I’m excited about Monday! This topic has been on my mind for a while, because there are several differently-abled kids between my immediate and extended family. They tend not to fit neatly into any of the “cutting edge” missional approaches or identity tribes, which leaves them seeming less [valuable, Human, Christian, committed, important, etc.]. I hope that most visionary pastors are well-meaning and compassionate, and would point out that we all have gifts and limitations of one kind or another.
But I think it is important for pastors and laypeople to all acknowledge and practice (in a way that is not just taking it for granted) the essence of our identity - the reason we gather - is around Christ.
If it becomes easy for us to create program after program without feeling we are missing out on the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance through the gifts in our autistic, depressed, quadriplegic, elderly, ptsd or chronic pain-suffering friend, then we have missed the point. It’s not about Christ anymore.
I’m excited about Monday! This topic has been on my mind for a while, because there are several differently-abled kids between my immediate and extended family. They tend not to fit neatly into any of the “cutting edge” missional approaches or identity tribes, which leaves them seeming less [valuable, Human, Christian, committed, important, etc.]. I hope that most visionary pastors are well-meaning and compassionate, and would point out that we all have gifts and limitations of one kind or another.
But I think it is important for pastors and laypeople to all acknowledge and practice (in a way that is not just taking it for granted) the essence of our identity - the reason we gather - is around Christ.
If it becomes easy for us to create program after program without feeling we are missing out on the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance through the gifts in our autistic, depressed, quadriplegic, elderly, ptsd or chronic pain-suffering friend, then we have missed the point. It’s not about Christ anymore.
So very very true. Good witness!