I am a Christian. I am deaf. I am hurt.
Last week, you (CP) posted an article related to Francis Chan healing of a deaf boy and girl in rural Myanmar. It came across my Facebook. At first, I ignored it because frankly I got a bit tired of that kind of “spotlight” that deaf people usually get in the Christian community. We are always viewed as a target group for people to come and pray for healing for our deafness; it is hard to be seen as equals. Several more articles also circulated after yours so I decided I could not ignore it anymore. I wanted to find out what the hype was about. I opened up your article and read…
I was heartbroken.
“Francis Chan says he healed deaf boy and girl in Myanmar.” Oh how that is music to the ears of the Christian people who are not deaf. But, why would I be heartbroken? Don’t I think healing can happen? Yes. Of course. It is not the result, but the mindset behind the result. First thing that came to mind, “did you even ask the deaf children?” As a deaf person myself, I have been approached one too many times by people who can hear, wanting to pray over me for my ears to be healed. Actually, I have another part of my body that I really need prayers for instead, but they never asked me.
As a deaf person, I honestly never really liked being around hearing Christian people. Why? I am always seen as a “target” of a hopeful miracle. I grew up with Christian people telling me what Jesus could do for my ears based on the story in the Bible of Jesus healing a deaf man. Sadly, no Christian person has ever approached and ASKED me how they could pray for me. I think most, if not all, people who are not deaf, have forgotten one very important part about the story related with the deaf man in the Bible- Jesus ASKED and He did it in private.
I am frustrated.
SOURCE: Christian Post, Renca Dunn
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