – an article by Burk Parsons

Posted in Quotes on October 2, 2011| 1 Comment »

Burk Parsons is the editor of Tabletalk Magazine, produced by Ligonier Ministries.  This quote is taken from his recent article, Death, Disease and the Gospel:

Because of the unrelenting nature of death and disease, we might be tempted to try to run from death and hide from disease while striving with all our might never to think on such matters. But in doing so our striving would not only be vain but sinful. Just as the Puritans spoke of dying well, so we need to be reminded that it is not a question of if and when we will die, but how we will die and how we will cope with the daily realities of death and disease — will we stand and shake our fists at God in bitter anger or will we kneel in prayer and in humble dependence on our Lord and on the promises of the gospel of Jesus Christ by the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit, glorifying God and enjoying Him now and at the hour of our death? For the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away — blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1).

You can read the entire article from Ligonier’s website here.

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