Same Kind Of Broken As Me

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.  --Psalm 51:17

He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.  --Proverbs 29:1

20th century Methodist Evangelist D. T. Niles said, "Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread."  The apostle Paul called us saints, but an honest inventory of behaviors reveals us as blatant sinners.  We are all forgiven: utterly and completely and individually.  Unfortunately ours is not a Christian nation.  We cannot claim, as some believe, a cultural cleanliness based on our nationality.

We are as broken as broken can be.

Last Sunday at our church, a young woman described a Christian missionary group that sends teams to Haiti to establish orphanages.  In that island nation, 60 percent hold to some form of  Catholicism, 40 percent hold to some form of Protestantism, but 100% believe in Voodoo.  In her lesson, the young lady described in detail how Haitian people who are born with disabilities are cast out--out of their homes, and onto the streets; out of society, and into a life of poverty.  The majority of Haitians believe that deformed or disabled people are cursed, and that is why in their culture they are given no shelter, no food, no assistance whatsoever.

Thankfully, there are Christian groups who go into the region and establish orphanages, where people who range in age from zero to thirty can get food, shelter, and clothing, as well as a message of hope.  The outcasts are people for whom Christ died, regardless of their status.

Most Americans are outraged at such a story.  They might be heartbroken at such savage treatment of  fellow human beings.  Yet we are guilty of much the same thing in our country.  Last week, there were stories in the news about various states broadening access to abortion.  The New York legislature passed a bill stating that a pregnant woman can opt for an abortion up to her due date.  When the law was passed, there was a standing ovation in the state house.

In Virginia, a bill sponsored by Democratic Delegate Kathy Tran was narrowly defeated that would allow an abortion for a woman while she is in labor.  The governor of that state, Ralph Northam, described it like this:

Procedures like this are done in cases where there may be severe deformities.  There may be a fetus that is not viable.  So in this particular example, if a mother's in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen.  The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable.  And then a discussion would ensue between the physician and the mother.

The unspoken truth is that this "discussion between the physician and the mother" centers around whether this infant, after he or she has been delivered, should be allowed to live.  In the context of abortion rights, the decision to withhold care would result in the baby dying.  Some people rightfully call this infanticide.

Why is this practice acceptable, but the Haitian shunning of children with disabilities is not?  Aren't they saying the same thing?  Not viable...Severely deformed...Cursed...Not worth living.

Ironically, some of the same people who applauded Governor Northam's stance on killing unwanted babies are now calling for his resignation because a 35  year old photo has surfaced this week of him in black-face.  He is being castigated for marginalizing an entire race of people.  As Ron Hall wrote in Same Kind Of Different As Me, "Life produces some inglorious moments that live forever in your mind." Those moments certainly live forever in the media.

The point is our society is as broken as any third-world country, overrun with prejudice and superstition and Original Sin.  It is not just our society, but individually we are all broken.  Isaiah 53:6 says, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."  There is none holy; not even one.  Each of us will have to stand before God and give an answer for our sins.

Thankfully, the One on whom God has laid all our iniquities is able to deliver each of us totally and completely.  If our faith is in Him, He will deliver us.  If we place our faith in ourselves or in any other, then the promise of Isaiah 1:28 holds true: "But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed."

We are all broken.  "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God."  None of us deserves grace.  God is merciful, praise His Name.  Do not turn your back on His mercy.