David Andrus

Date of Award

5-1-2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Sacred Theology (STM)

Department

Practical Theology

First Advisor

Henry Rowold

Scripture References in this Resource

1 Peter 1:6; 1 Peter 2:24—25; 1 Peter 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4-9; Deuteronomy 28:28-29; Galatians 3:13-14; Isaiah 53:3-6; John 9:1-2; John 9:39-41; John 9:8; Leviticus 19:14; Leviticus 21:16-23; Luke 18:35; Luke 5:18-26; Mark 10:46; Mark 10:47; Mark 10:52; Matthew 15:12-14; Matthew 23:24; Revelation 3:17-19; Zephaniah 3:14-15

Abstract

Throughout history, people who are blind have been viewed by those in the sighted culture as limited and broken. This is true both in the church and in society in general. Our ecclesiology, however, should encourage, promote, or utilize blind people and their gifts to serve in the body of Christ. The church can, and should, accept, uplift, and utilize people who are blind and visually impaired as full members with a healthy and whole identity in Christ. To this end, our ecclesiology must not prohibit the ordination of a man who is blind solely on the basis of blindness as has been done in the past.

I wrote this paper with the goal of helping the church realize that blindness is not necessarily a result of sin. Rather, it is a gift of God to be used by the church. I hope to help the church become more sensitive to people who are blind and develop more productive ways of serving and utilizing these people.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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