Because I Said So

If you’re a parent, you’ve done it. Your child asks you for the umpteenth time, “Why?” You’ve tried to rationalize, explain, and use every manner possible to answer the question, but the child refuses to accept it. Finally, in exasperation, you reply, “Because I said so.” 

When we explain the purpose of The Banquet Network, “to equip churches to include people with disabilities—joyfully, simply, cooperatively,” a common response from pastors is, “Why?” Although we rarely say it in so many words, our best answer to this question is, “Because Jesus said so.” 

I understand church resources are stretched thin, and a multitude of worthy causes compete for limited time, energy, and money. I also understand that not every church will put a disability ministry at the top of the list. We’re all parts of the body with different gifts and purposes. However, I think every believer would agree the ultimate goal of the Church is what is commonly referred to as The Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV). 

How should the Church fulfill this commission? In whatever ways the Lord leads—preaching, serving, praying, ministering, and a host of other means. But what if scripture specifically mentioned a way to make this happen? Would the Church do it?  

I hope so. 

In Luke’s parable of The Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-23), Christ provides insight about one way the Church can and should effectively fulfill The Great Commission. The Master tells his servant to invite “The poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame” to come to his banquet. So, while the Church is instructed in The Great Commission to go and tell everyone the Good News, we are also told to invite a particular group of people to come into the Church: people with disabilities. 

 Why might Christ want our churches to specifically include people with disabilities in them—to such an extent that He tells us to invite them? I propose it is not because people with disabilities need the Gospel any more than anyone else or because they are loved more than anyone else or because they are unable to come unless we go out to them (although that is certainly sometimes the case). I propose one reason (among many) Christ wants people with disabilities included in the Church is because having this “indispensable” group (1 Corinthians 12:22) within the body allows the Church to experience the most Christ-like manifestation of God’s love on earth: totally unconditional affection, based not on what you can do, but purely on who you are.  

If you know someone with disabilities, you understand this. People with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, tend to love much more unconditionally than the rest of us. They know what it’s like to be judged and rejected based on appearance and ability, so they don’t do that. In other words, disability inclusion in the Church isn’t only for the benefit of families impacted by disabilities; it also blesses others by allowing everyone to experience a taste of the unconditional love of God. In the process, those of us who are not familiar with disabilities usually discover our hidden prejudices and are able to become more accepting of and more loving to others. 

Our Heavenly Father loves the Church and, like any good parent, He knows what his children need. When Christ gives us instructions about bringing people with disabilities into the Church, we would do well to obey Him rather than questioning, “Why?” His answer is and always will be, “Because I said so.” And that’s good enough for me. 

By: Glenda Durano