Inherited Disorders Pages 103-104

Have you ever been made fun of? because of how you look? what you could or could not do?

an abnormal characteristic passed on through genes Inherited Disorders an abnormal characteristic passed on through genes

Inherited Disorder Examples red-green colorblindness some handicaps

From Life Science Textbook page 113 You may think something is abnormal or a handicap; the Bible clearly teaches that God makes people the way He wants them to be. Even when a baby is still in his mother’s womb, God controls the baby’s development (Ps. 139:13-16; Jer. 1:5). In Exodus 4:11 God speaks to Moses

From Life Science Textbook page 113 about his speech problem and asks, “Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb [speechless], or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord?” A person who is handicapped is not simply the victim of an accident; his condition is part of God’s perfect will for his life.

Psalms 139:13-14 KJV “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works…”

Reverence, honor, respect Psalms 139:14 “fearfully” To stand in awe of Reverence, honor, respect

Psalms 139:13-14 New Century Version “You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother’s body. I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.”

Why does God allow a person to be born with an inherited disorder?

For a Christian “all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28) For a Christian “all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). Handicaps provide opportunities for God to work in a person’s life, as He provides grace and strength.

Satan will try to use these things to destroy you – to defeat God’s purpose and plan for your life. Remember Joseph’s life? Gen. 50:20 says, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good …”

While Christ was on earth, His disciples asked Him if a certain man’s blindness was caused by the man’s sin or the sins of his parents. Jesus replied that the man was born blind so “that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:3).

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Our lives are to bring glory to God.

You should not look on inherited disorders or other handicaps as God’s punishment of a person. Nor should you make fun of someone’s handicap.

To do so is both cruel and dangerous To do so is both cruel and dangerous. It is cruel because it ridicules something the person cannot control.

It is dangerous because it mocks God’s creation.

Matthew 18:6 KJV “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

To cause a person to begin to distrust “offend” To put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall To cause a person to begin to distrust

Christians are to be a godly influence on each person they meet Christians are to be a godly influence on each person they meet. To the unsaved, we are to be a testimony that may lead them to Christ. To fellow Christians, we are to be a help and an encouragement. We cannot be a testimony or an encouragement if we are unkind.