Step inside the shoes of a couple very dear to me. After years of asking God to give them Children, they were finally expecting a baby. Soon into the pregnancy the doctors detected some irregularities in some blood work. Their hearts began to sink as the doctor delivered the news,
“Well, I am sorry to have to tell you this. There's a great possibility that your baby will have Down Syndrome. I know you both will need time to process this information. The only way to know for sure is to do an invasive procedure where we test some amniotic fluid from around the baby. However, you two should know that if indeed this test is done, there is a chance that it will result in the death of the baby. It’s your call.” The couple decided that they would love the baby- even if it had Down Syndrome.
According to The Global Down Syndrome Foundation, “The population of people with Down syndrome in the U.S. has been estimated to be over 400,000.” Christians are called to care for the least of these, and this includes individuals with Down Syndrome. Through this journey, we will be growing our understanding of this type of disability through looking at where we have been, where we are, and where we need to go.
To begin this journey, let’s examine where we have been in the past with this condition. As recorded in the History of Philosophy and Medicine “In 1866 a British doctor named John Down called the syndrome “Mongolism”. [As the french revolution advanced, it was discovered that] , “Down Syndrome [individuals have] an extra chromosome.” The National Down Syndrome Society published that, “[They have] an additional copy of the 21st chromosome, resulting in 47 chromosomes instead of 46.” Individuals with down syndrome usually have distinct facial features including a flattened face, and almond-shaped eyes that slant up. Before discovery of the extra chromosome, individuals with this medical condition were assumed to be “cursed” in the eyes of societies around the World. In fact, it was not until the early 1970s that the term “Down Syndrome” was used in society. Before this, the New York Times found that the treatment of these people was disgraceful and said that they were “warehoused often in deplorable conditions – locked away so that the rest of society could not see the horror of their lives.” These unique image bearers were not only treated horribly after they entered the world, but also many were aborted before they were outside of the womb. In the late 1900s, the rise in Down Syndrome’s medical screenings during pregnancy opened the door to a rise in selective abortions. Prominent members of the medical community discouraged couples from continuing the pregnancy. Because of this, most parents felt “unfit” to raise a child with Down Syndrome. This idea was supported by the Darwinian ideal that the “fittest survive and pass along their traits to their offspring”, and because of that people with down syndrome were seen as outcasts. The New York Times findings show that, “90 percent of children diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted in the United States.” That should make our hearts sink. In certain parts of the world-such as Iceland- the population of individuals with Down Syndrome has been almost eliminated because of abortion. CBS News reported that “[they] have eradicated Down syndrome from [their] society -that there is hardly ever a child with Down syndrome in Iceland anymore.” This is just evidence of how important it is to inform people that every life is a gift from God and is intrinsically valuable.
We have seen where we have been, so let’s look at where we are now. According to the CDC, “Down syndrome continues to be the most common chromosomal disorder and 6,000 babies [per year] are born with Down syndrome.” More opportunities exist for special needs such as daycare, education, and sometimes even jobs. This provides a purpose for them in their daily lives. Biola Professor James Roden reports that, “Almost 99 percent of people with Down syndrome reported living happy lives.” Not only do these individuals radiate joy, they also have an incredible memory, ability to learn, sometimes work, and also compete in opportunities such as the Special Olympics. In conversations with the parents of children with Down Syndrome, the most common challenge is taking their child into public- Specifically Church. Reports from The Gospel Coalition say that currently “85 percent of churches don’t have any level of special needs ministry.” For the body of Christ, it is one thing for a family with a member with Down Syndrome to be welcomed into the Church, but where the church often fails is accepting a person with Down Syndrome with open arms and realizing that sometimes these individuals might cause a slight disturbance.
Perhaps they do not always have the best church manners, but that does not mean that we should treat them as if they do not belong. The need to reach these families is still great. In fact, The Gospel Coalition reported that “Only 5 to 10% of the world’s disabled are effectively reached with the gospel, making the disability community one of the largest unreached or hidden people groups in the world”. We must ask ourselves this: what component or fear inside of a person is contributing to this drastic statistic? The root is a fear of association and, as a recent Scope survey reported that, “67% of us say we are uncomfortable talking to disabled people.” This information proves that in the here and now we need a change. A change not only in how these individuals are treated, but also how we see them from a Biblical Worldview.
Now that we have seen where we have been and where we are now, let’s take a look at where we should strive to be (Biblically) in caring for them. 1 Corinthians 12:20-22 says, "But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.” (KJV) Members of the church can support these families by encouraging their parents or family members. A Biola professor’s research shows that, “More than 90% of church-going special needs parents cited the most helpful support was having a “welcoming attitude toward people with disabilities.”
For our church, it means that we do not tolerate any unwholesome talk about individuals with Down Syndrome. An easy way for us to begin change is to just allow yourself to listen to the story of a Down Syndrome parent. Perhaps have conversations with your children that will encourage them to have an attitude that appreciates the role that more feeble members have in the Church. Simply starting these conversations will help to dispel the default to think less of them. For me, the Lord allowed me to have opportunity to lead them in worship at a special needs service on Wednesday nights during high school and now help with this group on Sunday mornings. At first, I thought this opportunity was for me to serve them. What the Lord showed me was that He needed to teach me about His joy through seeing them worship- and oftentimes seeing them worship results in a few tears of joy going down my cheek, too. As you reach out and embrace them, my prayer is that you will experience the joy that I have through individuals with Down Syndrome.
In conclusion, we have seen that Christians are called to care for the feeble and least of these. We have grown our understanding through looking at where we have been, where we are, and where we need to go. The question we must ask is this: will we act on the information we have heard, or will we just continue to do nothing?
You might be wondering what happened to that baby I told you about at the beginning of this blog post. Well, that was my story. My parents were the ones who chose to love me even if I had Down Syndrome after the doctors repeatedly asked “are you two sure you want to go through with this”. Upon my birth, the doctors were amazed that I looked “normal”, and even ordered blood tests to confirm this. By the grace of God, my parents chose to love me and raise me to be the person I am today. However, still in the back of my mind, I think of those 90% of babies that never got to experience life. Let's act on the information and fail to be content with complacency.
Written by Kelby Grace Beeson
Works Cited:
Bible gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 12:20-22 - King James Version. Bible Gateway. (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=1+Corinthians+12%3A20-22&version=KJV
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, November 18). Facts about down syndrome. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/downsyndrome.html
Earls, A. (2021, May 24). Churches believe they are welcoming to those with disabilities. Lifeway Research. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from
https://research.lifeway.com/2020/03/10/churches-believe-they-are-welcoming-to-those-with-disabilities/
Gdsf. (2023, January 9). FAQ and facts about down syndrome. Global Down Syndrome Foundation. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from
https://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/about-down-syndrome/facts-about-down-syndrome/
Huiracocha, L., Almeida, C., Huiracocha, K., Arteaga, J., Arteaga, A., & Blume, S. (2017, December). Parenting children with Down Syndrome: Societal influences. Journal of child
health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and community. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5697561/
The Ministry of the Disabled to the church: The imperative and benefits ... (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2023, from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360551603_The_Ministry_of_the_Disabled_to_the_Church_The_Imperative_and_Benefits_of_Disability_Ministry_in_the_Church
NDSS. (n.d.). Down Syndrome Chromosomes . National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://ndss.org/about
Kelby, I loved your information in this blog! <3