Recently, our church took a deep dive into the book of Romans, which led me to realize that Romans is not just a theological treatise. Paul wrote to address the issue of disunity within the Roman churches, particularly the divide between the Strong and the Weak. While Paul was not specifically addressing disability issues in his letter, reflecting on his teachings through the lens of the experiences of people with disabilities reveals that the fundamental issue Paul was confronting was the church’s exclusionary practices.

In the Roman churches, Jewish believers considered themselves God’s elect, with Torah observance as the defining mark of being God’s people. On the other hand, Gentile believers felt strong in faith through their belief in Jesus and saw no need for observing the Torah. Some may have even believed that God had abandoned the Jews and chosen the Gentiles in their place. As a result, the two groups rejected each other, refusing to accommodate each other’s food customs and practices, making it impossible to share the communion table.

To this divided church, Paul admonishes them not to think of themselves as higher than others (Rom 12:3) and not to judge or treat one another with contempt. Both groups must acknowledge that the Lord is the judge of all (Rom 14:10). The church is the body of Christ, composed of different members formed by the grace of God (Rom 12:3). Rejection of certain members violates God’s inclusive commands, which brings me to the issue of disability and the church.

Today, people with disabilities are often excluded from church communities. Even when they are allowed to attend services, many are not truly welcomed into the life of the church, nor are they able to receive the sacraments (ordinances) and the same level of discipleship. Similar to the Roman churches, judgmental attitudes, rigid adherence to tradition, lack of genuine welcome, and the misuse of power and privilege contribute to exclusionary practices within the church.

Just as the terms “strong” and “weak” carried judgmental connotations in Paul’s time, so too do the terms “abled” and “disabled” today. Everyone is strong and capable in certain areas and weak or limited in others. No one is fully able in all things.

Central to Paul’s message in Romans is God’s faithfulness and mercy to all humanity. The gift of Christ extends from the Jews to the Gentiles—that is, to all nations and peoples. None of us has the right to reject anyone from the church, the body of Christ, because Christ has accepted them all (Rom 14:3).

While modern Christians do not practice Torah observance, many churches hold tightly to certain traditional practices. For instance, churches that practice believer’s baptism often require candidates to demonstrate an understanding of the faith content and publicly share their testimony. This requirement can exclude individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who may have limited speech or language abilities, barring them from receiving baptism. Without baptism, these individuals may also be denied access to the Lord’s Table in many churches. We must critically examine the concept of faith and recognize the relational and transformative aspects of faith that can be seen in expressions of love for God and people.

Paul urges us to welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed us (Rom 15:7). A genuine welcome goes beyond simply opening the doors; it requires sacrifice, as Christ sacrificed himself to welcome us into his body. To imitate Christ, we must extend that same welcome to all—abled or disabled—who seek to come to Christ, recognizing them as equal members of the body, supporting them in fully participating in every aspect of church life, and receiving the same discipleship as all other members.

In summary, re-reading Romans from a disability perspective reveals Paul’s pastoral heart, longing for the church to glorify God by welcoming, accepting, and accommodating one another’s needs. We are called to love one another genuinely, as God has loved us in Christ because we are all children of God and siblings in Christ. God loved us first, and our love for one another is a witness to the reality of Christ’s rule in our hearts. Therefore, creating an accessible conversation with God for all worshipers is essential for everyone to flourish as members of Christ’s body. Accessible worship must be flexible enough to allow each person to receive and respond to God according to the unique ways they have been gifted.