When I read a book about disability and the Bible or religion or church or theology, and an emphasis is made on using ‘people-first’ language (for example, saying ‘a boy with autism’ rather than ‘an autistic boy’) in the opening pages, I can almost guarantee it will not be God-centered.
Using people-first language is a fine thing. But I haven’t found it to be an indicator of much with regards to whether or not someone will treat my son with love and respect.
Books on disability or suffering that start with God and his authority and the centrality of the cross of Jesus Christ in dealing with sin, however, usually end up talking about people with disabilities in honoring, dignified ways.
The Works of God 
I hear the same issue as a consultant for people with disabilities as well as frail elders. Even further there is an emphasis on “Person-centered planning” & “Self-Advocacy”. Each of these concepts comes from the same underlying principle of “self-empowerment”. The intentions of its creators are genuine… they want to teach the world that people with disabilities have a voice of their own. However the method is faulty. The method of over focusing on the human will and under focusing on the plan and will of God is where this principle subtly turns away from Biblical truth. Instead it is Christ Jesus who should empower those with disabilities to realize their full potential; it is the Holy Spirit who we should rely on to be an Advocate; it is God the Father we should rely on to reveal His plan for life!
Thanks for writing this John! I have shamelessly copied it over at Urbanservant (and will remove it if you would prefer:)
Hi John,
I recently spoke to Scott Anderson here in BC when Dr. Piper came to Willingdon Church for a conference. My family and I attend a SGM Church here in BC, Canada. We have three beautiful children, our oldest, 13yr is a classically autistic youth, our other two children are twins, our daughter is probably also autistic ?? Aspergers, awaiting further assessment and her brother is markedly ADHD with social anxiety ( extreme fear of Man!) We feel very blessed to be parents as we became so through the gift of adoption, our kids were all born in Kazakhstan. My question is this: Our oldest boy is unsure of the existence of God, as an autistic person how do his daddy and I show him and teach the wonders of a perfect God that he can’t feel, see etc? His ability to think abstractly is remote to non existent, I dearly love my son whom I homeschool with his siblings. He is a great guy. I want to serve him well in this area. We do daily devotions and God is apart of everyday life in our home. There aren’t many conversations that go by that God isn’t centre most days. However, when looking for indications of Patch’s heart being affected by the Holy Spirit we know that it isn’t going to look the same as it will for his brother who is not autistic. Is this one of those moments of blind trust in God for us where we have to accept that there may be no external emotional evidence of God working in Patch’s life? Is there anyone on your staff who can mentor us? There are a number of ASD children among our friends but we have the oldest child. Any help would be so appreciated even if it is us that need redirecting?
Thanks John for all you, Diane, and the Desiring God team are doing in this ministry you are reaching far beyond Bethlehem Church.
Blessings,
Sue
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