What does the Bible say about disabilities?
Having a physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition can limit a person's ability to fully engage in daily activities. But can their spiritual life be just as rich as anyone else's?
Psalms 139:1 - 24
ESV - 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
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Asked September 08 2022
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Anonymous
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Jack Gutknecht
After his conversion on the road to Damascus, the Apostle Paul devoted his whole self to spreading the good news of Jesus. In one of his letters, he hinted at some sort of limitation he dealt with. Whatever it was, he called it a “thorn,” and prayed for healing. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). --Heather Adams
Mark Vestal
2 Corinthians 12:7-10: 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Paul asked God 3 times to heal his "thorn in the flesh", but God reminded Paul that God's grace was sufficient. Our flesh on earth literally means nothing when considering our spiritual position in Christ as believers. Those living with physically debilitating conditions can offer great inspiration to all by their showing of spiritual strength in having faith alone. Having a spiritual life with mental and cognitive disabilities would depend on the individual's ability of belief. Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:13 that the requirement for salvation is to first hear (or otherwise learn of) the gospel, and then believe it. The process of spiritual maturity after belief (study, learning, understanding, etc...), would also be very subjective. My thought regarding mental capacity (and this would include children not yet able to understand) would follow what Paul tells us in the above verse (Eph. 1:13). If someone cannot hear (or otherwise learn of) Paul's gospel, then they would not have had the chance in life to have believed it. They would therefore not be subject to God's eventual wrath, in my opinion. (Eph. 2:7) "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
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