Christian parents often ask themselves whether their children understand the gospel. That’s a good question because the gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes….” (Rom. 1:16). For parents of special needs children, it can be difficult to trust your children understand the gospel because of developmental delays, communication difficulties, or other reasons.
The Bible gives us three assurances on this matter. First, God has uniquely entrusted your children to your care, and you can help them understand the gospel. Second, the gospel has more than enough power to reach children with special needs. Third, God nourishes believers and causes them to bear fruit.
Be encouraged by these truths as you share the gospel with your children and point them to their Lord and Savior!
Trust God’s Placement
You can trust that your special needs children understand the gospel because God has given your children a dedicated, child-specific teacher: You!
One of the main reasons you can trust that your special needs children understand the gospel is because of your own work to actively share the gospel with them. Ancient worshipers praised God and sang songs about the duty and joy of every godly parent to “tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed.” (Ps. 78:4).
As a parent, you are the primary faith trainer for your children. You bless your children by showing them how to live for God, and you bless them by teaching them the gospel truth.
The example you set on your own journey following Jesus is one of the ways that God has already gifted your children with a presentation of the gospel! (See 1 Cor. 7:14). God’s instruction to share the gospel with your special needs children doesn’t call for anything magical, either. Sharing the gospel with your children simply means honestly telling the story of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, and explaining to your children their need to turn in faith to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Trust God’s Power
You can trust that your special needs children understand the gospel because God is the power behind your presentation.
Maybe you are discouraged to hear that your children depend on you to teach them the gospel because you feel like you’re an inadequate teacher. If so, you’re in good company. When God told Moses to be his spokesperson and lead Israel out of slavery, Moses objected that he was not up to the task because of what seems to have been a speech impediment. Exodus 4:11 records God’s answer.
The Lord said to him, ‘Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.’
Moses’ lack of ability was not a problem too big for God to handle.
The power that makes the gospel effective comes from God, not people. God wants you to join him in the work of sharing the good news of Jesus with your children, but your effectiveness is not determined by your skill — the gospel’s potency does not depend on that! You are freed to joyfully share the good news with your children, prayerfully trusting that God will take the seeds you are planting and make them grow.
Maybe you’re struggling instead with an unspoken fear that your children’s special needs will prevent them from understanding the gospel and as a result separate them from God. That terrible fear is not founded in reality.
On one hand, for special needs people who simply lack the ability to grasp the truth content of the gospel, God’s gracious love is still available. We can trust the good Shepherd to find and care for these sheep.
On the other hand, for children who can understand the gospel but whose special needs are nevertheless severe, you might never see them read the Bible, recite a catechism, or sing a worship song. That’s okay. God does not condition his offer of salvation on a person’s abilities. (Eph. 2:8). Salvation is a gift received through faith. The wonderful beauty of God’s choice of faith as the means of receiving his gift of salvation is that faith is nothing more than heartfelt dependance on, and trust in, God’s promise. God is perfectly capable of hearing when the hearts of your special needs children cry out to him in dependance and trust, even if you cannot see your children express that same faith to you.
Trust God’s Process
You can trust that your special needs children understand the gospel because God will cause your children to bear fruit.
God does work via the gospel that starts in a person’s heart and is not something we can directly see. The Bible teaches, however, that we should expect believers to “bear fruit” to God. We should expect to see true followers of Jesus acting like him. If believers are the children of God eventually the family resemblance will show itself.
For special needs children, however, looking at their behavior and comparing it to Jesus is tricky business. You certainly shouldn’t expect your children to perform perfectly. Even Paul the apostle constantly struggled against sin. (See Romans 7:14–25). Avoid recording your children’s behavior like a scorecard!
Focus on teaching your children the gospel. Discuss the Bible with your children and patiently pray that God would mold your children into people who resemble Jesus. The fruit we expect to see in believers is just that: fruit. It will grow, in time, if the vine exists and is nourished.
God Blesses Children
Consider how Jesus responded to the children who came to see him. Jesus took them into his arms, laid hands on them and blessed them.
People were bringing little children to [Jesus] in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.’
Share the gospel with your children, help your children grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, pray for your children, and trust that God will bless your efforts.
Check out More Special Needs Resources
How Can I Know God Saves People With Substantial Cognitive Impairment?
Depending on God in Trials as a Special Needs Parent
Supporting Neurotypical Siblings of Special Needs Children
What Does the Gospel Say About My Child with Special Needs?
How Can I Trust My Special Needs Child Understands the Gospel?
