Paul's "Thorn in the Flesh" and Christian Mission to People with Disabilities

This article attempts a holistic theological analysis of what the mission of the church to people living with disabilities (PLWDs) should be. The article pays attention to Paul's reference to a "thorn in his flesh" using the theory of complex embodiment. It counters the emphasis in so...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Togarasei, Lovemore 1971- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Wiley-Blackwell [2019]
In: International review of mission
Year: 2019, Volume: 108, Issue: 1, Pages: 136-147
IxTheo Classification:HC New Testament
KBN Sub-Saharan Africa
NBE Anthropology
RJ Mission; missiology
Further subjects:B Disability
B complex embodiment
B St Paul
B thorn in the flesh
B Healing
B Mission (international law
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:This article attempts a holistic theological analysis of what the mission of the church to people living with disabilities (PLWDs) should be. The article pays attention to Paul's reference to a "thorn in his flesh" using the theory of complex embodiment. It counters the emphasis in some churches on healing as the proper response to the needs of PLWDs. Rather, the article seek to present a theology that gives PLWDs greater knowledge of and control over their bodies to live meaningful lives even with their disabilities. The article argues that Paul lived with a disability and that although he sought to have it healed, he later accepted it and lived fully and meaningfully with it. It concludes that, from the example of Paul, the church's mission to PLWDs should not necessarily be the healing of disabilities but their empowerment and integration in our societies.
ISSN:1758-6631
Contains:Enthalten in: International review of mission
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/irom.12268