[Faith-talk] Blind Theology

[Devona Abel]

God, put me on this earth the way I am for a reason.

If he wants to change it he will.

I don't have to beg him.

And no my parent's did not sin to cause it!

That bull is why my parent's will not attend church.

Devona
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Alicia Richards 
  To: Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 7:52 PM
  Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] Blind Theology


  Hello, all ye good folks!  Paul, I'm glad you wrote into the list.  I'd 
  rather reply on here, because I like generating discussion, and I think 
  maybe that discussion will provide some insight for you in itself.  Goodness 
  knows I get flooded by some of the other email listservs, so let's start a 
  little traffic here.  *Grin*

  Oh, just a random question for you, Paul.  Are you blind or sighted?  It 
  doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, I'm just curious.

  Anyway, here's my thought on the John passage you quoted.  No, I don't 
  believe blindness, or any disability, is a direct result of our parents sin. 
  a result of sin in general maybe, as faras the Fall goes.  I imagine that 
  prior to the Fall, there wasn't blindness or other disabilities in the 
  world, or wouldn't have been if Adam and Eve had not fallen.  But now we are 
  fallen people and a fallen creation, and sin has entered the equation in 
  general.  But I don't believe that my blindness, or anyone else's, is a 
  direct result of some sin of their parents.  That's getting way too close to 
  religions that incorporate reincarnation and karma into their belief 
  structures.

  And as far as the man being blind to show God's glory, no, I don't think 
  that means he was blind so God could show off.  God has no need to show off, 
  and even more, I truly don't believe He's that trivial.  I think that was 
  meant to say that the guy was blind, so he could be an instrument of God to 
  bring people to Christ.  Christ's healing of people went far to prove who He 
  was to many, and I imagine there were people saved because they saw Jesus 
  heal that blind man.

  Similar things ring true to my own life.  God has used my blindness for His 
  glory, (and I don't mean showing off) more times than I can count.  I've met 
  various people I'd never have met if I weren't blind.  It's given me a topic 
  of conversation to open with when talking to people about God.  They'll ask 
  questions like, "Aren't you angry at God that you're blind," and so on, and 
  I can answer that I'm not, and why I'm not.  So, God chose to allow my 
  blindness.  Whether he deliberately caused it, or just chose to allow it, I 
  don't know.  I'm inclined to think He simply allowed it.  But either way, I 
  think He did it so maybe I have an unusual way of ministering for Him that 
  lots of others don't have.

  Just my own thoughts.  I'll be really interested to read other people's 
  replies.

  In His service,
  Alicia 

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-------------- next part --------------
God, put me on this earth the way I am for a reason.
 
If he wants to change it he will.
 
I don't have to beg him.
 
And no my parent's did not sin to cause it!
 
That bull is why my parent's will not attend church.
 
Devona
----- Original Message -----
From:
mailto:alicia716 at msn.com Alicia Richards
To:
mailto:faith-talk at nfbnet.org Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion
Sent:
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 7:52 PM
Subject:
Re: [Faith-talk] Blind Theology
Hello, all ye good folks!  Paul, I'm glad you wrote into the list.  I'd
rather reply on here, because I like generating discussion, and I think
maybe that discussion will provide some insight for you in itself.  Goodness
knows I get flooded by some of the other email listservs, so let's start a
little traffic here.  *Grin*
Oh, just a random question for you, Paul.  Are you blind or sighted?  It
doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, I'm just curious.
Anyway, here's my thought on the John passage you quoted.  No, I don't
believe blindness, or any disability, is a direct result of our parents sin.
a result of sin in general maybe, as faras the Fall goes.  I imagine that
prior to the Fall, there wasn't blindness or other disabilities in the
world, or wouldn't have been if Adam and Eve had not fallen.  But now we are
fallen people and a fallen creation, and sin has entered the equation in
general.  But I don't believe that my blindness, or anyone else's, is a
direct result of some sin of their parents.  That's getting way too close to
religions that incorporate reincarnation and karma into their belief
structures.
And as far as the man being blind to show God's glory, no, I don't think
that means he was blind so God could show off.  God has no need to show off,
and even more, I truly don't believe He's that trivial.  I think that was
meant to say that the guy was blind, so he could be an instrument of God to
bring people to Christ.  Christ's healing of people went far to prove who He
was to many, and I imagine there were people saved because they saw Jesus
heal that blind man.
Similar things ring true to my own life.  God has used my blindness for His
glory, (and I don't mean showing off) more times than I can count.  I've met
various people I'd never have met if I weren't blind.  It's given me a topic
of conversation to open with when talking to people about God.  They'll ask
questions like, "Aren't you angry at God that you're blind," and so on, and
I can answer that I'm not, and why I'm not.  So, God chose to allow my
blindness.  Whether he deliberately caused it, or just chose to allow it, I
don't know.  I'm inclined to think He simply allowed it.  But either way, I
think He did it so maybe I have an unusual way of ministering for Him that
lots of others don't have.
Just my own thoughts.  I'll be really interested to read other people's
replies.
In His service,
Alicia
_______________________________________________
Faith-talk mailing list
mailto:Faith-talk at nfbnet.org Faith-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/faith-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/faith-talk