Through out pretty much all my life I have had a hard time, at times, going to church because of my anxiety because of all the people that were there. Sometimes the music could be too loud or there was too much going on. A lot of things have changed for me and church is most of the time my safe spot. When I have gone to youth groups or young adult church groups in the past I normally felt uncomfortable and didn't always feel welcomed in the group or people didn't always talk to me or include me and I felt I had to try harder to fit in. I don't think youth groups or young adult church groups should be like that. Everyone who joins a youth group or a young adult group should feel welcomed and accepted and part of the group. Because church groups like that should make people feel welcomed and loved because it's called a "Church group" and that's where people who love God and are trying to live for Christ.
"Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" Romans 15:7
"For God does not show favoritism" Romans 2:11
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God."
With sharing these verse I hope you see how important it is to God how we treat other people and the importance of accepting and being welcoming to others as Christians. Because God himself shows love and He accepts everyone no matter what their sin or life is like. It doesn't matter to God how you look, if you have a disability or if your life isn't as to everyone's liking etc. Every person is very important to God and God makes everyone who comes to Him feel loved and welcomed. We should reflect that. I have had experiences at church groups or youth groups where I have not felt welcomed and comfortable. Actually, I felt totally the opposite. I've felt judged, left out, not welcomed, my anxiety went up instead of having peace when you should feel peace on church grounds.
So in saying this, here are a few reasons why churches should work harder to make a safe place for people with disabilities or invisible disability or anxiety...
1.Makes people with different challenges to feel a part of the church community and make them feel wanted and accepted
2.Gives us an actual chance to learn about the Bible and meet Christian friends
3.Pleases God in knowing how the people of the church are being as God is
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Some ways to start this are...
4.Be kind to others
5. If you see someone that you think might be different then you start just by saying "Hello"
6.See others as God does