The Phil Files

In my Heartlight.org article today, Coming Down in the Wrong Place, I share how a plane landing in the wrong place, miles away from where it was supposed to touch down. This scary mistake reminds me that we often do this with the way we value and devalue others.

One place this sure seems to be true is the way we view and value those with Down Syndrome. While sometimes saying we appreciate the loving and guileless lifestyle of Down Syndrome children, the way speak about them is often condescending. Instead of recognizing the qualities Jesus emphasizes as traits that God values, we often view these precious souls as less than “normal people” — like they are damaged in some way. Yet many of the qualities Jesus demands in His followers are often best demonstrated by many our society identifies with Down Syndrome. It’s almost as if the more we stress politically correct speech, the less we actually value people who are different from us.

In several Scandinavian countries, Down Syndrome people were once regarded as angels. What if we viewed them this way today? What if we all recognized that each of us were damaged in some ways because of our fallen world, yet each of us has something to learn from those around us … and they have something to learn from us?

What can we do as believers to make our church communities a place of safety where these children and adults are valued?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!