34: Autism & Healing Series: Who Decided Neurotypical Means Whole?

When Christians talk about autism and healing, what exactly do we mean by healed?

Sometimes we picture something dramatic: autistic today, non-autistic tomorrow. And underneath that picture can be an assumption we may not even realize we're making: autistic means something is not whole, less autistic means becoming more whole, and non-autistic means healed.

But who decided neurotypical means whole? Because I don't think Scripture did.

In Part 3 of the Autism & Healing series, we're examining what Scripture actually teaches about wholeness, redemption, resurrection, growth, and Christlikeness—and why those categories matter for how we disciple our autistic children today.

God can grow my son. He can mature him, develop his communication, give him new skills, relieve distress, provide wise doctors and therapists, deepen friendships, grow his independence, and sanctify him. And I can praise God for every bit of that without interpreting every new skill as Graham becoming "less autistic."

God's work does not become less divine because He works through ordinary means.

Because if I make neurotypicality the goal, I can accidentally celebrate masking as maturity, exhaustion as participation, compliance as discipleship, or silence as regulation.

I need a better target.

Christlikeness.

Scriptures Referenced

Romans 3:23 Ephesians 2 Romans 8 1 Corinthians 15 Revelation 21 Galatians 5:22–23

Questions for This Week

Open your Bible and ask: Where did my definition of "whole" come from? Did Scripture give it to me, or have I assumed typical means whole because typical is what I'm accustomed to seeing?

Then look at the autistic image-bearer in front of you and ask: What am I actually hoping for? Less autism? Less suffering? Greater communication? Growth? Maturity? Independence? Christlikeness?

The target matters because the target determines what we celebrate.

Average is not the definition of whole. Typical is not the definition of redeemed. Neurotypical is not the definition of holy.

God does not need to make my son neurotypical in order to be at work in his life.

Next in the series: How do we respond when another family says their child was "healed of autism"—without dismissing their testimony or turning their experience into a promise for our family?

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