Environmental influence on the works of God

Matthew 9:1 speaks of a group of friends bringing their paralytic friend to Jesus for healing. The verse then states, ". . . And seeing THEIR faith . . ." Jesus then went on to heal the man. Mark 6: 5-6 says, " . . . And he could do no work of power there. . . And He marveled because of their unbelief." Apparently the environment has some effect on the "ability" of God to work. The first quote says seeing THEIR faith, that is, the faith of all of them, both those who brought the man and the man with disabilities himself, the healing was performed. An example in the positive. The second quote relates how no work of power could be done because of the lack of faith that was evident there.

Now I don't want to read too much into these examples, however, there does appear to be a principle evident here, in that the environment affects the "works of God" (see April 26 entry) that might be evidenced.

I wonder how the environment of "the church" today influences the "works of God" which can be done among persons with disabilities? To even begin to do the works of God, the church must be open and including of people with various disabilities. The paralytic man probably would have never been healed if his friends had not brought him.

McNair