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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48054113 I read the above article earlier today. It's pretty unusual to see a "feature" article on the BBC regarding anything to do with Christianity, so I clicked on it. As usual, it's fairly critical of Christians (this is the BBC, after all) but it has some interesting theological points. I don't think any of them are really valid, but I was intrigued enough to want to log on and see what others thought. Firstly, to my mind the idea that "God is disabled" and uses a "wheelchair" is laughable. I can forgive the 15-year-old wheelchair user for wanting to interpret the Old Testament passage that way, but it's ludicrous for a consecrated priest to take this view. Apart from the obvious, that God is spirit and doesn't need to physically move around the world, the idea that God is disabled is simply contrary to all understanding of God's omnipotence and perfection. How can the almighty creator of Heaven and earth be in any way disabled? He is literally all-powerful. Also, the suggestion that the wounds of Christ are some kind of disability is, at best, a badly-flawed understanding of the Passion narrative and, at worst, blasphemous. To suggest that the marks of Christ's suffering on behalf of the world are a disability is just insane. Jesus was no less all-powerful when He rose from the grave, wounds or not. The wounds are there as symbols of His victory over sin and death. I also take exception to the idea that if Christ were walking around the modern world He wouldn't "pity" a disabled person He met and want to heal them. Of course He would want to heal them. They're suffering, in pain, or otherwise restricted in living life, and Jesus came to give abundant life. I've known plenty of disabled people and I don't think a single one of them would have refused to be healed, fully and perfectly, if Christ has stood in front of them and offered it. The article talks a lot about blindness. I believe that human beings were given eyes to see and appreciate the beauty and glory of God's creation. A blind person may be able to live a full and happy life, but they're missing so much. They can't see the beauty of a flower or a sunset or a rainbow, all the wonderful things God gave us that don't have to be there. The light from the sun refracts through the earth's atmosphere the way it does because God chose for that to be the case. He set the laws of physics in full knowledge of what He was doing. A blind person might be told about the glorious colours the setting sun makes, but they can't experience it. Would Jesus offer them their sight, in today's world? Of course! Jesus wants them to live and live abundantly. To my mind this article is typical of the British media and the BBC in particular, and demonstrates nothing but pride. The disabled people quoted as saying they want to be disabled in Heaven - just pride. They're proud of their disability, and perhaps they're right to be proud of how they've coped with it, but to want to be disabled? If I remember correctly, when we're resurrected at the second coming of Christ we'll be given new, perfect bodies, like Christ's glorious body. How can a new and perfect body be disabled? Isn't it sinful pride to want to reject this restoration brought by God? I particularly dislike the discussion of Jesus' healing miracles as "fixing" disabled people and suggesting that this is wrong. It's suggesting that Christ went around arrogantly "fixing" these "broken" people and doing it to show off. I find that suggestion pretty offensive, and it clearly demonstrates a lack of understanding of Christ's ministry. He healed the sick out of love and compassion. Yes, the article acknowledges that these people would be totally marginalised in ancient society and reduced to living on charity, but it's completely wrong to say this was done to "showcase" Jesus' power. The Gospel accounts of miracles help unbelievers to see the power of God, but that's not the same as showing off. How can limited, ignorant humans understand Divine love and power? Performing a miracle gets the message across far quicker than sermons and parables, for sure, but did any of the healed people get angry and say they were fine as they were and they didn't need to be fixed? No, they were amazed at the love and power of God and went off praising the Lord. On the point of Christians coming over and essentially demanding to pray for disabled people, I suppose it must happen to prompt this article, but surely that's just rude? Has anyone here had any experience of this kind of thing? I've prayed for a disabled friend of mine, with her full knowledge and gratitude, but I didn't need to stand over her and "lay hands" on her. I prayed for her privately, alone, at home, and told her about it later. We're commanded to pray for others and we know the effectiveness of prayer on behalf of someone we love, but are Christian people really imposing on perfect strangers like this? What are your thoughts, brothers and sisters?

Authority Vs. Power - Walking in Jesus Christ 2 Timothy 1:7: For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Philippians 4:13: I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Luke 10:19: I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 1 Corinthians 6:14: By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. Ephesians 3:20: Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, Luke 4:32: They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. Revelation 20:4-6: I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended) Ephesians 1:21: far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. John 10:18: No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” 1 Corinthians 15:24: Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. Luke 20:2: “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” Luke 12:5: But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him. Matthew 9:6: But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” Matthew 28:18: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Acts 10:38: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him. 2 Peter 1:3: His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 68:35: You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!