People who experience disabilities are important and valuable. We need to get better at understanding and including people with disabilities. For this episode of Theology Breakdown, I interview a special guest, Dr. Lamar Hardwick, also known as the Autism Pastor, where we tackle various themes related to disability, the Church, the Bible, and theology. Check out the video interview below:
For those of you who prefer audio, you can check out the audio podcast here: https://anchor.fm/joshsamuel/episodes/What-Does-the-Bible-Say-about-Disability—-An-Interview-with-Dr–Lamar-Hardwick–The-Autism-Pastor-e1kscps
Dr. Hardwick is a father, husband, pastor, and author. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree from Liberty University School of Divinity. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Divinity Clergy Scholar Program and a 2017 graduate of Georgia Forward’s Young Gamechangers Program, which included 50 of the state of Georgia’s top thinkers, innovators, and leaders under the age of 40. He is currently working on a PhD at Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Hardwick is a contributing writer to multiple blogs and magazines including The Mighty, Key Ministry, Christianity Today, Huffington Post, Autism Parenting Magazine, and Zoom Autism Magazine. He is the author of Epic Church (2017) as well as his best-selling book, I am Strong: The Life and Journey of an Autistic Pastor (2017). He is the lead pastor of Tri-Cities Church in Atlanta, GA. His most recent book, which we dive into in this episode, is called Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion (IVP 2021).
To get a sense of the contents of the video, here are some details with timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
1:42-5:50 – Why He Wrote on Disabilities and His Own Diagnosis
5:51-9:04 – How He Responded to His Autism Diagnosis at Age 36
9:05-10:39 – Myths about Disabilities
10:40 -17:51 – Does the Bible Contribute to a Faulty View of Disabilities?
17:52-19:43 – What Does Jesus’s Ministry of Healing Mean for the Disability Community?
19:47-24:00 – Jesus and Inviting Those Who Can’t Return the Favour (Luke 14)
24:01-30:24 – What About the Label of ‘Autism Pastor’?
30:25-34:40 – How Should the Church Pray When it Comes to Disabilities?
34:41-42:38 – What is Missing Theologically in the Church When it Comes to Disability Studies?
42:39-46:55 – What Should the Church Look Like?
46:56-51:52 – Encouragement for People With Disabilities and Families with Someone with a Disability
51:53-53:30 – One Thing Churches Should Stop Doing Right Now
53:31-54:17 – One Thing Churches Should Start Doing Right Now
54:18-55:16 – Dr. Hardwick’s Books and Contact
55:17-57:24 – Dr. Hardwick’s Prayer for You
57:25-58:31 – Concluding Remarks
