Neurodiversity & Faith: Different by Design
Modern language gives us a useful term: neurodiversity. It describes the variation in how people think, learn, feel, communicate, and process the world.
While the term is new, the truth behind it is not.
God does not repeat Himself. He shapes individuals with purpose, places them in community, and weaves their differences into His work.
Scripture has always shown God working through people who think differently, as essential parts of His story. When we pay attention, we see not one “ideal” pattern of character, thought, or communication, but a rich tapestry of human design woven into creation from the beginning.
This isn’t about overlaying clinical categories onto biblical figures. It is about honoring the way Scripture itself highlights differences in temperament, cognition, and calling, and recognizing that these differences were not mistakes. Redeemed, yes. But never mistakes.
A Scriptural Tapestry of Characters
Consider how differently key figures experience and responded to God:
Moses led slowly and reflectively, hesitant in speech yet profound in communion and endurance. He acted brashly as well, and Scripture does not hide this.
Peter reacted quickly, spoke boldly, and learned through action, not theory. His boldness led him to one day lead the Christian Church.
Mary of Bethany processed through being present, attention, and relationship — choosing quiet devotion over busy activity.
Martha saw needs early and served immediately, driven by structure and responsibility. In fact, Jesus even had to tell her to sit down and be present!
David felt and expressed emotion deeply, thinking in song, story, prayer, and intuition. The Psalms are beautiful poetry filled with David's highs and lows, and everything in-between.
Paul reasoned in structured argument, focused with unwavering drive, and saw mission in straight lines. He was reasoned, direct, and had a single mission.
Deborah offered strategic clarity, steady leadership, and wise judgment.
Bezalel created beauty through detail, craftsmanship, and sensory understanding.
None of these look the same. They were never meant do. All were formed and utilized intentionally.
God does not repeat Himself. He shapes individuals with purpose, places them in community, and weaves their differences into His work.
We Were Never Meant to Think in One Voice
Paul’s metaphor of "The Body" is not only about spiritual gifts. It reflects cognitive and emotional diversity as well. Different roles. Different instincts. Different strengths in expression and perception. One purpose.
When we insist that everyone think, learn, or communicate in the same way, we move against the grain of creation.
Uniformity is efficient, but it is not holy. Unity is holy and it requires difference.
If every person in Scripture were wired the same, the story of redemption would be flat, thin, and fragile. Instead, God builds history through shepherds and strategists, poets, kings, and builders, careful processors and bold responders.
That same design continues today.
The LinkedIn Conundrum
Somewhere along the way, we turned LinkedIn into a place where we feel pressure to speak in algorithm-approved language. We trim ourselves into tidy skill boxes, optimize headlines for search bots, and sprinkle keywords so an ATS might notice us. We start sounding less like people and more like résumés pretending to be human. It helps us get discovered but it also makes us smaller.
We weren’t designed to fit into machine-readable categories. When we reduce ourselves to what software can sort, we trade depth for visibility. Real calling, real voice, real humanity will always be bigger than search-optimized identity.
Why This Matters Now
A growing number children and adults in our communities appear to think and process differently. Some thrive in structured environments; others excel in open-ended creativity. Some speak in detail; others feel first and articulate later. Some lead through planning; others lead through presence and persuasion.
Faith calls us to see these not as “better” or “worse” but as intended. When we encounter someone who communicates differently, learns differently, or responds differently, we can begin with a more faithful question:
Lord, what gift have You placed in this design?
Human differences aren't new and they aren’t accidental. They are part of God’s ancient pattern, and they continue to be part of His work in the world today.
Our differences were always part of the plan. Let us treat it as sacred.
