A Deep Dive into Disabilities

In a prior article, I introduced the complex topic of disability and our universal dependence on God. What follows is an attempt to give a basic definition and Biblical perspective on disabilities.

Thinking and writing about disabilities reminds me of the first chapter of Alice in Wonderland. I ask one simple question, and my research leads to a maze of more interesting and perplexing investigations. Nevertheless, down the rabbit-hole we go!

Defining Disability

To begin a deep dive into a conversation about disabilities, we should start with a definition of terms. What do we mean when we say “disability?”

Let’s start with a medical definition, given by our friends at the CDC: “A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).”

In other words, people with disabilities face challenges the majority of us do not, due to an impairment. An impairment, according to the same CDC article mentioned above, is “an absence of or significant difference in a person’s body structure or function or mental functioning.”

Problems with the Definition

One problem with this definition is that it’s all context dependent. “Certain activities” and “the world around them” change depending on one’s time and place. For example, there was a time, even in America, when simply being a woman fit that definition pretty closely.

I’m reminded of our first adoption experience. Our agency asked us to check off a list of medical conditions we would be willing to accept. We were advised that, in China, some things they consider disabilities wouldn’t be considered disabilities in America. Much of that has to do with amazing progress resulting from the ADA, but a lot also has to do with perspective. “Birthmark” was on the list.

It's All About Perspective

My point is that we don’t have a very good definition of disability, and perspective matters greatly. If we perceive disabilities as a problem to be solved, we begin to look for causes and solutions. That’s where the sinful nature of humans ends up doing a lot of damage. Consider, for example, the history of eugenics as a way to “improve” the human race.

Thankfully, we have a loving creator with lots to say about this. Biblical examples of persons with disabilities abound, from Isaac’s blindness, to Jacob’s groin problem, to Moses’s speech problem, to Mephibosheth’s feet, and so on. If barrenness is considered a disability, then we have several more examples. And those are just examples of physical impairments. One could spend years analyzing mental health issues in the Bible.

From these examples, we can conclude that God cares for and values persons with disabilities (and so should we). All of us, from the fittest athlete to the comatose and from the sharpest mind to the clinically insane reflect God’s divine image.

Jesus’s Perspective

Questions of whether a disability is good or bad, if it should be grieved or cured, and who should be held responsible don’t have explicit answers in the Bible. However, Jesus gave us a clear framework in his encounter with the man born blind. Profoundly and simply, Jesus answered all the above questions when he said, “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.”

And that is the perspective we as Christians should have. While we grieve and struggle through a world full of brokenness, let us live with a Kingdom mentality. Let God’s works be displayed in all of us.

The best example I’ve seen of this was when I had the privilege of spending time with Christian professional athletes, and I was in a small group with the “Wonder Dog” Rex Hudler. He told an unforgettable story of his experience raising a child with Down Syndrome. In a way only Hud can do, the story climaxed as he said, “And that’s why we don’t call it Down Syndrome,” long pause for effect, pointed hand shooting into the air, “we call it Up Syndrome!” I encourage you to watch at least a less animated version of his story.

In future posts, I plan to dive deeper into this topic and how to best live out our Christian worldview when it comes to disabilities. I look forward to navigating the rabbit hole and hearing your ideas. Thanks to those who already gave me your thoughts at blog@foundrybend.org.