AGAPE COUNSELING FOR A CURED LEPROSY

PATIENT FACING DISCRIMINATION IN OFFICE

Submitted To

Global School of Open Learning

In Partial Fulfillment of the

CHRISTIAN COUNSELING

by

Vivek Ray
ID No. M14J002

9 May, 2019

GLOBAL SCHOOL OF OPEN LEARNING

2. Stigmatization & Discrimination of Leprosy Victims in India ............................................... 3

3. Bible and Leprosy.................................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Leprosy in Old Testament ..................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Leprosy in Old Testament ..................................................................................................... 5

4. Understanding Leprosy Victim ............................................................................................... 6

5. Counseling Plan ....................................................................................................................... 7

5.1 First Interview and periodic meetings: ................................................................................. 7

5.2 Pointing at Jesus:................................................................................................................... 8

5.3 Encouragement for attending Fellowship & Bible study:..................................................... 8

5.4 Daily devotion & prayer: ...................................................................................................... 8

5.5 Significant others: ................................................................................................................. 9

5.6 Involvement with Organizations working with Leprosy Patients: ....................................... 9

6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 10

7. Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 11

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1. Introduction

Leprosy is a disease that has robbed its victims of their dignity for ages. Leprosy patients

have been abhorred, feared, ostracized and discriminated by society and law alike. Though

today Leprosy is completely curable, the social stigma runs deep, and even cured patients

continue suffer rejection and discrimination. It can be seen in the Bible that how 2000 years

ago, Jesus, the Son of God healed those with leprosy, making them whole not only

physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well by loving and accepting them. In this

writing while looking at the cause of stigma and discrimination, I have looked into the

attitude of Jesus towards the leprosy victims and how a Christian counselor can I emulate

Jesus in understanding them and reaching -out withagape love.

2. Stigmatization & Discrimination of Leprosy Victims in India

The custom that results in ostracizing the leprosy patient in India are almost the same today

as in the past. Leprosy is supposed to be due to sin committed in this life or in past and the

victim is regarded as an immoral person. Therefore the diagnosis of leprosy does not evoke

any sympathy for him as it does in case of other diseases.1

Another reason for discrimination is the wide spread ignorance. Although leprosy is mildly

infectious it is still considered highly infectious and virulent. Not all leprosy cases are

infectious, but they are believed to be so. And even though it is completely curable, due to

lack of awareness, is still seen withdread and considered incurable.

1
S. N. Chatterjee, "Customs, Laws, Acts and Rules Affecting Leprosy Patients of India," International Journal of
Leprosy, 1958, 127, http://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v26n2a07.pdf
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 Ignorance and fear causes stigmatization of Leprosy victims. Stigma is a social process

characterized by labelling, stereotyping, exclusion, rejection, fear, blame, devaluation and

dismissal. Stigma in leprosy results in denial of equity, social justice and human rights. 2There

are several incidents, where people oncediagnosed with leprosylost their jobs, were divorced,

not allowed entry into banks and offices and transports, and lost their inheritance.3Such

incidents goes unreported. In India the laws passed in during British rule, when leprosy was

incurable continue to discriminate against leprosy victims even today. Only recently in 2015,

a report by Law commission recommended government to repel these redundant laws and

end the discrimination.4But change is a slow painful process that will need increase of

awareness and shift in attitude of people towards this disease.

As a result of the stigma many patients hide the disease and do not seek treatment thus

accentuating the problem. Unfortunately, due to ignorance people who have been cured of

leprosy continues to be be stigmatized and discriminated in the society causing them great

mental anguish and suffering.

2
WHO SEARO, Guidelines for strengthening participation of persons affected by leprosy in leprosy services, (New
Delhi: World Health Organization, 2011), https://www.who.int/lep/resources/B4726/en/

3
Amrit Dhillon, "People Affected by Leprosy in India Face Stigma Reinforced by Cruel Colonial Law," The
Guardian, last modified September 20, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/global-
development/2015/nov/10/people-leprosy-india-stigma-reinforced-cruel-colonial-law.
4
Justice Ajit P. Shah, "Eliminating Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy," Law Commission of
India, last modified April 2015, http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/reports/Report256.pdf.

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3. Bible and Leprosy

3.1 Leprosy in Old Testament

Leprosy is most mentioned disease in the Bible. Though leprosy could mean a variety of skin

diseases, nonetheless the stigma ran deep not only because of the disfigurement it caused, but

because under the Law it was a symbol of uncleanness (Lev. 13:45) and of sin. Detailed law

is given in Leviticus 13regarding priestly examination of the person as well as the garments

of the one suspected of Leprosy. Uncleanness meant that a person who is declared ‘leper’

will not be able to commune with family, will have to live in seclusion out the settlement,

will be ostracized from all social activities including worship in the temple. Jewish in their

zeal to follow the letter of the Law didn’t understand the Spirit of the Law. God never reject

anybody based on their circumstances or background, but accept whoever comes to him. This

was evident from healing of leprous Naaman a Syrian (pagan) commander when he came to

the man of God, Elisha (2 King 5:1-14).

3.1 Leprosy in Old Testament

God’s grace was demonstrated in His acceptance of leprous people in Christ, when Jesus not

only healed a person suffering from the disease, but reached out and touched him. (Matthew

8:3, Mark 1:41, Luke 5:13). After-all, the man just wanted to be free from the disease, and

Jesus simply could have healed him by a word (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10). But Jesus

knew that the ailment was not just skin deep but affected his very soul, and it could only be

healed with love and acceptance. This is a powerful object lesson for all believers who

represent Christ on earth today.

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4. Understanding Leprosy Victim

The case given for this writing involves Thomas, a typist in a government office and a cured

leprosy patient is being boycotted by his colleagues due to their ignorance and fear about the

disease. He feels like resigning, but cannot do so owing to his responsibility towards his

family. In order to counsel him, it is imperative to empathetically understand him first.

1. The suffering Thomas faces due to boycott and rejection in the office may cause him a

sense of neurotic guilt making him falsely think that he must have wronged or

transgressed in some way. The guilt may add as he may also condemn himself for

harboring the thoughts of resigning from the job and allowing his family to starve. This

neurotic guilt will be causing confusion in his mind.

2. God for him would seem either like a judge who is punishing him for his unknown sins

and is out there to get him. Or he will see God as an insensitive and indifferent God who

is allowing him to feel unloved and neglected and does not really care. In both cases he

will have an incomplete and distorted concept of God with whom he would not like to

relate personally.

3. The negative messages being sent by the colleagues would have created a distorted

mental image of his own self. His sense of worth and value would have been diminished

as he would start seeing himself through the eyes of his colleagues. He would feel

undeserving of getting accepted and loved and would therefore develop distrust for

people and eventually withdraw even from those who really matter the most.

4. The lack of divine self-love and intensity of his negative emotions of rejection, loneliness,

inferiority, confusion, helplessness, self-pity, anger, resentment and bitterness will make

him focus more and more on his self, effecting his attitude towards everyone else. Not

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 being able to receive love and give love his relationship with his friends and family who

care about him would suffer. Unable to deal with his emotions he may eventually become a

hostile rebel-outlaw despising people or a depressed automaton going through the motions

of life but not really living.

5. Counseling Plan

In view of above understanding the counseling for Thomas will serve following objectives:

 To make him feel loved and accepted

 Help him develop an adequate concept of God based on Bible

 To free him free himself from the burden of his neurotic guilt

 Enable him deal with his negative emotions with God’s help and see himself as God sees

him

 Help him develop a positive self-image, and strengthen his sense of worth and give

purpose to his suffering

Both human resources and divine resources will have to be utilized to bring healing to

Thomas:

5.1 First Interview and periodic meetings:

The main purpose of these meetings would be establish agape relationship by listen

empathetically, understanding him, and give him an experience of warmth and genuine

acceptance. The purpose to give him hope and motivate him. During the first interview

mutual expectations will be set. Though it will be difficult to set tangible milestones, still

these meetings will help to monitor his spiritual progress and how well he is dealing with

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situations with God’s help. These meeting will also give an opportunity to pray for him and

ask Holy Spirit to work in his life. Initially the frequency of these meetings would be higher,

and would reduce as time goes by.

5.2 Pointing at Jesus:

One of the main objectives of the meetings would be to help him discover Jesus personally,

and experience the gospel. Entering into a personal relationship with Jesus and experiencing

God’s love would bring about necessary healing. He will start developing a Biblical

understanding of God as loving father who not only understand his suffering, but identifies

with it. Over a period of time he would learn to trust God and will be able change his

perspective of his suffering from one that is selfish to how God sees it.

5.3 Encouragement for attending Fellowship & Bible study:

The benefit of attending fellowship is multi-fold, but two are most important. First, he will

experience love of God through the relationships he will develop in these fellowships that

would bring healing. Secondly, as he learn the word of God, his value system will be

strengthened and he will overcome not only his neurotic guilt but better deal with his

emotions. Over a period he will find opportunities to minister to others that would immensely

increase his sense of self-worth. It would be responsibility of the the counselor to introduce

him to a Spirit-filled church or fellowship that has sound doctrine and strong preaching of the

word.

5.4 Daily devotion & prayer:

The challenge that he faces in his office may continue as this is outside the control of either

Thomas or the counselor. He may have to face discrimination from in other parts of the
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 society including his extended family; and it would continue hurting him. Hence it would be

essential for him to deal with it on a regular basis, which he would not be able to do in his

own strength. Therefore, it is important that he is encouraged to develop a habit of spending

time in devotion and prayer on a regular basis. Meditating and praying on Biblical teaching

of praying for enemies and blessing those who curse you (Matt. 5:44, Luke 6:27-28) and

forgiving your debtors (Matt 18:15 -35) would help him deal with the feeling of hurt, forgive

others and respond in love. Holy Spirit would empower him to walk according to the Spirit

rather than according to the flesh or feelings.

5.5 Significant others:

He would need support of his close family members and friends in this journey. They could

best help him if they also have a relation with Jesus. The counselor or other evangelist would

shared the gospel and encourage them to attend the fellowship with him and and also spend

time in family devotion and prayer. This would not only bring comfort to Thomas, but also

strengthen the agape relationship within the family as they would be able to freely receive

and express love.

5.6 Involvement with Organizations working with Leprosy Patients:

A WHO report advocated strengthening of participation of those affected by Leprosy in

various leprosy services that includes counselling and support of leprosy victims, creating

social awareness, social activism for abolition of discriminatory laws and social changes. 5

The part of the counseling plan would be to find such organizations and encourage Thomas

5
WHO SEARO, " Guidelines for strengthening participation”
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 offer services as a volunteer. This would give his misfortune a sense of purpose. His empathy

and complete identification with those who are undergoing treatment for leprosy or are

facing social discrimination due to the disease will make him a passionate soldier for the

cause. This would not only bring healing and comfort to him, but positively channelize his

emotions for a worthy cause as his focus will shift from self to others. This would strengthen

his self-esteem and give new meaning to life. This will also help him to create awareness

within his own office, thus changing (maybe not dramatically) some of his own situation.

6. Conclusion

Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

A believer will continue to suffer while he in this world as the world is still sinful and evil.

God in his wisdom has not taken away evil from the world as yet. However, a believer in

Christ overcome the world as his perspective, his attitude and action in midst of the suffering

towards it is different from the due to renewing of his mind (Rom. 12:2). In case of

counselees like Thomas, the primary responsibility of a Christian counselor is use human and

divine resources to help draw upon God’s provision of Agape, Holy Spirit and Word and

thereby live an excellent life based on love (1 Cor. 12:31 – 14:1). As he grows in love and

maturity in Christ, such person not only receives healing but become the conduit of blessing

and healings for others who suffer in this ailing world.

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7. Bibliography

Chatterjee, S. N. "Customs, Laws, Acts And Rules Affecting Leprosy Patients Of

Dhillon, Amrit. "People Affected by Leprosy in India Face Stigma Reinforced by Cruel
Colonial Law." The Guardian. Last modified September 20, 2017.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/nov/10/people-leprosy-india-
stigma-reinforced-cruel-colonial-law.

Rozell, Jack V. Christian Counseling, 4th ed. Springfield, Missouri: Global University, 200.

Shah, Justice Ajit P. "Eliminating Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy." Law
Commission of India. Last modified April 2015.
http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/reports/Report256.pdf.

WHO SEARO. Guidelines for strengthening participation of persons affected by leprosy in

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