Mark A. Strand is a professor in the School of Pharmacy at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. He wrote a recent article titled “Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD] Epidemiologically and Theologically”, giving his views on ASD as a chronic disease epidemiologist from a Christian faith perspective. The article was published by BioLogos, the faith-and-science think tank founded by world-renowned biologist and apologist Francis Collins. Strand shared further insights with Christian Daily International on how churches could better support and celebrate autistic individuals, who are all loved by God.
Strand has personal experience with autism — his wife and two of his three children are on the mild to moderate autism spectrum.
“Both [adult children] are able to work part-time, both dependent on us to some extent, unlikely to marry, but beautiful adults who love Jesus and manifest facets of the Christ-filled life that bless me every day,” Strand says.
Being exact about the truths and untruths about autism is clearly important for Strand. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the latest data estimate that 1 in 31 children (3.2%) and approximately 1 in 45 adults (2.2%) in the United States are autistic.
ASD is therefore a widespread condition that Strand rightly believes the wider Church must deeply understand, so that autistic individuals can feel loved, included, and empowered in their calling for Christ.
“Churches should be more open to neurodivergent persons and to epidemiological data informing our understanding of it. My church has a disabilities-based Sunday School class. They are all adults.”
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as a spectrum, is a reflection of diversity, not deficiency, Strand said. However, he says it is indeed a disability, calling for human kindness, social support, and appropriate policies and programs.
Many neurotypical persons have ASD tendencies, and many persons with autism do not, he points out.
Another critical fact he emphasizes is that ASD is not a result of personal sin (John 9:3). “But it is a reminder of a fallen world, with hurt and sadness,” Strand says.
“People need to be informed and helped to understand neurodivergence. Autism is not a crisis or an epidemic; it is a slow-moving chronic disease that calls for care, attention, and appropriate research funding.”
Strand highlights that how we treat people with disabling conditions is a reflection of how we treat Christ (James 3:9; 1 Corinthians 3:7; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; Prov. 14:31).
“ASD exists within individuals, within communities. The community must ‘be completely humble and gentle; patient, bearing with one another in love’ (Eph. 4:2).
“Communities need ‘space and grace’ for all personality types, not only selective personality types. Neurodivergent persons are fully part of the Body of Christ, and we should look for God’s special gifts to the church from them.”
Strand reflects on the realistic possibility that ASD may remain in the resurrection.
“In The Chosen [television series about Jesus], Matthew the tax collector is cast as autistic (good at math, takes notes on Jesus’ words). This is a welcomed contribution by the makers of the TV series,” Strand says.
Meanwhile, more — not less — federal programs in the U.S. are needed to protect and serve neurodivergent persons, based on scientifically sound data, Strand says.
“U.S. legislation like Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination based on disability in federally funded programs, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which ensures all students receive a free appropriate education and necessary support services.
“As God’s representatives on earth (Gen. 2:15), humans are called to welcome in God’s kingdom (Matt. 6:10), which includes enhancing human flourishing (Luke 4:18–19). We are also called to be truth-tellers, in the service of humankind. This includes the use of the science of epidemiology to enhance human flourishing.”
Strand points out that in The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis used a simple picture of children, with all their failings and immaturity, being crowned as kings and queens.
“Lucy cries out in the end, ‘We are all kings and queens now.’ This calls for us to appreciate our royalty, but perhaps more crucially, the royalty of those around us. We each wear a crown that marks our role in God’s reign, a reflection of God’s image. In time, we will all be kings and queens. Let’s live like it.”
Strand does not believe that autistic people need to be “healed,” nor subjected to expectations of healing and designated prayer services for their healing, such as with the four men who carried their paralytic friend to Jesus (Luke 5:18–25).
However, he holds out “hope for their healing, and prays for their healing — but more along the lines of Luke 17:11–19, where the 10 men wanted to be healed and one of them actually praised and thanked God after he was healed.”
Strand, on a personal note, would pursue all scientific opportunities to give his own children assistance to cope with their autism and/or to recover from their autism.
“I would pursue all the spiritual resources and pathways for them to be healed and helped, including crying out to Jesus for healing. But it would be with caution, so as not to excessively burden them, stigmatize them, or set them up for a feeling of being a second-best human in God’s family.”
In the video below, Mark Strand speaks further about autism from an epidemiological, theological, and pastoral perspective at North Dakota State University.
