The Term Handicapped

8/3/2019 The Term Handicapped

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Rev. Garry W. Cuthbert online research 20/02/2012

But The quoted text will be in blockquotes. My own comments in normal text between theblocks of quotes. All quotes unless otherwise stated is from the Handbook of BibleApplication From Tyndale House publishers.

The Term Handicapped

HANDICAPPED (Disabled, Impaired, Limited)

How are the handicapped treated in the Bible?

BIBLE READING: Leviticus 21:1-24 - Audio Link

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/Lev.21.1-Lev.21.24

KEY BIBLE VERSE: And the Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron that any of hisdescendants from generation to generation who have any bodily defect may notoffer the sacrifices to God. (Leviticus 21:16-17, tlb) - Audio Link

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/Lev.22

The handicapped were limited in service, but personally accepted. Was Godunfairly discriminating against handicapped people when he said they wereunqualified to offer sacrifices? Just as God demanded that no imperfect animals beused for sacrifice, he required that no handicapped priests offer sacrifices. This wasnot meant as an insult; rather, it had to do with the fact that the priest must matchas closely as possible the perfect God he served. Of course, such perfection was

not fully realized until Jesus Christ came. As Levites, the handicapped priestswere protected and supported with food from the sacrifices. They were notabandoned, because they still performed many essential services within thetabernacle.

The hardest aspect of my disability and the circumstances surrounding it, can be feelinguseless, purposeless, as if I have no value or worth or nothing to give the least regarded. Iknow that cannot be true. God tells me that. God does not waste his time on anything thathas no purpose, with God, everything and everyone has a purpose. But what HAS addedto that being a sore that stings at times, is the exact abandonment opposite to theaforementioned that has gone on, both far and near. The truth is for many people, is that

they have the riches that leave me so poor, loved ones, people who care for and aboutthem, that they do not need me, and are not likely to notice if I am not around, becausethey have more than enough riches to not barely notice it. For me, the all but totalabandonment that has gone on, in this condition, is the brick that breaks the camels back,as it can be like being shut into a coffin and the lid nailed on. No matter how bad anythingis, physically, emotionally, mentally etc, there is never really anyone to go to, for help orcomfort, and so I stay there, trying to not sink until the time of extremity passes. Yet, theabandonment that has gone is, as the aforementioned again says, is not Biblical at all. The

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Law of God is summed up by Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind andstrength and your neighbour as yourself. WE show we love the Lord with all our heart,soul and mind, WHEN we love our neighbour as yourself. And yet to find anyone wholoves their neighbour near as much as they love themselves is very rare. I have also seenthe same thing with others in bigger than average afflictions. People often love themselves

very much indeed, and yet have a few crumbs to throw to those they claim they love asthemselves while they go to a feast. I think it happens possibly to greater than averageafflictions. As when I have seen this, with myself or others, that has always been the case.It wasnt a small, easy or little affliction, yet friends and loved ones afflictions are just asmuch a test to those we know and love, as they are to ourselves. Some failed miserably,not just to myself, but to others too, as far as I am concerned. But in loving themselvesmuch more than they love their neighbour, the whole Law is broken all at once.

BIBLE READING: Mark 10:46-52 - Audio Link

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/Mark.10.46-Mark.10.52

KEY BIBLE VERSE: And so they reached Jericho. Later, as they left town, agreat crowd was following. Now it happened that a blind beggar namedBartimaeus (the son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by.(Mark 10:46, tlb) - Audio Link

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/Mark.10.46

Jesus treated the handicapped with dignity.

Beggars were a common sight in most towns. Because most occupations of thatday required physical labor, anyone with a crippling disease or disability was at asevere disadvantage and was usually forced to beg, even though Gods laws

commanded care for such needy people (Leviticus 25:35-38). - Audio Link

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/Lev.25.1-Lev.25.22

Blindness was considered a curse from God for sin (John 9:2), - Audio Link

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/John.9.2

but Jesus refuted this idea when he reached out to heal the blind.

BIBLE READING: John 9:1-12 - Audio Link

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/John.9.1-John.9.12

KEY BIBLE VERSE: Master, his disciples asked him, why was this man bornblind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents? Neither, Jesusanswered. But to demonstrate the power of God. (John 9:2-3, tlb) - Audio Link

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/John.9.2-John.9.3

For Jesus, handicaps were opportunities for God to display his power. A common

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belief in Jewish culture was that calamity or suffering was the result of some greatsin. But Christ used this mans suffering to teach about faith and to glorify God.We live in a fallen world where good behaviour is not always rewarded and badbehaviour not always punished. Therefore, innocent people sometimes suffer. IfGod took suffering away whenever we asked, we would follow him for comfort

and convenience, not out of love and devotion. Regardless of the reasons for oursuffering, Jesus has the power to help us deal with it. When you suffer from adisease, tragedy, or disability, try not to ask, Why did this happen to me? orWhat did I do wrong? Instead, ask God to give you strength for the trial and aclearer perspective on what is happening.

For those in physical extremity, it is a chance for Gods people to show Gods love wherein physical sufferng particuarly, love and kindness can seem hidden. When your body isscreaming at you night and day, it can be hard to see love in that, all the more when youare left alone with only that. Unlike other afflictions, you cannot get away or take a breakfrom your body. If your body is screaming at you, you cannot forget it, it will not let youdo so by the nature of pain. Yet it has been rare find folks loving others as they love

themselves. Oh casual acquaintances, have been fine, but deeper, more meaningfulrelationships, whether far or near, have without fail almost,I have seen how I wasnt worththeir time. And how giving me time, ate into their pleasures often. So it was easier to justforget or ignore me. God does give me strength, and I am thankful to Him for doing so.But Gods people, have failed me mostly, time and again. And none of the above hasapplied at all. It can be hard to understand those who you have no reason to even suspectare not true Christians, why they would be so indifferent and passive, whether towardsmyself or anyone else in extreme affliction, when Christ was so different, and gives us veryclear instructions how we are to weep with those who weep. And Christ calls us tofollow Me. Its been a very confusing trip in trying to discern and discriminate betweenGods people, who the Bible says should be a certain way in certain things, even given we

are all sinners. Leaving someone to die in agony alone, is not the same as forgetting tomow the lawn or something, and how God can love someone that his people have actedvery much like they hate at times, by the above. Im getting there, and the sting is less.But, if I was seeing this happen to someone else, every fibre of my being would tell me itwould never be right or just. But we dont have to understand why Gods people do asthey do. WE just have to make sure that we do as God tells us in our own lives, andaccept no matter how hard life is, our lots are from the good hand of God. And that oneday, it will all make sense.

If someone is in extreme suffering, that when trying to communicate, when hurting andsobbing on top of that, that they may not say what they intend to say well, (would

anyone?) to turn on them putting the worst possible construction on their effort to say it,so that it means completely other, is doing nothing else but thinking evil about peoplebecause they are poor, as described in Jam 2:2 - Audio Link

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/Jas.2.2

upon which verse, John Calvin says:

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Let us therefore remember that the respect of persons herecondemned is

that by which the rich is so extolled, wrong is done to the poor,which also

he shews clearly by the context and surely ambitions is that honor,and full

of vanity, which is shewn to the rich to the contempt of the poor. Noris

there a doubt but that ambition reigns and vanity also, when themasks of

this world are alone in high esteem. We must remember this truth,that he

is to be counted among the heirs of Gods kingdom, who disregardsthe

reprobate and honors those who fear God. ( Psalm 15:4.)

Audio Link

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/Psa.15.4

Here then is the contrary vice condemned, that is, when from

respect alone

to riches, anyone honors the wicked, and as it has been said,dishonors the

good. If then thou shouldest read thus, He sins who respects therich,

the sentence would be absurd; but if as follows, He sins whohonors the

rich alone and despises the poor, and treats him with contempt, it

wouldbe a pious and true doctrine.

1. Have not the faith, etc., with respect of persons. He means thatthe

respect of persons is inconsistent with the faith of Christ, so that

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they

cannot be united together, and rightly so; for we are by faith unitedinto

one body, in which Christ holds the primacy. When therefore the

pomps

of the world become preeminent so as to cover over what Christ is,it is

evident that faith hath but little vigor., on account of esteem, (exopinione,) I have

followed Erasmus; though the old interpreter cannot be blamed, whohas

rendered it glory, for the word means both; and it may be fitly

applied

to Christ, and that according to the drift of the passage. For so greatis the

brightness of Christ, that it easily extinguishes all the glories of theworld,

if indeed it irradiates our eyes. It hence follows, that Christ is little

esteemed by us, when the admiration of worldly glory lays hold onus. But

the other exposition is also very suitable, for when the esteem orvalue of

riches or of honors dazzles our eyes, the truth is suppressed, whichought

alone to prevail. To sit becomingly means to sit honorably.

4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves? or, are ye not condemned in

yourselves. This may be read affirmatively as well as interrogatively,but

the sense would be the same, for he amplifies the fault by this, thatthey

took delight and indulged themselves in so great a wickedness. If itbe read

interrogatively, the meaning is, Does not your own conscience hold

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you

convicted, so that you need no other judge? If the affirmative be

preferred, it is the same as though he had said, This evil alsohappens,

that ye think not that ye sin, nor know that your thoughts are sowicked

as they are. Calvins commentaries

Purpose and intention of doing this research is show through by the scriptureswhat was actually said and documented of how our heavenly father looked uponthe handicapped of the world and how Christian and Unchristians are to respond,react, and care about the handicapped within our world today.

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In His sevice

Rev. Garry Cuthbert

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The Term Handicapped