Celebrate Your In-Dependence

This week, as we celebrate America’s 246th birthday, we’ll hear a lot about the blessings of independence. Like you, I am grateful for the liberty God has granted this country, and I never want to forget the price paid by our forefathers for our precious freedom. As we honor our independence, however, let’s make sure not to forget about the equally beneficial, scripturally-mandated privilege of being in-dependence, that is, fully trusting Christ and relying on others within the Body of Christ.

God created mankind to be in community, both with humans and with Himself. And yet, society today esteems individualism and self-sufficiency far more than collaboration and kinship. Dependence is seen as undesirable, and independence, as advantageous, but scripturally speaking, the opposite is true.

In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul refers to the Church as the Body of Christ. He writes, “those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Corinthians 12:22). This scripture is often used as one reason why the Church should not only include but also seek out people with disabilities to be in the Church—because they are indispensable.

Families who live with disabilities know how to live in-dependence. They strengthen community and demonstrate God’s love by valuing diversity and showing us how to care for and serve each other through our differences.

When we rely on each other and live in-dependence, we come against the pride and self-sufficiency that is so rampant in today’s society. In God’s economy, our strength is our greatest liability. Weakness is an asset. God wants us to recognize our need for others and for Him. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12, it is only when we allow ourselves to be weak and in-dependence that we see God’s perfect power at work in us (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

This Independence Day, celebrate the freedoms God has given us, but also rejoice in the privilege of being in-dependence. Let’s live as community, rejoice in our diversity, and support one another as we discover the beauty of in-dependence from our families with disabilities.

If your Church is looking for ways to be more inclusive for families with disabilities, we invite you to contact The Banquet Network today.

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