Community with the Disabled and Marginalized
I woke up this morning burdened. Burdened for the Church. Burdened for the disabled. Burdened for the households affected by disabilities, “co-morbidities”, and immunocompromised.
My family just got done with a bout of COVID. My wife and newborn, average, daughter had to quarantine away from me, our 4 year old, average, son, and 2 year old, disabled, daughter. How my wife got it is a mystery, but because of the health concerns of my 2 year old, at the first sign of symptoms we quarantined and started our 24 days of quarantine. It's beside the point but everyone is fine and we rejoiced when we could reunite.
This morning, we decided to stay home and worship as a family and watch the message online. We have many reasons but one of the major ones is that the rolling average of positive cases among those tested in San Diego County is a whopping 24.7% at the time of writing this.
I wanted to go in person this morning but out of stewardship of my daughter’s health, we stayed home. (Aside, praise the Lord for La Mesa Village Church and all the precaution we do take)
As I prayed this morning before the chaos of my household woke up, my heart became burdened as I reflected on all the others who have had to make the decision between in person worship and protecting a loved one in their household. The truth is that local churches have been the first to forgo COVID precautions for the sake of “liberty to choose” and forcing the burden of worship on the already burdened households; often not even opening windows or corporately wearing masks despite the tested and proven efficacy of these precautions.
Sadly, I have seen many sermons preached against online church as the pastor - I hope unbeknownst to them - ostracizes their members by cultivating an attitude of “you must worship in person without precautions or you are sinning”. To get demonized for caring for your loved ones is what is communicated, even if it’s not explicitly said, is no way to be shepherded. I’ve felt this numerous times and each time it hurts because of the culture it cultivates, but also because of the misunderstanding both of loving one another and of affirming Imago Dei in the disabled person. What a missed opportunity by the Christian to love; what a missed opportunity for the pastor to shepherd.
This leaves those the most threatened by COVID and their households left to choose between their loved one and church fellowship. Choose to compromise or choose to be marginalized.
“Sadly, I have seen many sermons preached against online church as the pastor - I hope unbeknownst to them - ostracizes their members by cultivating an attitude of ‘you must worship in person without precautions or you are sinning’”
The sad truth is that this isn’t a COVID thing. We’ve been doing this for centuries to disabled, sick, and lowly. How many church buildings were built for able bodies only? How many times has a church not accommodated for the family with the autistic child who outbursts during a sermon? I’ve personally seen many pastors agitated by interruptions, forcing the family of the autistic child to choose between attending in person or not agitating their pastor and getting a bunch of people turning to stare. I guarantee you that the family bearing the responsibility and stewardship of a traditionally marginalized child feels it for much longer than the pastor or congregant briefly affected at the moment. I could write pages of examples like this.
“I guarantee you that the family bearing the responsibility and stewardship of a traditionally marginalized child feels it for much longer than the pastor or congregant briefly affected at the moment.”
Rather, you should know this, I have talked to many parents dealing with disabilities. There is deep, deep appreciation and reprieve when the flock is shepherded to include them. When there is no choice between compromised or marginalized there is a welcoming peace that ministers to these families. When members and leadership alike go out of their way to include and accommodate.
So, reader, I hope you read this and are encouraged to embrace the needs and the challenges of your brothers and sisters that are often marginalized. That you stand for togethering rather than othering. That you bear one another’s burdens out of love. That you give appropriate weight to biblical gathering AND biblically bearing one another’s burdens.
So consider where you stand for all members of your community. Ask your community how your actions affect them. If you don’t have community, then get in community, then ask them. Do it quick though, because your testimony of loving your neighbor like you love your God is on the line.
Your actions do not exist in a vacuum.
“Your actions do not exist in a vacuum. ”
Love God.
Love Others.
Make Disciples.
Die to Self.