LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

[Johny Joe Hold]

I am happy to serve of the Outreach Committee here at Landover Baptist.

Recently, our Committee hired a consultant to see if there was anything our Church might do differently.

The consultant reccommended we hire someone to stand next to the Pastor and use sign language to communicate the Pastors words. That way, the consultant said, people who are deaf could enjoy the services.

The Outreach Committee is reccommending we do not hire someone to sign. Every member of the Committee agreed we have no obligation to serve handicapped people of any kind, especially deaf people.

Thank you for this opportunity to report to the General Congragation here at Landover Baptist Church.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/what-they-see-when-they-come-to-your-church-77510/

[Dr. Ernest C. Ville, D.C.S.]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Servies.

Praise Jesus! I have long thought that the church would benefit from a rigorous inspection from a business-minded individual. These are the sorts of things that we should focus on! After all, those potential customers/converts might be so put off by unclean restrooms so as to avoid tithing at all!

That being said, we need to be judicious in our work. We don't want to offend God in the search for new customers. Clearly the Good Lord has afflicted those among the deaf community for some sin, whether recent or in the distant, distant past (see Exodus 20:5). However, it is just common sense to ensure that we keep our restrooms clean and our parking ample. That way there are very few barriers to entry!

Have we considered creating a Landover Special Pew Inspection Force (SPIF)? I am certain that those "Christians" who happen to have seemingly bottomless bank accounts would pay handsomely for our experience in drawing in new customers! This might be another tax-free revenue stream that we should consider!

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

When I met with the Outreach Committee I told them flat out that Jesus and I would not accept such a thing. I can't stand watching those freaks contort themselves up on stage right next to a Pastor's Pulpit. It's too distracting. And Jesus didn't talk like a spastic.

[Jedediah]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

The Holy Bible clearly tells us that cripples (which include deaf people) are repulsive in the Eyes of God. Even those in the lineage of Aaron were not allowed to profane the House of the LORD with their unseemly presence.

Leviticus 21:16-24
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,
Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,
Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;
No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.
Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.
And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

Our Creator cannot stand the site of hellbound retardeds and cripples! Why should we even consider for a second letting deaf people attend Sunday services with our Godly congregation?

[Pastor Ed Lowman]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

We must also consider that sign language may be confused with gang signs and thus invite minority hoodlums to start a turf war right in the middle of God's worship.

Can't be too careful these days.

Pastor Ed

[Dr Laurence Niles]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

If people can't bothered to listen properly I see no reason to spend good money on the lazy.

YIC

[MitzaLizalor]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

sign language .. deaf

God does mention sign language

Luke 1:62-63 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
KJV

In this case the father (Zacharias) had been struck dumb because he doubted the word of Gabriel:

Luke 1:19-20 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
KJV

That is not a typical example, however. Being informed that your baby is John the Baptist would be more unique than typical. God has different advice for the more usual form of deafness (demon possession):

DEMON POSSESSION

Mark 9:25-27 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
KJV

GOD'S ADVICE

Isaiah 42:18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
KJV

We know that all this is in accordance with God's plan:

Exodus 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
KJV

Of course we should not laugh at deaf people, or trip the blind but neither should we pretend that they are "normal" — and demoniacs are not permitted in the Congregation of The Lord.

Praise God!

[Johny Joe Hold]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

If people can't bothered to listen properly I see no reason to spend good money on the lazy.

YIC

Good point, Brother Niles---One of our committee members pointed out that every "deaf" person she had ever seen had two ears. Why would they have ears and still claim they can't hear, she wondered?

[James Hutchins]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

Ugh. This is wrong on so many levels.
First, God made people deaf to punish them. I cannot see how we are serving the Lord by coddling these people. I for one, have no desire to have God blind me or cause some other horrible thing to happen because I wanted to accommodate someones infirmity. I say these people need to pray to God for Him to cure them.
Secondly, the last thing I want standing next to my Pastor (dressed in the finest linens money can buy) is some 'do-gooder' wearing (most likely) mixed fabrics waving their arms about like a retard. I come to Church to be immersed in Gods message, not watch a freak show.

[StarrKingGrad]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

Of course we should not laugh at deaf people, or trip the blind

Well, that's a rare moment of compassion for the less fortunate from a trademarked True Christian.

Do you all not remember the redemption of Lebanon in Isaiah 29? "...In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness." You should, as Isaiah 42:19 requires, "Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears." Will you not rejoice when "the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped?" Isaiah 35:5 And remember the impression Jesus made in Mark 9:25: "...he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."

If the deaf were good enough for Jesus, why aren't they good enough for you?

[James Hutchins]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

Well, that's a rare moment of compassion for the less fortunate from a trademarked True Christian.

Do you all not remember the redemption of Lebanon in Isaiah 29? "...In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness." You should, as Isaiah 42:19 requires, "Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears." Will you not rejoice when "the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped?" Isaiah 35:5 And remember the impression Jesus made in Mark 9:25: "...he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."

If the deaf were good enough for Jesus, why aren't they good enough for you?

Friend, I'd never laugh at a deaf person or trip a blind person. The deaf person could not hear me and the blind person, well, it is not a challenge.
God struck these evil people with afflictions for a reason. They know perfectly well if they atone for their sins and make good to God, He will cure them. In the mean time, coddling these 'people' is like peeing on Jesus toes.
So I speak to others with my back turned toward the deaf and I watch TV with the sound off in the presence of the blind.

[Faith_Machine]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

Don't you already have a Jumbotron screen in the parking lot across the street from the LBC's main cathedral so cripples can watch the sermons? Why not just have somebody type subtitles as the sermons are delivered? I'm sure some of the girls in the Landover typing pool would be up to the challenge. Problem solved!

[MitzaLizalor]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

Well, that's a rare moment of compassion for the less fortunate from a trademarked True Christian.

Do you all not remember the redemption of Lebanon in Isaiah 29? "...In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness." You should, as Isaiah 42:19 requires, "Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears." Will you not rejoice when "the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped?" Isaiah 35:5 And remember the impression Jesus made in Mark 9:25: "...he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."

I do not intrude personal "opinions" in my posts.

Leviticus 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
KJV

If the deaf were good enough for Jesus, why aren't they good enough for you?

The deaf were not good enough for Jesus. That is why he healed them.

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

Don't you already have a Jumbotron screen in the parking lot across the street from the LBC's main cathedral so cripples can watch the sermons? Why not just have somebody type subtitles as the sermons are delivered? I'm sure some of the girls in the Landover typing pool would be up to the challenge. Problem solved!

A wonderful idea, Brother! It is possible some of the deaf haven't heard of Jesus. Maybe they could read of Him, and then be healed!

[Faith_Machine]

Re: LBC Committee Recommends No Sign Language at Services.

Thank you, Reverend Rodimer!

I've been thinking about it, though, and I do have some concern that if the girls can't type fast enough, or if they suffer from any degree of female hysteria, they might be tempted to use abbreviations or in some other way embellish or alter the pastor's words.

Therefore, if the LBC were to implement this plan, I think it would be important to have a good man with full possession of his hearing faculties watch that text feed like a hawk. Maybe he could have a button he could press that would administer a mild electrical shock to the typist any time she flubs the pastor's lines?

Just a thought.