Shayla: Should we allow a child with AIDS in our church’s nursery?

Responsa:

Obviously, AIDS is not contracted by a child’s immoral behavior. Even if it were, we would need to extend forgiveness. However, the Bible is clear on how we are to treat children, and those who are struggling with special needs.

• Matthew 25:40 HCSB "And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'
• Matthew 18:5 HCSB And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me.
• Mark 10:13-15 HCSB Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them. (14) When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me. Don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (15) I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
• Matthew 21:16 HCSB And said to Him, "Do You hear what these children are saying?" "Yes," Jesus told them. "Have you never read: You have prepared praise from the mouths of children and nursing infants?"

If a child with AIDS came to our church, we would need to take the necessary precautions (as we would with all contagious illnesses), educate our staff and church members, and yet welcome that child into the nursery.

We are instructed throughout scripture to take care of the needy. Certainly, a child with AIDS qualifies! The public has often turned its back on innocent AIDS victims out of ignorance or not wanting to get involved. However, over and over again throughout the scriptures, we are commanded to take care of the needy.

• Job 30:24-25 HCSB Yet no one would stretch out his hand against a ruined man when he cries out to him for help because of his distress. (25) Have I not wept for those who have fallen on hard times? Has my soul not grieved for the needy?
• Psalms 72:4 HCSB May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor.
• Psalms 109:31 HCSB For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who would condemn him.
• Psalms 113:7 HCSB He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage pile
• Proverbs 31:20 HCSB Her hands reach out to the poor, and she extends her hands to the needy.
• Jeremiah 22:16 HCSB He took up the case of the poor and needy, then it went well. Is this not what it means to know Me? This is the LORD's declaration.

It is our job to reach out as Christ Himself did and help in times of need. As Paul had a repulsive physical weakness and yet was not rejected, so we may not reject a person from our midst simply because of fear or disgust.

• Galatians 4:13-14 HCSB you know that previously I preached the gospel to you in physical weakness, (14) and though my physical condition was a trial for you, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.

Posek: S. Ewing

Posek K. Pauley adds: There is a lot of social stigma that accompanies a disease like AIDS. It is associated with people or conditions of life that many “good people” don’t even want to know about, much less be faced with in their own church. Sometimes, the stigma is transferred from the parent who through her sin contracted the disease to the child who is an innocent victim. To those who struggle with that stigma we say:

• Ezekiel 18:18-20 HCSB "As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity because he practiced fraud, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people. (19) But you may ask: Why doesn't the son suffer punishment for the father's iniquity? Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will certainly live. (20) The person who sins is the one who will die. A son won't suffer punishment for the father's iniquity, and a father won't suffer punishment for the son's iniquity. The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him.