Christian spiritual formation has long prioritized hyper-cognitive discipleship, assuming that theological comprehension, verbal articulation, and literacy are prerequisites for spiritual growth. This framework, however, excludes individuals with intellectual disabilities, whose cognitive capacities may not identify with traditional models of worship and discipleship (Swinton 1997; Wilder 2018). As a result, intellectual limitations are often seen as barriers to spiritual engagement (Bertelli et al. 2020), leading many to view the spiritual growth of individuals with intellectual disabilities as irrelevant or nonexistent (Barron & Evensen 2022). This exclusion raises critical theological and pastoral questions: Does God require a certain level of intellect for spiritual transformation? If not, how can the Church reimagine spiritual formation to fully include individuals with intellectual disabilities?
This paper argues that Christian spiritual formation must extend beyond hyper-cognitive paradigms. Drawing on disability theology (Swinton 2010; 2011; Cooreman-Guitten & Léovan Ommen 2022), scriptural exegesis, and practical theology, this study highlights biblical narratives that affirm God’s engagement through diverse, non-traditional means. Scripture presents a God who:
a) engages humanity through various sensory and experiential pathways (Luke 24:13-35; Acts 2:6, 11);
b) is deeply involved in disability, offering both accompaniment and accommodation (Exodus 4:10-17; Eiseland 1994);
c) commands spiritual communities to integrate individuals with disabilities (2 Samuel 9:8; Luke 14:15-24; Mark 5:1-20);
d) and invites all members into the mystical unity of the “body of Christ” (Colossians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 3:16). These passages challenge the assumption that intellectual ability is a prerequisite for meaningful spiritual engagement.
This study also engages Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s theology of Christian community, particularly his critique of intellectual elitism in Life Together and Ethics. His 1934 sermon, “My Strength is Made Perfect in Weakness,” warns against equating intellectual ability with human value (Bonhoeffer 2012, 169). Bonhoeffer’s experience at Bethel, a community for individuals with disabilities, informs a theological framework for inclusive discipleship that prioritizes presence, mutual dependence, and embodied faith.
Additionally, this paper incorporates an autoethnographic perspective. Recognized as a valuable tool in disability studies (Swinton 2011), the author reflects on lived experience as a primary caregiver for an adult son with Down Syndrome and a member of a large church community in Toronto. These insights provide applied theological reflections on Christian community, discipleship, and models of spiritual engagement.
In sum, this paper argues that Christian spiritual formation must move beyond hyper-cognitive assumptions to embrace the non-traditional ways individuals with intellectual disabilities experience spiritual growth. Recognizing how God affirms these diverse pathways, both in Scripture and lived experience, offers a necessary corrective for a more inclusive and faithful vision of discipleship.