A couple of weeks ago I made the argument that we should not use utility as one of the arguments in defense of people with disabilities, particularly children.  

In short, I am tempted to argue that since I get something precious from my son, and a great deal of joy, there is a benefit to his being part of my family and society.  But there are people out there who would argue with equal intellectual integrity that they don't want those particular benefits, and want to avoid the pain, suffering, expense, etc. associated with disability.  Thus, pre-born children with disabilities still end up only existing on the basis of relative benefit to a family or to society rather than on their inherent worth as a creation of the living God.

But this weekend reminded me that those benefits of joy are real, very powerful, and not just for me:

These happy people are my dad, my son and my daughter.  You can read about my dad from my post of last Friday.

These happy people are my son and my mother.  

So, I really do get the argument that there are benefits!  I love my son and usually enjoy his company.  And lots of other people also enjoy him and see his worth.  That is why these blessings are so tempting to us as an argument for his worth.

But that still isn't, ultimately, a sufficient argument.

Rather, appeal to the one who Job said, "Though he slay me, I will hope in him." Job 13:15a  Because it is that one, God himself, who slays rightly AND creates rightly and is merciful to give us any hope at all.  He creates for his own purposes, with authority!   

"But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?" Romans 9:20-21