Only sharing the Gospel with 5/6 of our children? Not an option.
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We have close friends with six kids. I can imagine their response if we suggested that they choose five of their kids to share Christ with and ignore the sixth one. NO! they would cry. All six of our children need Jesus. How about if I suggested that they only nurture the gifts of five of their six children? Once again, they would say Absolutely NOT!
That sounds awful, doesn't it? Why would I ever suggest such a thing? I wouldn't, but that's what many churches are doing.
According to a new government study, nearly one in six children has a developmental disability. The research, published today and found here in the journal Pediatrics, included the following disabilities, as reported by parents: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; intellectual disability; cerebral palsy; autism; seizures; stuttering or stammering; moderate to profound hearing loss; blindness; learning disorders; and/or other developmental delays. Here's the article from USA Today, and here's one from Reuters Health.
If the church doesn't embrace these families, then we are effectively saying that we're okay with only sharing the Gospel with 5 out of 6 kids. And we're saying that we only value the gifts and talents that those five out of six have to offer.
The sixth one? It's just too hard. We might have to change. And, hey, 83% is definitely a passing grade. Why "waste" the extra resources that might be necessary to only reach around 15%? Especially when the resources per child might need to be higher for that one child in every six?
If you can find any justification in scripture for that sort of attitude, go for it.
The thing is, though, you're not going to find that justification. You'll find a God who champions the poor and marginalized. You'll find his prophets in the Old Testament calling His people out for not loving those in need with mercy and justice. You'll find His Son not only hanging out with folks who aren't the typical church crowd but going the extra mile - a phrase which, by the way, comes from Him - to die because they weren't only disabled by their own sin but dead in it. You'll find verse after verse that encourages us to let our lives be a living sacrifice to Him, which doesn't sound like taking the easy way out to me.
Should we share Christ with the five in six who don't have developmental disabilities? Yes. (And we ought to keep in mind that some of those kids have other special needs that don't fit in the label "developmental disabilities.") Should we encourage their gifts and talents so that they can serve within our body of believers? Yes. Should we stop there, though? Certainly not.
Just as my friends wouldn't choose five out of their six kids to disciple in Christ, neither should we.
That sounds awful, doesn't it? Why would I ever suggest such a thing? I wouldn't, but that's what many churches are doing.
According to a new government study, nearly one in six children has a developmental disability. The research, published today and found here in the journal Pediatrics, included the following disabilities, as reported by parents: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; intellectual disability; cerebral palsy; autism; seizures; stuttering or stammering; moderate to profound hearing loss; blindness; learning disorders; and/or other developmental delays. Here's the article from USA Today, and here's one from Reuters Health.
If the church doesn't embrace these families, then we are effectively saying that we're okay with only sharing the Gospel with 5 out of 6 kids. And we're saying that we only value the gifts and talents that those five out of six have to offer.
The sixth one? It's just too hard. We might have to change. And, hey, 83% is definitely a passing grade. Why "waste" the extra resources that might be necessary to only reach around 15%? Especially when the resources per child might need to be higher for that one child in every six?
If you can find any justification in scripture for that sort of attitude, go for it.
The thing is, though, you're not going to find that justification. You'll find a God who champions the poor and marginalized. You'll find his prophets in the Old Testament calling His people out for not loving those in need with mercy and justice. You'll find His Son not only hanging out with folks who aren't the typical church crowd but going the extra mile - a phrase which, by the way, comes from Him - to die because they weren't only disabled by their own sin but dead in it. You'll find verse after verse that encourages us to let our lives be a living sacrifice to Him, which doesn't sound like taking the easy way out to me.
Should we share Christ with the five in six who don't have developmental disabilities? Yes. (And we ought to keep in mind that some of those kids have other special needs that don't fit in the label "developmental disabilities.") Should we encourage their gifts and talents so that they can serve within our body of believers? Yes. Should we stop there, though? Certainly not.
Just as my friends wouldn't choose five out of their six kids to disciple in Christ, neither should we.