Just a few years ago, there was extreme religious violence here in Orissa, perpetrated by the radical Hindus. Christians were persecuted and their houses and churches were attacked and torched. The violence replicated itself in village after village and Christians were forced to flee their homes as the violence spread. Over 700 homes were destroyed in three days.
We spent some time with orphans in a childrens' home yesterday. Many had lost their parents in the attacks but were themselves, spared and had escaped to forest hideouts. These children, some as young as about six, stayed there for up to a month before they were found by the local missionaries.
In this context, it is amazing that we are seeing miracles and such great things happen here in the name of Christ. News of the healings are becoming the talk of the town. Most people in these villages do not have the money for medicine or hospitals or aids/technology. Those who were crippled would be carried everywhere. People are forced to simply deal with their pain. I think God is making his church in Koraput, the place where these people can find their healing.
Some time ago, I discussed the healings recorded in the New Testament with a friend of mine. We realised a recurring theme in many of Christ's miracles - that those who were healed were being outcast from society by their sickness. Therefore, by bringing healing to the person's body or mind, Christ was also restoring this person back into society by removing the thing that was keeping them outcast.
Men suffering from leprosy were cured from the physical affliction that made them ceremonially unclean (Luke 5:12-14). The paralytic who needed to be carried around on a mat was able to walk (Matthew 9:1-8). The blind beggar was able to see the world for the first time (Luke 18:35-43). The mute man was able to speak (Matthew 10:32-33). Jesus restored sanity to the man who had for a long time, lived amongst tombs and ran naked around his town (Luke 8:27-29). Jesus raised a widow's only son from the dead because she would have lost her only source of livelihood (Luke 7:11).
Disabled or diseased, these people were rendered useless in Jewish society, but an encounter with Jesus allowed them to reinstated into that society. This makes me think that God is more about restoring people into community rather than trying to amaze us or prove Himself.
Yesterday we prayed for another deaf lady (see picture left) and she began to hear for the first time in seven years. She was so happy that she kissed our feet. Glory to God.
Men suffering from leprosy were cured from the physical affliction that made them ceremonially unclean (Luke 5:12-14). The paralytic who needed to be carried around on a mat was able to walk (Matthew 9:1-8). The blind beggar was able to see the world for the first time (Luke 18:35-43). The mute man was able to speak (Matthew 10:32-33). Jesus restored sanity to the man who had for a long time, lived amongst tombs and ran naked around his town (Luke 8:27-29). Jesus raised a widow's only son from the dead because she would have lost her only source of livelihood (Luke 7:11).
Disabled or diseased, these people were rendered useless in Jewish society, but an encounter with Jesus allowed them to reinstated into that society. This makes me think that God is more about restoring people into community rather than trying to amaze us or prove Himself.Yesterday we prayed for another deaf lady (see picture left) and she began to hear for the first time in seven years. She was so happy that she kissed our feet. Glory to God.
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