The Image of God in Disabilities
Serving those with disabilities in the Church is admittedly a tough subject to broach. As someone who has worked with individuals who have both intellectually disabilities (ID) and developmentally disabilities (DD) for the better part of three years, I honestly have not thought about the topic enough as it relates to the Church body.
I don’t want to pretend that addressing this topic is easy, and I would never want to oversimplify the conversation around it. However, I do think we are in the wrong by burying the discussion or pretending it doesn’t exist. We cannot be secretly at peace with people who have disabilities left uninvolved in our church communities because it may breach our comfort zones. It is wrong and dishonest of us to say that we want to reach marginalized peoples, but then ignore a whole subset of the population.
I really do empathize with church leaders who have a genuine heart for those with disabilities but don’t know where to begin in helping the situation. Whether this is due to a lack of first-hand experience or feelings of not wanting to do or say something potentially offensive, I think there are many who want to act but just don’t know how. Having this desire is a healthy starting point and I would love to assist in any way I can to help improve the cause.
Theologically, we should first have a right view of those with disabilities. This will affect how we think about this population and guide our methods of practical solutions.
As people, we are made in the image of God, or, the Imago Dei (Genesis 1:27). No one is made by accident. No one is made without purpose. If at any point you have thought otherwise about those with disabilities, you are denying their identity as God’s creation. Although some may not appear outwardly lovely, their souls are no less precious to God than yours or mine — they are no less valuable than you or I. Everyone is beautiful in the eyes of God. There are no exceptions to being made in His image.
Referring to individuals with disabilities also must involve using the proper vocabulary. This isn’t a political correctness issue. It deals with someone’s personhood and should be upheld so we can show proper respect where it is due. One of the specific offending words that comes to mind is “mentally retarded” or “retard” in its derogatory form. Although “mentally retarded” was a proper term on paper for a long time — probably too long — it was officially replaced by the phrase “intellectual disability” in 2010. In order to love others properly we must refer to them with the correct terminology and not misuse terms intentionally due to a lack of caring.
Using what is referred to as “person first language” is also significant for vocabulary and reinforces the Imago Dei. Having a disability of any nature should not be the defining factor of a person. For example, referring to someone as “that autistic boy” is seen as offensive, and reasonably so, because their disability is placed before their person. If I had a disability of any kind, I wouldn’t want people referring to me in such a way, so we must keep that in mind.
Alternatively, a more proper way to say it would be, “that boy who has autism.” This exemplifies the Imago Dei because it reminds us and them that they are first and foremost people, not walking disabilities. Sometimes I even let the improper terminology slip out, so don’t get discouraged if this is a continual area of growth for you as it is for me.
On a Church level, across the board, something that must be fought for is inclusion. We know there’s a problem when the public school system does a better job at inclusion for people with disabilities than the Church does. That should cause genuine embarrassment on our part. We should get used to seeing and interacting regularly with those who are different from us. People who have disabilities of any kind should be part of our lives. It may even sometimes require us to love people who may not be able to show the same affection in return, or affection in the traditional sense.
James 2:1–4 (ESV) says this:
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Although James is referring to favoring the rich and treating them with greater honor, the principle still applies to people with disabilities. Some may never be able to contribute anything to the church body in a physical sense, and we should be at peace with that. They should be treated with no less respect than those who can.
I think this text should drive us to examine our hearts and have an honest look at where we stand with this population. Living with a bias that makes them lesser in social standing than those who can function more typically is directly contradictory to God’s design and His will for how we should treat others. I would go as far to say that it is evil when we view those with disabilities as if they are subhuman genetic mutations instead of those made in the image of God. When we see them as being in the way during church gatherings, causes for disruption to our own spiritual experience, or simple blemishes that cause us to avert our eyes, we are deeply immersed in the sin of partiality and repentance is needed.
For those who need advice with how to improve in this area, I empathize with you. I understand the desire to want to treat those with disabilities different than everyone else, but I can assure you, that’s the last thing they want or need. Don’t let the potential discomfort or awkwardness paralyze you. In fact, I’ve found that some of the most pleasant and loving people I’ve ever encountered are those with some form of disability. Treat them as you would everyone else. Given, there are times when we have to be sensitive to the nature of a person’s disability and make the proper adjustments, but that should not be the defining factor of how they are interacted with and treated.
Our method for loving others should not change because of the presence of a disability. As God took the initiative with our salvation and loved us first, so we must reflect that with everyone else, regardless of their ability to show or return it (1 John 4:19).
