The Works of God

Pastor Kenny has asked me to speak to the Wednesday Connection at Bethlehem on January 25 under the theme ‘The Sanctity of Life of Those with Disabilities.’

He was moved by something Dianne said when some of the elders gathered to pray for Paul last summer: I would not waste my life if the rest of it were spent caring for Paul.

Nobody who has met Paul disagrees, at least not in my presence or the presence of his mother!

But there are people who, if given a hypothetical person with the list of things he lives with, would say this life doesn’t have value, and certainly shouldn’t interfere with the life of a productive, college-educated woman. They might even say it is a kindness to not let that person, or his mother, suffer and that abortion is justified in cases like this.  Given the prevalence of that thinking outside the church, I’m guessing there may be some inside the church who agree.

That reminded me of a couple of other things that Dianne says that people tend to remember which are radical and God-centered and shocking to ears not accustomed to a Biblical understanding of the sovereignty of God over all things.

In other words, I don’t think getting their attention will be too difficult!

Ultimately, though, I don’t want it to be about guilt or about some romantic sentiment about caring for another person.

It needs to be about Jesus and the joy found in him alone, which encourages people to do radical things in love with the expectation that God will help them and strengthen them.  If one outcome of this talk is more people with disabilities (and their families) are pursued and welcomed and included and invited to use their gifts to serve the church, I would be very grateful to God!

I would appreciate your prayers.