Autism and the body of Christ: Why feet should run and noses shouldn’t

I wonder what comes to mind when you hear the word “autistic”?

Perhaps you think of recent speculation about rising numbers of diagnoses? Or you might think of those on a mission to cure autism? Maybe you think of a family member or friend?

Or you could be like me: an autistic Christian who is trying to navigate life in a way that is pleasing to God, striving to grow and be sanctified, while also being (constantly!) humbled and reminded of my own weaknesses and difficulties.

This journey is not particularly different from that of any Christian, however what I would say is that the barriers and challenges I face often fit within a specific profile because of my neurotype.

Think of it this way: new mums can understand the challenges each other face, the stresses and joys that raising a tiny human places on them, as they navigate life. They seek to live out their Christian life and being a mum plays a huge part into their identity and the strengths and difficulties they may experience in that season. They will read the Bible, pray and the Holy Spirit will be at work in them. They will have specific ways that they can apply the Word to their lives in their situation.

And in a similar way, autistic people have our own pressures and stresses and challenges, strengths, joys and gifts. Every season of our life is an autistic season because that’s the way our brains are wired. Of course, every autistic person is different, and our experiences aren’t identical - in fact some have high levels of support needs while others' needs are low. But we do share a neurotype and can relate to specific experiences.

And so, a small group that began at my church, of adult autistic women, has come to be a real blessing in walking together and encouraging one another in faith.

How to grow a gospel culture in church as an autistic person?

When, as part of a course with Biblical Counselling UK, I had the opportunity to try and intentionally grow the gospel culture in an area of my church life, I was keen to do it with this group. A "gospel culture" was something we were often discussing: how do we love our church family well, when there are so many challenges and barriers we are trying to overcome? Sensory, social and communication difficulties are part of our everyday life, and those things don’t disappear when we step into a church setting - in fact, they are often multiplied.

Together we began to explore the different commands we are given in the Bible to do, or not do, to “one another” (for example, John 13v34 or Romans 12v16). We approached it methodically. Each time we met we would look at one theme, spend time reading what the Bible says about it, and then discuss strategies and ideas as to how we could implement these commands as autistic people, utilising our strengths and recognising our weaknesses. In essence, to use metaphor of the church as a body, if we are noses, how do we live as noses and not try to be feet? Feet should run, but when noses do something has gone wrong.

The first thing we had to establish in our mission to serve “one another” in our church, is that we are a necessary and valuable part of the body of Christ, and as we function alongside our brothers and sisters, what we do may not look identical to what they do. But if we are seeking to bring glory to God, and to serve Him and our church family humbly and sacrificially, then we will be playing our part.

In the next few articles I write for Evangelicals Now, I'm looking forward to exploring this area of how to grow a gospel culture as autistic people in more detail.