장애인 재활과 기독교적 소명

Abstract

This thesis is to do research on discovering Christian calling in the area of rehabilitation of the person with disabilities. This researcher will attempt to show how the Scripture reveals the understanding of rehabilitation and the person with disabilities; how rehabilitation makes impact upon the kind of gospel truth for them; and what the Christian calling must be for rehabilitation. The conclusion of this research can be outlined as follows: First, in the philosophy of rehabilitation all human beings are equal. The philosophy of rehabilitation seeks wholesome participation and equality of the person with disabilities. All human beings are created in the image of God. Once we realize the importance of souls as well as physical bodies of people, our attitude toward the person with disabilities must be changed. Secondly, the paradigm of rehabilitation of the person with disabilities is being changed today. The issue of rehabilitation is not anymore that of personal sin or individual lack of caution, but a matter of individual choice and personal determination in the lives of the person with disabilities. The basic rights for them must be guaranteed and supported so that they can pursue their own purposes of lives. People must realize that, not simply by people's care and hands of compassion, but by professional skills and methods of rehabilitation, this issue of rehabilitation is to be dealt with. We need to realize that the ideal of rehabilitation must be based on their potentiality. Thirdly, the rights of the person with disabilities must be guaranteed for the justice of social common good. This issue of guaranteeing basic rights cannot be dealt with mere proclamation but by practical solutions for every and each area of rehabilitation in greater depth: Medical, psycho-social, educational, and vocational rehabilitation, through which their return to society is made possible. Fourthly, God loves the person with disabilities. They are not the condemned, nor cursed because of their own sins, rather we can find in them God's marvelous providence. Physical handicap is not God's curse but the channel of God's blessing. We can also find how God wonderfully change their lives. Being a handicap can be a witness for God and an evangelist of the gospel message. God's Kingdom is a community in which no one is ostracized. The kingdom that God will rule will never find person with disabilities to be a challenge. We must deal with reality of the person with disabilities by faith and by scholarship. In spite of pain and suffering, we must realize that being person with disabilities is a vessel in God's hands, and precious instrument of God. Our attention must be given to seek common good of our society toward the minority and restoration of basic human rights. God never looks at the person with disabilities with pity only. God considers them as objects of salvation of their souls, and gave a pain of physical challenge so that they can carry out the task of gospel proclamation. We all live our lives with pain small or great. No one is truly free from the effects of pain of physical challenge. Seeking wholesome participation of the person with disabilities in society through psychological, social and vocational rehabilitation, through their reconciliation with God especially by prayer, through deep meditation on the meaning of physical challenge is toward the realization of God's Kingdom here on earth and completion of God's calling for rehabilitation.