Who should pay for the fact that I am born with serious disabilities? It’s a fair question; especially with today’s climate.
I am not unsympathetic to the cry for justice and my Father does care about what is happening in this country. When do I get my pound of flesh, though? What does this have to do with the sin of being born “White” or “Black”?
No, I am not smoking marijuana and I’m not drunk. I actually do have serious birth defects; courtesy of congenital rubella. About 25 years ago, I went to a church in downtown Phoenix, AZ. For some strange reasons, I was told to look for hidden sins in my life. These people never met me and they had no clues, on who I am.
According to these people, my disabilities are a sure sign that I must have done something wrong. It did not matter that I was born with disabilities and I wasn’t going to play the blame game. Sadly, I stayed with that church and let their words get to me.
Keep in mind, we’re talking about a sin that I could not have committed. It would also be wrong to blame my parents or their parents. Do you know what’s even more abhorrent? It’s the idea of God, the Father punishing me for something that I’ve yet to do. Really? Does that sound like a loving Father?
Here’s what God tells Moses in Exodus 34:7. Moses is being given a description of who God is. Here’s the verse:
7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
Exodus 34:7 [NASB]
How the heck does this relate to my situation? The above Scripture is a description of my Father’s character. It describes a loving and merciful Father, who doesn’t take things out on an unborn child. Why then would my Father provides a mean to save my life? That’s kind of weird! Don’t you think?
By the way, the underlying Hebrew word for iniquity means “perversions” or habitual sins. Alcoholism is a good example. My maternal grandfather was an alcoholic. My mother could have followed her father; however, she did not follow this path. I’m proud of Mom, for that decision. According to Ezekiel 18:14-17, she’s considered blessed for saying “No”.
What does this have to do with me? How does this relate to the issue of blaming someone for past sins? I do hope you do take time to listen to my podcast that’s included with this blog post. The player is at the top. It will be a little more entertaining. 🙂 Have you ever read John 9:1-7? It is about a man born blind.
9 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.
John 9:1-7
I will gladly acknowledge that this man has class! Did you notice how the man did not respond to the disciples’ question? He simply ignored them and demonstrated grace. He is already glorifying God before Jesus miraculously healed him. This man did not get angry or blamed others.
It was probably refreshing for the man to hear Jesus say that no one sinned. His blindness was not a punishment for him or his parents. Typically, if someone does something wrong then they are going to know it. Their sins will not be a mystery.
What about people in the distant past? People with disabilities were not always treated nicely. They were often outcasts and excluded from society. The disciples’ question did not exist in a vacuum. It comes from a belief that they are at fault.
Should I go after everyone who is a descendent of such people? I do hope you’re quick to see the quagmire that we’ve stepped into? I purposely stayed away from Italian Catholics. It would be easy; as they were massacred in the late 1800s.
Would you like to know how to get out of this quagmire? It is actually quite simple. We need to forgive those who hurt us, in the past. We need to let go of the past and not let it dominate our lives. That’s why I did the “Release Not the Kraken” episode. We have to forgive and say “No” to rage. We need to release undeserved Forgiveness!
If you are struggling with this and still need to have a pound of flesh then I’d like to encourage you to ask Jesus for help. I will agree that it is easier said than done. That’s why it’s important to ask for help. Let not the bitterness of the past dominate you.
This is precisely what I had to do with those who hurt me. I had to forgive others; even if they don’t deserve it.
Christianity Explained 
Cheers to you for bringing this biblically inaccurate behavior to light. How beautiful are the true words that address disabilities, those that extinguish the ignorance of those that would accuse the disabled.
Thank you