8 thoughts on “God and Vulnerability”
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Rebecca, as Sarah pointed out above, there are all kinds of directions one could take this line of thinking. My primary concern in writing the post was with people with cognitive disabilities, but there are certainly other groups of people for whom this understanding of humanity would be immediately helpful, were more Christians to adopt it.
The “original temptation” was to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil so “you will be like God.” Valuing (overvaluing) knowledge, then, is the product of giving into this temptation. Relying on ourselves is a byproduct, because we think we know enough to be independent and self-reliant. People with severe and profound disabilities know they need to rely on others. There is no value given to intellect or independence, because they are not aware and incapable of being independent. What this has taught me is that it's a fallacy that any of us are strong and independent. We all depend on God for everything. Intellect might be a human trait for most of us, but it also can separate us from God. What I have learned from children with severe disabilities is twofold—-that intellect is far less important than kindness and that if I can love these “weakest” people, then God can love me, even with all my weaknesses and faults. Giving up the pursuit of intellect and independence necessarily leads one back to God = reconciliation.
These are great points, Sharon. Thank you for sharing them in this forum.