A question I often ask myself and don’t have an answer for myself is why does God allow disabilities to be in his people when he could heal them.  I’ve heard all the many theories on why God allows people to have disabilities when he could just heal them but I would like to hear your opinion – especially if you have a disability.  Why does God allow those with disabilities to not be healed when he could do so?

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.

Churches can sometimes be extremely abusive to the disabled, without even knowing it.  Here are some tips on how churches can better serve those with disabilities and other special needs.Let People With Disabilties Say Their Own Needs

People with Disabilities often are trying to please everyone else, so often you have to push them to say their own needs.  This sounds kinda strange, but most people with disabilities really care about other people – often to a fault.  They will often sacrifice their own needs to please someone else.  Letting this go on for a significant ammount of time can be very draining and could result in someone not being comfortable at church anymore, anger towards the church and depression.

Dont Assume They Understand, or that they don’t understand

Assumptions are commonly made about those with disabilities as to their ability to comprehend and understand things.  Often times people think just because they are disabled that they can’t understand something, or that they will be able to understand it just fine.  This is why churches need to get time to personally get to know everyone that reguarley attends, even those with disabilities.  By getting to know people – you get to know their unique needs.

Don’t Segregate

Churches should not segregate those with disabilities like they would children during a service.  How would you like it if you were 40 years old and asked to leave the sanctuary during service at the same time of the children?  I think that’s enough on this one.

Patience

People with disabilities often have meltdowns, temper tantrums, and other emotional stuff attached to their lives.  These usually result from needs not being met, or being overwhelmed during the church service.  Don’t be afraid afterwords to ask what made them upset and how you can help fix it.

Your Suggestions For The List:

Please provide more suggestions in the comment box.

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?