Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-14;21-27)
Awaiting Pastor Jason’s arrival, the church hosted various pulpit supply in worship the last two months. One Sunday, my best friend, Megan Benjamin, delivered a message on the theme, “gentleness.” In her talk, she referenced neurodiversity. Some congregants were unfamiliar with that word, and it ended up being the topic most people asked her about following the service.
Neurodiversity is defined as “the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits, regarded as part of normal variation in the human population.” Most neurodivergent, or neurospicy, individuals identify as having autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, nonverbal learning disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, or a variety of mood and personality disorders. Recent studies show that 30 percent of Americans under the age of thirty identify as neurodivergent, compared to six percent of those over the age of sixty-five.
As the parent of a neurospicy 5-year-old, I can attest to the fact that the world is still trying to figure out what to do with my child. There have been moments of love and inclusion, and moments of cruelty and exclusion. And yes, we have experienced all those moments in Christian settings. These moments have made me stop and reflect on how we, the Church, can do better. I think 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 is a good guide.
In 1 Corinthians we learn that the Church is composed of people who play unique roles. The role of someone’s eye is different, but as important, as the role of their hand. So, too, are all believers created differently. We are united through baptism and the Spirit, but we are not homogenous. Expecting all people to interact with the world in the same way is not the biblical message. This includes, but is not limited to, how we connect with the Word.
I’ve heard the words “welcoming” and “inclusive” thrown around as a way of affirming, “We are Christians! We love everyone!” I believe that, as Christians, we need to strive for more than those platitudes. It is easy to say, “We love you,” but then expect people to conform to our way of doing things. What I hope for my child, and others like him, is he experiences acceptance and justice in Christian spaces. That he is valued for being fearfully and wonderfully made as he is, not something that the Church needs to tame or mold. God is the one to continue creating a good work in him, and the Church is called to support that work, as it is God’s vision for the body of Christ.
Let’s pray together:
God of Creation, you set all things into being and designed us in your image. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. Forgive us when we fail to see and accept others as you have created them. With the Spirit’s guidance, show us the paths to take and give us the words to speak. Help us create spaces where all can experience your truth and joy. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen,
Elizabeth Virkler