Question by Sakurachan: Grumpy Blind Guy, do you know about Lutheran Blind Mission, Etc.?
A few days ago, I asked a question about disabled-homebound Christians wanting to serve their church & your response made me sad. I’m sorry the Church hasn’t included you like they should. The reason I asked the question is that I want to work on it. The church I go to has van service & ramp. I hope you can find one close to you. I’m sure a pastor would be happy to come to visit you too.

Blind Mission: http://www.blindmission.org/
Also online Christian radio shows (esp. Issues Etc.): http://www.kfuoam.org/ie_main.htm
And Lutheran Hour: http://www.lutheranhour.org/archives.asp
Find an LCMS congregation: www.lcms.org >Directories >Congregations (http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/locators/nchurches/church.asp)

Best answer:

Answer by crabby_blindguy
I also made it clear that there are some cchurches that do reach out to the disabled community–and if yours is one of them, great.

But most do not–particularly the so-called “fundamentalist” churches. Perhaps they should spend a little more time reading the Bible instead of thumping it: “” ‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:14)

That’s ironic, because in the 1800s, it was churches and Christians who were at the forefront of establishing schools for the deaf and blind and that made the first efforts to establish decent treatment for the mentally ill, worked to discourage trafesties like “freak shows”,” and so on.

The most notable contribution “organized religion” has made in the past 3-4 decades is to oppose parts of the Americans with Disabilities Act that would have required them to make churches accessible on “freedom of religion” grounds!

And–while it is commendable that you–and your church–are reaching out, if you really want to make a difference, it takes a lot more than a van and good intentions. Here’s a few figures to give you a picture:
>Only 55% of the blind are graduating from high school (it used to be closer to 80%–the national average–before visually impaired children were “mainstreamed” into public schools where they are NOT getting the accomodations they need).
>65% of the adults with disabilities who can work are unemployed.
>The Bush administration has repeatedly cut programs for job training and placement.
>Studies show that the single most vulnerable group to domestic violence are disabled women–up to 80% in some areas.
>Due to lack of education and employment persons with disabilities are at higher risk of alcohol abuse and a variety of other problems

Even 100 years ago, as much as persons with disabilities were wrongly viewed as helpless, such a situation would have had every Church in a city up in arms demanding change. Now, the majjority do not even have an outreach program to bring the Gospel to the disabled and all you here on the media are complaints about “tax money being used for socialist programs.”

Our Lord preached the Sermon on the Mount–but He also cared for those with impairments–and He didn’t forget that, while “Man does not live by bread alone,” man most certainlydoes not live without it.

I commend you–but you are a voice crying in the wilderness. God bless you for trying. But don’t expect me to stop criticizing what needs to be criticized.

If you’d like to learn something about the history o fwork for the disabled, here’s a couple of excellant books that do a good job of showing the critical role Christians played in the 1800s:

Freeberg, “The Education of Laura Bridgeman”
Baynton, “Forbidden Signs”

What do you think? Answer below!

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