English
Português
Español
Français
Response
If a test administered during the first trimester of pregnancy reveals that an unborn baby has Down syndrome (or any other birth defect or disability), there are essentially two responses that the parent(s) will be confronted with. The first is to consider the baby as inherently valuable and an individual to be cherished, nurtured, and protected. The second is to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine if the “quality of life” that the child can reasonably be expected to experience will outweigh the challenges that the child and the parents will encounter. If the perceived challenges outweigh the benefits, the parent(s) may decide to terminate the pregnancy through abortion. The first approach is supported by Scripture, as every unborn child (as well as every person regardless of age, race, gender, and mental or physical abilities) is valuable because they are created in the image of God “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”, (Genesis 1:28).
Down syndrome is named after Dr. John Langdon Down, the doctor who first published a paper describing the condition in 1862. Dr. Down referred to it as “Mongolian idiocy” because the typical physical appearance reminded him of individuals from Mongolia. Subsequently, the World Health Organization recognized the condition as Down’s syndrome, and it is now commonly known as Down syndrome (DS). The term “idiocy” did not have the negative connotation it carries today. It was an accepted medical term at the time, which was later replaced by “mental retardation,” now considered derogatory. The current accepted medical term is “intellectual disability.” At one timeWhen evolutionary thinking was gaining popularity, Dr. Down theorized that the condition was a regression to an earlier stage of evolutionary development.
We now understand that Down syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome (chromosome 21). Typically, each parent contributes half of the genetic material present in each of the 23 chromosomes in every cell of the body. In the case of Down syndrome, one parent contributes more than the usual one-half. The additional genetic material alters the way the baby’s brain and body develop. Individuals with Down syndrome are usually identifiable by their appearance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, 1 in 700 babies, or approximately 6,000 babies per year, are born with Down syndrome in the United States.
In contrast to Dr. Down, who perceived individuals with Down syndrome as having regressed on an evolutionary scale, Christians with a biblical worldview will acknowledge individuals with Down syndrome as valuable human beings, created in the image of God. Although individuals with DS may often have reduced physical and mental capacities, their inherent worth is not dependent on their abilities—just as the worth of any human being is not based on abilities.
Christian parents who have a child with Down syndrome should recognize that their child is a gift from God, and there are no accidents with Him. While all diseases, genetic defects, and “syndromes” are generally the result of sin, there is no justification for believing that a child with Down syndrome is a punishment for the parent’s sin in any particular case. The disciples speculated about whose sin was responsible for a man born blind, but Jesus corrected their thinking: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, . . . but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” «Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. », (John 9:3)< If God has entrusted Christian parents with a child who has any kind of disability, those parents can be assured that God has a purpose for them to bring glory to Him by their loving response—and God will provide the grace necessary to offer the proper response! When Moses objected that he was not fit to lead Israel because of his inabilities, God responded, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” «And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? », (Exodus 4:11). It would align with the spirit of the passage to include any person with a disability, including Down syndrome—the Lord is the Creator of those with DS. The Lord has a plan and purpose for disability. There are no accidents with God. Children with Down syndrome can grow up to be highly functioning adults. One mother whose second son was born with Down syndrome stresses that she was burdened by preconceived notions and prejudices and was unaware of what her son could actually achieve (see Carlene K. Mattson, “My Very Special Son” in Focus on the Family Magazine, April 1993). People with Down syndrome can learn to read, hold jobs, and even get married, although they may need additional support. Like all other children, children with DS will need love, discipline, and training in the Lord. Parents who find out that they will have a baby with Down syndrome will most likely need extra help and support as well. Assistance is available through various government programs and support groups in the United States, and hopefully, relatives and the church family are also available to assist. A mother or couple who feel that they simply cannot provide what is necessary to raise a child with special needs should never consider aborting the baby. There are many Christian couples. People who are willing to adopt children with special needs and provide them with caring, secure homes.
