Bridge's Executive Director, Jack Staudt, recently gave a Temple Talk at his home church, Holy Spirit Lutheran (HSLC). Here he invites his fellow congregants to join him in thinking about how to invite people who live with disabilities.
Compassion and Disabilities
HSLC Temple Talk
February 17, 2013
What is Compassion ?
It is = Empathy = Kindness = Concern
= Consideration …. + Love.
LOVE… a word I regard as necessary in a conversation about
Compassion … is a popular word in the Bible.
The word “Love” is in the King James Version 280 times– and
in the New International Version Bible 508 times. (Perhaps our more modern translations see our God as
even more Loving?)
I am going to share with you some thoughts about compassion
and love for people who are perceived to be, different from 'us'. As you may know
I work for Bridge Disability Ministries, and I am a member of the Holy Spirit
Inclusion Ministry. So my message in this Temple Talk, is about compassion for
those among us who live with disabilities.
What about Love, for those who appear different from what we
call “normal”, those who live with a Disability. Are they to be less loved?
Our Lord gives us a clear instruction in I Cor. 12: 21-22, NIV:
People with disabilities make up the single largest minority
in our country. They are also the poorest the most unemployed and often most
dependent upon others to live a full and rewarding life. Because of these
limitations they are also the most isolated, and the most invisible
population. But this minority group is also one that you and I can become part of today.
All of us as members of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church can be
very proud of the inclusive nature of our congregation. This church has become far more
inclusive, far more receptive to those who are different in any way … and yet
the same in every way … in the eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ. But there is more that we can do.
I'm going to quote some thoughts that come from a book
written by a former Pastor and a person who has spent many years in service to
people living with disabilities; The Lost Mandate: A Christ Command Revealed, by Dan’l C. Markham.
“It’s a real surprise to learn that of the 35 recorded miracles of Jesus in the New Testament, three were people Jesus raised from the dead and nine were miracles which broke the natural laws of physics – including turning water into wine, feeding the 5000, walking on water and calming a storm. The remaining 23 miracles involved people with disabilities: six involve mental illness and the remaining 17 involve physical issues such as blindness, deafness, paralysis, a withered hand and leprosy. That gives a clue to the heart of God for people with disabilities and an indication of the priority He gave them. In fact there are 43 direct references to disability ministry in the Gospels and many more indirect references – 16 in Matthew, 9 in Mark, 16 in Luke, and 2 in John…” *
One of those references is in the story of the Great banquet
in Luke 14:
In The Lost Mandate, Dan’l Markham says this Bible passage
in Luke is central to our understanding of Jesus call to serve and to love our
neighbors.
“The Holy Spirit might be saying something like this:
'Go out with my fervor to bring the lost into my house, my Church. And make sure you go with priority and with the greatest zeal to those who are the most marginalized - the poor and those affected by disability, who are the poorest of the poor. There is no more important task for you to undertake for me.' " *
So you might ask, “What does this mean to me, what am I to
do? Holy Spirit Lutheran is already 'Inclusive' of all people”.
Again, from The Lost Mandate I found this insight:
“…. Ministry (and church mission support) is made a reality by offerings of time, talent, and treasure. … Pastor Billy Burnett, of Joni and Friends, adds the all-important word to this list – touch. Disability ministry is much more than providing wheelchairs and retreats for people affected by disability. It ultimately is personal ministry to people with disabilities, bringing them into our circle of life both socially and spiritually, and seeking permission to be brought into their circle. It is most importantly “being with”. *
So I leave you with this final thought. Let's break up the word compassion, and think of it as two
words, Come and Passion. Let us invite people to Come and then display the Passion to
engage them. Go out, as the Master instructed, and invite those who live with
disabilities to the banquet of joy in Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, and bring in
those who might not feel invited, those who have not yet been welcomed.
And then, as Our Lord Jesus commands us, show love for your
neighbor, by simply being present with them.
Jack Staudt
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
*From The Lost Mandate by Dan'l C. Markham (2012-11-26).
