In our culture it is very important to be inclusive, and it seems to involve labelling. Dyslexic, Asperger’s, LGBTQ, food intolerances, disabled etc.
I know from personal experience that finding the right label can be liberating, “It does have a word, I do fit into a subset of the human race”.
What I love about being a Christian is that my label, does not exclude me from being part of the body of God, I have a place, my brother, my daughter and I can all carry labels in today’s world but in God I am an important part. I love the inclusive passages of Ephesians 2:11-22, because they remind me that I have a place.
When my daughter was diagnosed as severely dyslexic (2 standard deviations from the norm), she loved the diagnosis, we could get the right help, she started to flourish, she now has a Master’s in Business from a very well recognised University. But I looked for the stories of people with dyslexia in our community to help her, especially sport stars as that was her passion, and this was made easier by a book the Dyslexic Association produced.
But I didn’t look to the Bible for stories of how God used people that had difficulties to further His will. I regret this oversight. There are so many great stories, from Abraham’s damaged hip, Moses, who was not a great orator, so God sent his brother to help out, to Paul who struggled with an infirmity that was never named. Even those people with illness that Jesus cured had a purpose in their disability, be it physical, mental or social. All furthered God’s Kingdom.
We can find some stories in the Children’s story books, but often they gloss over the hard realities. It is up to us as parents/caregivers and those in ministry to make sure those who need to hear the full story do so.
One of my favourite books at the moment is Matthew Paul Turner’s When God Made You,https://www.koorong.com/search/product/when-god-made-you-matthew-paul-turner/9781601429186.jhtmlIt is such a beautiful Book to show children how special they are to God. I am sorry for those who want more explicit statements about the current labels who are fighting to be recognised in our community, you will not find that in this book. The Pictures of David Catrow follows one child, who may or may not be a minority citizen depending on where in the world you are reading this. For those seeking inclusivity by showing labels this book might not satisfy them. The words are beautiful.
We need a variety of books on faith for children, those with good visuals for young children to see the differences in society, and Bible Storybooks that tell of the differences in our faith stories. As well as ones that show God’s inclusivity, that show the concept beyond the story.
My labels are dyslexic, chronic illness, food allergies and intolerances, they are not the new labels fighting to be accepted by society in general. I do feel for each and everyone of them as they seek acknowledgement and a place in a society in which they feel they don’t have a place, or aren’t accepted for who they are, even those who believe that Christ hasn’t offered them a place. The only label I want is Child of God, to me everything else is superfluous.
The Cross in My Backyard 