By Ryan Wolfe
A jaw-dropping conversation at the 2018 International Conference On Missions provided inspiration for Ability Ministry to create a resource for all churches.
Ability Ministry’s mission is to equip and empower the local church, organizations, and individuals to reach their disability community for Christ. In that capacity, we were an exhibitor at ICOM that year in Cincinnati, where we engaged with missionary leaders from all over the world. We heard many heartbreaking stories.
The conversation that stood out above all the others, however, was with a senior pastor who was attending the conference.
After we shared our “elevator speech” description of Ability Ministry, he responded, “I commend you for what you do, but I don’t know why you waste your time with it.”
His statement caught me off-guard. I froze for a moment before asking, “What exactly do you mean?”
“Why waste your time with this ministry,” he shot back, “when you know that God is going to give all the retarded people a free pass into Heaven?”
I’m sure I looked like a deer in the headlights. It was more than just his curt usage of the “R-word”; it was the whole idea of a “free pass.”
That experience inspired me to think about other myths about disability that exist, and to consider whether these myths were stopping local churches from reaching their disability community for Christ.
From that moment, Ability Ministry was determined to identify as many myths about disability as possible and then refute them using Scripture. Below are three of the top myths about disability.
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THE MYTH: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities get a free pass to Heaven.
THE TRUTH: There are no free passes to Heaven because there are none who are blameless.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
ADDITIONAL INSIGHT: This myth is born out of pity or false beliefs about the ability or inability of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). People who feel sorry for individuals with IDD believe God would never send them to Hell. The Bible however is clear that “all” have sinned. That includes people with IDD, with no exceptions. Therefore, the idea of a free pass to Heaven is false. Sin separates people from God and disqualifies them from being with God for eternity in Heaven. All people need Jesus, for he is the only way to Heaven. And all people have the capacity to understand and accept Jesus as their Savior.
LEARN MORE by watching our free video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2h5-DPn3L8
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THE MYTH: People born with disabilities are being punished by God because of sin.
THE TRUTH: Jesus declared just the opposite when he identified one man’s disability as a divine opportunity for good.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS: “As he went along, he [Jesus] saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’
‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him’” (John 9:1-3).
ADDITIONAL INSIGHT: This myth has been deeply rooted in humanity since the beginning because of the false negative narrative that exists about disability. Jesus’ disciples believed it and people still believe it today. This belief is false, and Jesus couldn’t be clearer. He even stated that disability is an opportunity for good and an opportunity for God to show his strength.
LEARN MORE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7XyFNgnt88
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THE MYTH: Jesus never commanded church leadership to do disability ministry.
THE TRUTH: Jesus commanded the religious leaders of his day, with a great sense of urgency, to include people with disabilities.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS: “The servant came back and reported this [people’s refusal to attend a great banquet] to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame’” (Luke 14:21).
ADDITIONAL INSIGHT: Some people refer to Jesus as the first-ever disability ministry pastor because of the attention he paid to the disability community of his time. The majority of Jesus’ miracles benefited individuals from the disability community. In Jesus’ declaration at the outset of his ministry (Luke 4:18-19), he stated that he came for the disabled and oppressed. Beyond the obvious examples from Jesus’ ministry, no Bible passage could be clearer than Luke 14, where Jesus commanded religious leaders of his day no less than three times to include people with disabilities in their religious gatherings.
LEARN MORE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xKv92VjuXU
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A SOUND THEOLOGY OF DISABILITY
Each church and community is unique—and Ability Ministry can accomplish its mission in many ways—but one constant need is for all churches to have a sound theology of disability. Until churches bust the disability myths that exist, they will not have a firm foundation upon which to build their ministry.
Dispelling the many disability myths—and replacing these myths with sound doctrine—is why Ability Ministry has created a powerful resource for all churches to use called “Disability Myth Busters.” This is a 101-level volunteer training resource that could easily be used in small groups or for in-service sessions, on social media, or to increase general awareness. The resource counters 15 common disability myths with 15 videos. It includes a leader’s guide and other supplemental resources. It is available via the Ability Ministry store.
Some people will surely think their church does not need this resource. I would simply point out that reaching your disability community for Christ is not an elective. It is a direct command from Jesus (see Myth No. 3).
The largest unreached people group in the world are those affected by disability. Many of them are living in isolation in your community. Ability Ministry exists to help your church reach them. In addition to the “Disability Myth Busters” resource, we offer free consultations to all churches and provide easy customized practical steps.
Learn more about “Disability Myth Busters.”
Learn more about a free consultation with Ability Ministry.
Ability Ministry president Ryan Wolfe is passionate about equipping and empowering churches, organizations, and individuals to reach their disability communities for Jesus.
Wow. Great article. Great insight. Makes me think of more outreach that should be / could be done.
We were taught even those with a mental disability needed to hear the gospel. God would have to be the judge if the ability was too great for them to understand or respond—or perhaps the response would be in their spirit. Most people are dealing with something like autism or Down syndrome most of whom have the ability to respond to the gospel. Furthermore, by ministry to them you minister to their broader family/support group. Thanks for promoting this ministry.