Examining the biblical framework for disability ministry reveals that God expects meaningful inclusion and empowerment of all believers in the church community regardless of ability. Scripture commands us to recognize that every person is created in God's image with gifts to contribute to the body of Christ.
• 25% of Americans have disabilities, yet 80% aren't in our churches • The Bible teaches that people with disabilities are part of the body of Christ with purpose and value • Every believer belongs to the body of Christ with gifts to use in ministry • People with disabilities are described as "indispensable" in 1 Corinthians 12 • Scripture commands treating others with love, kindness and dignity • Accessibility in church should be physical, social and spiritual • Churches should empower people with disabilities to serve, not just be served • Respecting dignity means addressing people directly, not talking over them • Supporting people with disabilities fulfills biblical commands to "carry each other's burdens" • Both people with and without disabilities have unique opportunities to witness about Christ
Check out indispensablepeople.com and find my books "The Indispensable Kid," "Gospel Accessibility," and "Indispensable People" on Amazon.
Hi, my name is Tracy Correll and welcome to Indispensable People. I'm a wife, mom, teacher, pastor and missionary, and I believe that every person should have the opportunity to know Christ, grow in Him and serve Him with the gifts that he has given, no matter their ability. Over 65 million Americans have a disability. That's 25% of the population. However, over 80% of them are not inside the walls of our church. Let's dive into those hard topics biblical foundations, perceptions and welcome to this episode of Indispensable People. We're going to answer the question what does the Bible expect of me? And that might sound really strange, and we're going to dive into that, but it's not really strange because the Bible is an instruction manual. How does that impact the way that we serve individuals with disabilities in our lives, in our churches, in our workplaces, wherever we are? And this is an incredible piece to consider because oftentimes we talk about, you know what does the Bible say about people with disabilities. You know what does the Bible say about people with disabilities and we kind of take into that, okay. Well, how do we then treat them based on what the Bible says about people with disabilities, which, by the way, just to recap some of that first of all. The Bible says that every person is made in the image of God. They are fearfully and wonderfully made. They were knit together. The image of God. They are fearfully and wonderfully made. They were knit together. All their days were ordained for them. And also we can go into the scriptures about the parts and pieces of the body of Christ. We could talk about those that are weakest, are actually indispensable. We could talk about how their disability exists, not because of generational sin, but so that the works of God might be displayed in them. Those are just some really quick basic scriptures that speak to the value and worth of all people, and especially those with disabilities. So we cannot discount them or what God has for them in their life. Cannot discount them or what God has for them in their life. But what does the Bible tell us about how we should behave and treat others, especially those with disabilities? Okay, so you ready? Are you ready for the official PSA? Okay, maybe you're not. But here comes.
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The church can meaningfully and powerfully influence the lives of people with disabilities. The church must respond appropriately to biblical teaching and resist the temptation to view people with disabilities as less than not good enough, or as people waiting only for a healing or a hug, instead believe that Christians with disabilities have received the same spirit as every other believer. The Holy Spirit provides gifts for ministry and grows believers for a purpose and on a mission. That's the PSA. That's the kind of overall understanding of where we're kind of going with this, because all believers belong, all believers in Jesus belong, to the body of Christ. Together, god expects us to grow to become in every respect the mature body of him, who is the head that is Christ. From him, the whole body is joined together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. That's from Ephesians 4, 15 through 16. And without appropriate treatment and ministry to people with disabilities, the church cannot fulfill God's calling to its fullest right To be the community that grows and builds itself up in love. Without ministry to believers with disabilities, the church cannot be that community where each part does its work. God has given persons with disabilities to his church and vice versa. We get to be a part of that because we are the church, because we are the church.
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So what's the scriptures? Let's dive into it. First of all, we get to tell them that they matter to God Okay, and this boils down to as simple as if God's not fit to create someone, they have a purpose and a value in the body of Christ, and people with disabilities are full members of the church and are given gifts and talents for use. We should be welcoming them and know their value. That's our welcome, that's their value. We get to communicate that.
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And here's the scriptures that back that up. First, corinthians 12, 12 says we are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. Also, 1 Corinthians 12, 21 through 22 says the eye cannot say to the hand I don't need you, and the head cannot say to the feet I don't need you. 1 Corinthians 12, 27 says now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is part of it. And all those scriptures work for every single person. Why? Because scripture was written for everyone. There's nothing in the Bible that says except for or not you disclude this group. If anything, it's a book about inclusion. It's a book about how we went from the focus of the Israelites to the Gentiles. They were not included, but now they're included, and that's this is inclusion.
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The second thing we need to be understanding and we need to be listening. So where is this fall? What are the scriptures? So, first of all, everyone has preferred terms and ways of expressing themselves. You might have someone who wants to be referred to by their diagnosis. You might want someone who wants to hear that person first language.
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First of all, we know that in the church their diagnosis isn't our concern. We don't need a medical diagnosis to love and share about jesus and we show respect and understanding with love, and. But we do that by honoring their preferences. And the scriptures say they. They tell us to treat others with love and kindness. Matthew 7, 12 says do to others what you would have them do to you. Luke 6, 31 says treat others just as you want to be treated. Galatians 5, 14 says love your neighbor as yourself. John 13, 34 through 35 says love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. That's not an option, that's a command. So what's our action step with that? Show respect, be understanding and love others.
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The next thing is accessibility is key. So I often talk about the things that we do for people with disabilities won't just benefit that person with a disability, it will typically benefit every person in the room, especially if we're talking teaching strategies, helping people navigate, all of that kind of stuff. But here's the thing Jesus went after the one. He left the 99 for the one. Jesus went after the one, he left the 99 for the one. So, even if it was for just the one, that is a model that Jesus gave us. So the church should be where everyone feels welcome and included, and this is done by accessibility, so that they can fully participate in activities, worship, events. Think about how you can create accessible environments that are physically, socially and spiritually accessible.
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Hebrews 13.2 says do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so, some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Romans 15.7 says therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God. Galatians 3 28 says there is neither Jew nor Gentile, nor slave nor free, nor there is male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. So what's our action step Include others. Look for ways to help people participate and join conversations, studies, small groups and whatever else your church has to offer. Now the next word is going to be like that touchy kind of word that has been used for all kinds of ways, but please don't take it in the negative fashion. But the next word and the next thing that we want to do for people with disabilities we want to empower them.
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Church should encourage people with disabilities to serve others and use their gifts. People with disabilities often just get served and that is not the intention that God has for them. They are a part of the body of Christ, which means they are to be co-laborers in Christ with us. So what does scripture say? First Corinthians breaks it down. First Corinthians 12. I'm not going to read the whole scripture, but I'm going to break it down into the bullet points. Paul says that all people have gifts and that all gifts are necessary. Paul also said that people with disabilities are indispensable and they should be honored. Paul says that people with disabilities should be accommodated. First Peter 4.10 says each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. Paul says that people should use their gifts to serve one another. So what's our action step Be encouraging. Find the good in others and tell them about it. Help them to find ways to serve using their gifts.
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Another phrase or word, a command into how we should be treating others shared dignity. Remember that we are all created in God's image, including people with disabilities. Embracing and celebrating our differences helps us grow as a community. Genesis 127 says so. God created mankind in his own image and in the image of God. He created them, male and female. He created them. That is dignity. That is worth. That is value Not because of who they are, not because of what they can do, but because of who created them and the image in which they were created.
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Shared dignity, and this is going to boil down to situations where you talk over people, where you don't address them specifically. Probably some of the worst things that I have seen or experienced is when we talk about them to another individual while they're right there. Some of those have been the most tearing down of dignity that I have seen. Or speaking to an adult in a tone that sounds like we're speaking to a baby, not assuming competence, all of those kinds of things. So what is our action step? We're going to celebrate each person's unique personality, gifts and interests, and we're going to see them with value and worth.
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The next word that we're going to talk about is support. The church is called to be supportive. This means being there for those who need it, offering love and understanding and walking alongside of individuals with disabilities and their families. Galatians 6.2 says carry each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Hebrews 10.24-25 says encourage one another toward love and good deeds. Ephesians 4, 29 says only speak for what is helpful for building others up. Philippians goodness gracious. Philippians 2, 4 says look to the interest of others and not your own. Those are pretty straightforward scriptures and our action steps are be a friend, help one another, make sure no one gets left out.
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And the last word or phrase that we're going to address today, the what does the Bible expect from me? An opportunity to witness. Not only can you share your faith with people with disabilities, but individuals with disabilities can share their faith with others and sometimes, because of their disability, they have unique ways that will resonate with others that yours, your faith and your testimony will not. Mark 16, 15 says go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Romans 1, 16 says for I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Second Timothy 4, 2 says be ready to share the gospel at all times and in all circumstances. So what are our action steps? Share Jesus, allow them to share Jesus and grow in your faith together.
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Being a part of the body of Christ means recognizing the beauty and strength of diversity, including people with disabilities. We're going to work together to create an inclusive environment where everyone can grow and thrive in their faith. Making the gospel accessible, following what the Bible says, what the Bible commands, creates opportunities for people with disabilities and their families to be included in the church, to fully participate and to co-labor alongside of you, which is what God had meant from the very beginning. Do I know everything about disability ministry? Do I have all the answers? Have I done everything perfectly? I have absolutely not, but we are going to continue this conversation so that people of all abilities can have the opportunity to know Christ, grow in Him and serve Him with the gifts that he has given them. For deeper dives into these topics and more, check out indispensablepeoplecom and visit Amazon to purchase the books the Indispensable Kid and Gospel Accessibility and the Indispensable People you.
