Many people sadly believe abortion a disabled child is an act of compassion.  What is even sadder is many of these people are Christians.  I just had a conversation with one of these Christians and here is the log.

[23:53] Them: have there been higher rates of autism and aspergers occuring/being diagosed in america in the past few years?
[23:54] Me: yes
[23:54] Me: but that has nothing to do with them calling autistic people a disaster of epedemic proporations
[23:55] Me: thats just like saying your a disaster because of your seizures
[23:55] Them: no.
[23:55] Them: listen
[23:55] Them: so there have been noticibly increased rates
[23:55] Them: if there were a sudden outbreak of bird flu, unlike any other recorded in history
[23:55] Them: would you consider it an epidemic?
[23:55] Me: the flu is a contangen that is harmful to life
[23:55] Me: Autism is not
[23:56] Me: if you go by that standard then red heads are an epedemic
[23:56] Me: as well as brown haired people
[23:57] Them: no
[23:57] Them: because there have been the same amount of those colored hair people throughout history.
[23:57] Them: we can take another genetic disease, i dont care.
[23:57] Them: cerebal palsy
[23:58] Them: if suddently the percentage of children born with cerebal palsy shot through the roof
[23:58] Me: Autism is not a disease
[23:58] Them: it would be called an epidemic
[23:58] Them: fine. condition.
[23:58] Me: but your nitpicking on the word epedemic
[23:58] Me: which is beyond the point, but I enjoy a good debate
[23:59] Them: i’m just trying to point out to you that its not insulting to call something an epidemic
[23:59] Me: it is insulting to call it a disaster
[00:00] Them: do you not think that millions of people going through a severe brain disorder is not a disaster?
[00:00] Them: it’s certainly something awful for the people involved, parents, families, etc.
[00:01] Me: well if Autism Speaks has there way if I was born a few years down the road my mother would be encouraged to abort me
[00:01] Me: they have already nailed part of the spectrum on that
[00:02] Them: would you really want to bring a child into this life who would have to live with autism?
[00:02] Them: knowing what you know now
[00:02] Them: if you had the choice to spare someone a difficult life, would you?
[00:03] Me: No, I would not abort a child because I knew they would be autistic
[00:03] Them: would you abort a child if you knew they were going to be severely physically deformed?
[00:04] Them: sickly for their whole life?
[00:04] Me: No
[00:04] Me: But you are comparing apples and oragnes
[00:04] Them: not at all
[00:04] Me: Autistic people are not sickly there whole life
[00:04] Them: look
[00:04] Them: autism/aspergers no DOUBT causes some distress
[00:05] Them: if not a lot of discomfort, problems, upset
[00:05] Them: if people are morally okay with aborting a child to prevent a life of discomfort, pain, upset
[00:05] Them: that’s likely the reasoning behind it
[00:07] Me: So if you were going to have a kid on the Autism Spectrum – would you abort it?
[00:07] Them: i dont know
[00:07] Them: depends
[00:08] Me: on what does it depend?
[00:09] Them: how far along my pregnancy is, how the father feels, etc
[00:10] Me: so you view me as a lesser life form then you?
[00:10] Them: yes. thats precisely what i’m saying.
[00:11] Me: what makes me a lesser life form then you?
[00:11] Them: i was being sarcastic.
[00:12] Me: then I’m still waiting for an answer
[00:13] Them: no! God, of COURSE not. how can you even think that?
[00:13] Them: if i really thought that, would i even engage in conversation with you?
[00:14] Me: then I hate to be harsh, but you just said that if you were pregnant with a child and you knew it was on the Autism Spectrum you would seriously consider aborting it
[00:14] Them: BECAUSE I WOULD BE COMPASSIONATE
[00:14] Them: jesus christ, zach!
[00:14] Them: i just went over the fact that i would if my child had cerebal palsy
[00:14] Them: to AVOID the pain and discomfort.
[00:15] Them: to spare a life of hardship
[00:15] Me: so you would consider aborting someone like me?
[00:15] Them: i’m not having this conversation anymore.

What upsets me is the fact that they as someone who is very Christian thinks that abortion is a compassionate thing and would be a good and encouragable thing to do.  What are your thoughts on abortion in the case of disability.

I have been told countless times by Christians that I will be healed by God, or that I lack faith in God and that is why I have a disability.  The fact is there wrong.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Its also very clear that sometimes disabilities are the result of sin, for example I know someone that has a cognitive disability because of her mothers addiction to alcohol and various street drugs.  Because of her mother’s sin this person has to live with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

I think its important to realise that sometimes God wants us to go through Trials to strengthen us as well, I can say that Christians with Disabilities are the people I know of that are the most dependant on God.

What do you think about people who say people who disabilities lack faith?

Everyone goes through depression, and sometimes Satan uses the strongest of Christians’ disabilities to try and talk them into suicide.   Many times Satan tries to convince that we screwed up and God doesn’t want us or love us anymore.

This great video shows how much God loves us not matter what, please watch it.

Many people don’t realise God knows were going to screw up, he expects it and that’s why he sent Jesus.

Often fathers day invovles a lot of pain, anguish and hurt.  Families are often the sources of the most pain in our lives, but I think on fathers day we should also spend time recognizing the best father of all.

Below is a great video by Rob Bell on fathers.

God is an awesome dude, and he will never hurt you, never leave you.  I think on fathers day its very important to remember the heavinly father, don’t you agree?

Sometimes when Christians with Disabilities complain about the non-acceptance of non-disabled Christians they are met with the almost an attitude of why.  People with disabilties desire companionship, friends, fun just like everyone else!.

As someone who has a disability I know what its like….. people have full time jobs, spouses, kids, and sleep.  But sometimes I wonder if it would be possible if people would be considering spending an hour or two a week with someone that has a disability at their church.  Consider taking them for a movie, out to eat, or something you would do with any of your other friends.  Recently one of my pastors took a another disabled individual to the bar to watch a band this person loved play.

But They Are So Shallow….

But disabled people are so shallow and spend the whole time talking about their lives, their problems and their drama.  Well grow up – wouldent you be doing the same thing if you had no friends too?  People often need friends to help them get through difficult things in life – and believe it or not disabled people are people too!

The church and christians need to consider treating disabled people more like people, not like a mop that needs to be put in the back closet during church service.  While people need to be more patient with people that have disabilities, love is patient.  So the question is do you love people or not?

Churches often have a hard time accepting and including disabled people in their communities of Christian Believers.  This is a quite common occurrence and sadly it often results in completely unnecessary pain.

With the close of many places that use to house disabled people such as hospitals and nursing homes and the move for these people to be much more involved in the community, people with disabilities are getting out and about more – and this includes going to church.  Many churches are having trouble accepting those with disabilities because well – its simply a new thing for many churches.  Society used to shut away the disabled in hospitals and nursing homes, for them never to be seen again – but its a huge blessing those times are over!

Some of the common things that go around churches are that “people with disabilities lack faith,”  “they don’t want to be healed,” or even they “are just lazy”.  I have even heard the thing that people are being oppressed by Satan.  I think its important to realize that any disability does not originate from God, but God is so miraculous that often he can use Satan’s work for good, and this is often seen with disabilities.

What can churches do?

Churches can help those with disabilities feel like part of the community – and its actually quite simple.  Communicate.  Church’s usually try and talk to their new members, and communicating with those that have disabilities is no different.  Just like everyone else, those with disabilities have unique needs as well.

Common needs for those with disabilties are:

• Transportation to and from church
• Mentors/Friendship with a small group of people
• Feeling like they are needed by the community and a valued part of the community
• Being invited and included in the fun things that the church community get involved in.

Really the needs of a disabled person are really not that different from those of the non-disabled.

For Those Without Disabilities: What can your church do better to help the disabled?
For Those With Disabilities: What can churches do better to help you?

Something not often thought about at a church until it happens is how the church is to handle people with both physical and mental impairments.  How to include people with impairments at first, make them feel needed and as part of a community can be challenging at first – even for those with the impairments, but God calls us to “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” according to Romans 12:10-13 (NIV).

I remember some of the awful things that have been said about people with disabilities in the church I still go to – these things tend to stick in my head.  “Maybe people with disabilities don’t try hard enough,” or things like “Maybe they just don’t have enough faith to be healed”.  Every time I hear these things my heart drops, because I know they are not true.  I know these things are not true as 2 Cor 12:9 (NIV) says “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Me in the sound booth

I have Aspergers Syndrome – which is a mild and rare form of Autism.  It makes dealing with large crowds, and social interaction very difficult and sometimes impossible.  When I first started going to my church I had a difficult time, and they had a difficult time with me.  It took me a while, but I found my area of service.  I work now in the soundbooth with Audio Visual gear during church services.  One of the blessing that comes with Aspergers Syndrome is usually one large obsession, mine is Technical stuff.

I have an aptitude for learning things that deal with tech very quickly, and I love learning how to use things – and make them work better.  Its also easier because when I’m the sound booth I’m somewhat isolated from the large crowds, and can socialize on my terms.  I feel included and needed as part of the church community which is extremely important to everyone.

So, how does your church help include those with impairments into the church community?