Why do churches ill-treat disabled people?
RESEARCH has indicated that some churches ill-treat people with disabilities and yet the Bible, as the cornerstone of the Christian religion, offers benevolent guidelines to disability attitudes and practice.
Considering that 85 percent of the population in Zimbabwe is Christian (“Religion in Zimbabwe”, 2012), it is useful to examine the behaviour of the church in relation to disability.
This article highlights some awful experiences that some people with disabilities encounter in various churches. However, in order not to take this article beyond its requirements in terms of length, I draw a few examples from a recent study carried out in Zimbabwe (Peta, 2016) and from elsewhere.
My focus on “bad” experiences in this article is not meant to disregard the fact that the church has in some instances been a role model in supporting people with disabilities.
But the idea is to highlight the fact that some “bad” experiences occur and action needs to be taken to reduce or eliminate oppressive religious practices towards persons with disabilities.
Nyasha is a 48-year-old woman who became blind at the age of two because she was not immunised against measles.
Narrating her recent experience whilst attending a local church service in Chitungwiza she said: “I went to the church with my sister and the prophet prayed for me twice but I still could not see. Then the prophet said ‘which home village do you come from?’ I told him that I come from Murehwa.
“Then he said ‘that is the problem with you Shona people, you don’t believe in God that is why you don’t get healed, your faith is very little, so go away.”
Nyasha’s narrative indicates that people with disabilities may be put under pressure to acknowledge miraculous healing.
If the healing does not take place, people with disabilities may be blamed by the prophet for lacking faith in God, thereby fostering misery and anguish among the very people that the prophet is seeking to assist.
It is evident that the belief that the strength of faith or the lack of faith relates to disability brings a number of problems for people with disabilities (Wilkes, 1980).
A study in Kenya revealed that whilst some people with disabilities may be interested in attending church services, they may not go to church because they fear that they will be judged as sinners who could not be cured of disability because they have little faith (Otieno, 2009).
A blind Christian is usually asked the question: “If your faith were genuine, would Jesus not have restored your sight?”
Narrating her experience at another church service in Mabvuku, Nyasha explained that she went to the church because she wanted the pastor to pray for her so that she could get a husband, as well as to recover her money that had been stolen by a person that she knows.
However, when the pastor saw that Nyasha was blind, he denied Nyasha the chance to narrate her concerns and to Nyasha’s distress, the pastor immediately imposed prayers of sight recovery on her.
“Pastors are a crazy lot, they don’t have time to listen, they just force me to receive prayer for my eyes, but there is more to life than eyesight. I have been blind for 46 years so it’s not a big deal. I want prayer for getting a husband and for getting my money back from the guy who stole it. As for my blindness, I have learnt to live with it. But oh! The moment I walk into a church, the pastor goes straight for my eyes.”
From another angle, it is not uncommon for some people with disabilities to be thrown out of church buildings or premises particularly in cases where they are perceived as being dirty and not well dressed and they are regarded as vagrants who are aimlessly loitering around the church.
Rayan illuminates the example of Kamau who entered a church whilst clutching his ragged clothes around him.
“It was Christmas day and the pews were overflowing with people. As the congregation stood up to sing, Kamau made his way through the celebrants. Suddenly, a rough hand gripped him and dragged him out.
“I have not come to beg,” he said. “I want to worship the Lord.” Before long, he was thrust outside the gate. Remorse and shame filled his heart and choked his voice. He sat down slowly cupping his head in his hands.
“Why, oh Lord, Why am I blind?” he fumed within. “Isn’t it just because I am blind, that I wasn’t allowed to stay in? Don’t I also have a soul?” (Rayan, 1991).
It is surprising that a blind man with ragged clothes, who walks into a Christmas church celebration, is regarded as a misfit and is thrown out of the church premises by Christians who are clutching Bibles in their hands.
The irony of the matter is that in Luke (14:12-14) Jesus uses the parable of the banquet to illuminate the benefits of moving from exclusion to inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life.
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
The Bible also directs the protection of people with disabilities in Leviticus (19:14), “Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God.”
Isolating people with disabilities from church buildings/premises or church celebrations is contrary to the Biblical perspectives that clearly direct the protection of people with disabilities, and their inclusion in all aspects of life.
It appears that some Christians are unaware of the fact that the Bible which they presumably read threatens the wrath of God to those who are disobedient or who fail to follow God’s laws.
“The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind. At midday you will grope about like a blind person in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do, day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no-one to rescue you.” (Deuteronomy 28:28-29)
Way forward
A leading religion in a nation makes a great impact on the social behaviours of the citizens of that country.
I, therefore, call upon all Christians in Zimbabwe to play a significant role in facilitating and listening to the voice of persons with disabilities and promoting positive attitudes and practices towards disabled people.
In any case, the Christian religion comprises 85 percent of the country’s population, its sensitivity to issues of disability will therefore go a long way towards contributing positive individual and societal change.
From a human rights perspective, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008) seeks to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Such a standpoint resonates with the religious standpoint, which shows that God pays special attention to people with disabilities and does not want them to be left behind.
“See, I will bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them the blind and the lame.” (Jeremiah 31:8, 9)
Christians should refrain from perpetuating prejudice, distress, confusion, inequality, discrimination and marginalization of people with disabilities.
When we judge the moral progress of our country, we should see the church drawing and implementing Biblical teachings that enable it to be a sanctuary for vulnerable groups. Interpreting Biblical texts in oppressive ways buttresses the marginalisation of people with disabilities, and yet the Bible teaches us that all people are equal. (James 2:1-9)
In any case, the emancipatory promises of God towards disabled people show that the Kingdom of God is not complete without people with disabilities.