Autism Isn’t a Glitch—It’s a Gift to the Church

When God gave Moses the blueprint for the tabernacle, He didn’t just give instructions—He gave people. “See, I have called by name Bezalel… and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.” (Exodus 31:2–3)

Bezalel wasn’t a committee pick. He was God’s choice. God didn’t ask the people of Israel if they were comfortable with him—He told them to follow him. And Bezalel didn’t just have skills. He had a mind tuned to pattern, structure, detail, and beauty. If you were watching him build, you might’ve said he was intense, focused—maybe even “different.”

And that’s the point.

Autism Is Not Outside the Kingdom

Let me say this plainly: autism is not a glitch in God’s design. It’s not something the Church needs to tiptoe around or apologize for. It’s not something we just “make room for.” It’s something we need.

We believe God knits every person together in the womb. We believe He sets the members of the body just as He wills. So why do we act surprised when someone’s wiring doesn’t match our preferences?

God made Bezalel that way. Not by accident. On purpose. For a purpose.

And I believe God still does that today.

Autistic believers are not outliers in the Church—they are gifts to it. Not future projects. Not burdens to manage. Gifts. Necessary ones.

What the Church Needs Most

Some of the most honest, steady, and truth-loving Christians I know are on the spectrum. They see what others miss. They cling to truth when others drift. They ask questions no one else would think to ask.

And yes, they may miss social cues or struggle with certain rhythms. But they also don’t fake things. They’re not moved by emotional hype. They aren’t trying to impress. And that kind of sincerity is sorely lacking in the modern Church.

In a generation that values smoothness over substance, God is giving us people who value what’s real. That’s not a mistake. That’s mercy.

Not Always Easy, Still Always Good

Now let me be real with you—gifts aren’t always comfortable. Parenting autistic children can be exhausting. Discipling neurodiverse adults can stretch you. Community takes work. That’s true in every direction, for every person. We’re all hard to love in different ways.

But when God gives a gift, He expects us to receive it—not resent it. He doesn’t ask us to mold people into our image. He calls us to disciple them into His.

That means we don’t try to “normalize” the gift. We don’t push autistic believers to act like everyone else. We help them grow in the calling God already gave them. We let them build with the tools He already placed in their hands.

Parents, Take Heart

If you’re raising a child on the spectrum, you’ve probably had days where it felt more like survival than strategy. I see you. But let me encourage you: you are not raising a broken child. You are stewarding a different kind of brilliance.

Your child may not make sense to the world—but they were never supposed to. They make sense to God. And when you start to see that, you can start to see them not just as a challenge to manage, but as a gift to protect and prepare.

They don’t need to be like everyone else. They need to become exactly who God made them to be.

God Still Fills Tabernacle Builders

The Church isn’t a stage. It’s a sanctuary. It’s not built with flash—it’s built with faithfulness. And for that, we need Bezalels. We need people who see what others overlook. People who lock in when others drift. People who build, line by line, stitch by stitch, exactly as God commands.

If you’re on the spectrum, hear me: you are not an accident. You’re not a footnote. You’re part of the blueprint. The Church needs you.

Not just in the room. In the work.