Why it is important that our churches are accessible
There’s a whole range of reasons; ranging from ‘because it’s the right thing to do’ through to ‘well it’s a legal requirement’. But the answer we’d like to briefly look at today is because that’s what it teaches in the bible, it’s what Jesus did and what God tells us to do.
There’s so many examples and teachings about disability in the bible, here is a small selection:
– Genesis 1:27 famously teaches that we are all made in God’s image. All. Not all of us except X group.
– Galatians 3:28 teaches us that difference does not matter and that we all have a calling to include everyone regardless of any difference.
– Colossians 4:6 teaches us to communicate in ways that everyone can understand and follow.
– In 1 Corinthians 12:5-6 we learn that every single person has different gifts from God and that we are all called to serve and use those giftings. All of us.
But more than this. Did you know that there are disabled people in the bible who all significantly contributed to the history of God’s people? Moses had a speech defect, Elijah had serious mental health problems, both Nicodemus and Matthew are believed to have been neurodiverse, Zaccheaus was abnormally small and even Jesus was resurrected disabled. Jesus’ hands, feet and side held the marks of significant physical disability. In the resurrected Christ we see a holy and whole yet disabled God. His injury is part of him. Not as a punishment, not as an opportunity for healing. The perfect, all powerful, all knowing Christ is resurrected with a disability.
So why is it important that our churches are accessible? Because it’s in the bible, it’s what Jesus did and what God tells us to do. When God chose to come to earth as Jesus, His attitude towards disability was revolutionary for its day, and arguably for our day too.
Disability Matters 
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