Breaking Down Labels
Moving Beyond Labels: Embracing the Whole Person
In today’s world, where labels often shape our perceptions, I find myself continually inspired by the challenge to look beyond diagnoses and see the whole person. This journey has been influenced by my roles as a wife, mom, teacher, pastor, and missionary, and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to know Christ, grow in Him, and serve Him—regardless of ability.
A Sobering Reality
The disparity statistics of people with disabilities missing from our churches urge us to reflect on our practices, perspectives, and prejudices. Why are our churches missing such a significant portion of the population? What barriers—whether physical, social, or theological—are keeping people away? These are questions that deserve thoughtful consideration from church leaders and congregations alike.
Beyond a Single Label
I often think about how a single label can never encapsulate the entirety of who we are. If someone asked me to describe myself in one word, I’d struggle because we are all multifaceted beings. Our personalities, strengths, and challenges are a beautiful tapestry that manifests differently depending on our environment, relationships, and circumstances. Reducing someone to a diagnosis like autism, Down syndrome, or ADHD means missing the richness of their humor, intelligence, creativity, and unique perspective on the world.
A Personal Example
My son Noah is a perfect illustration of this truth. At home, he is hilarious, smart, and creative. However, anxiety around unfamiliar people and spaces can sometimes mask these wonderful qualities. Many never get to see his true personality because they don’t take the time to build a relationship that allows him to feel comfortable enough to reveal it. This speaks to a fundamental truth about ministry: it’s built on scripture and relationships. Without investing in genuine connections, we can’t effectively share, teach, or live out our faith.
Rethinking Stereotypes
The danger of labels lies in the stereotypes they evoke. When someone mentions a diagnosis, our minds might immediately conjure images and assumptions based on limited knowledge or experience. It's vital to fight against this automatic response. Our Creator is so infinitely creative that no two individuals are exactly alike—how much more diverse are our internal workings, personalities, and spiritual gifts? While labels might help us understand certain challenges or consider helpful accommodations, they should never define how we view a person made in God’s image.
Prioritizing Personhood
In disability advocacy circles, there’s an ongoing discussion about person-first language ("person with autism") versus identity-first language ("autistic person"). While cultural preferences are shifting, I am compelled to prioritize personhood in church settings. Our primary focus should be on each individual as a fearfully and wonderfully made creation of God, with their disability being just one aspect of their story—not their entire identity.
A Call to Action
The call to action is clear: invest in people. Move beyond labels and stereotypes to build authentic relationships. Let’s create communities where everyone—regardless of ability or disability—can know Christ, grow in Him, and serve with their God-given gifts. It’s not about having all the answers or doing everything perfectly. It’s about continuing the conversation and making space for the indispensable people God has created. By seeing each person as a whole, complex individual rather than a diagnosis, we honor the creative work of our Creator and fulfill our mission to welcome all into God’s family.
