Christian school cancels autism week after pastor calls activities 'demonic'

Christian Post ^ | April 8, 2024 | Anugrah Kumar

[Morgana]

In Florida, a private Christian school's decision to cancel Autism Awareness Week after the school's pastor claimed such an event is "idolatry and demonic" has sparked backlash from parents vowing to pull their kids out.

Trinity Christian Academy in the Lake Worth Beach area, affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of God denomination, faced backlash after Pastor Matt Baker announced the cancellation of the week's activities in a March 30 email to families.

Baker argued that these events led students to prioritize identities over their faith in Jesus Christ. The planned activities, similar to previous years, included themed dress-up days aimed at raising autism awareness.

"The word 'Christian' means 'Like Christ,' and it was given to the followers of Christ because they acted just like Jesus," Baker wrote in his email message.

"Remember those bracelets from the 2000s that asked, 'WWJD?' If Jesus Christ led Trinity, would HE have an Autism Awareness Week? Of course not! Why? Because anything that exalts itself above the name of Christ should be brought down. Also, anything that teaches our children to have their identity in anything other than Christ is idolatry and demonic."

"Let me repeat myself just so I am not quoted out of context," he continued, "any philosophy, teaching, or program that teaches our precious children that their identity is found in anything other than Christ is idolatry and demonic. Period."

The pastor's stance has led to significant unrest among parents, with some considering withdrawing their children from the school.

Vanessa Francisco, a parent of an autistic adult and a daughter at the school, called on the school's board of directors to condemn his message as disgraceful and ignorant, The Palm Beach Post reports.

"That email felt like an unprovoked attack on my family. A slap to the face I never saw coming and from our Pastor of all people," she was quoted as writing to school leaders. "How can we continue to allow someone so grossly ignorant to preach to our children, to educate our children in any capacity? His hatred for the autistic and disabled community is so enormously obvious, that I can not stand by and just accept what (Baker) tells me."

Andrea Gallik, a parent of an autistic child at Trinity, told WPTV that she will pull her kids out of the school.

"I feel like my heart stops beating because not once but twice (in his email message) he (Baker) says that wearing this title of autism is demonic," Gallik told the outlet. "And my mouth was on the floor. I'm offended as a Christian because I feel that he is using the Bible for his own interpretation. And his interpretation is offensive. Not just to my son but to any child, adult afflicted with autism. Breaks my heart. It breaks my heart."

"Miles [her son] has started saying he doesn't belong in his class, and I just tell him that God made him perfectly," she said. "And this was a plan all along, and we just have to walk in it and know he's a smart boy and everyone who meets him loves him."

Following the backlash, Baker doubled down on his position in a statement sent to The Palm Beach Post.

"[T]he teachings of Christ are more than sufficient for ministering to all our precious children," he wrote. "[T]here were moral aspects of this initiative that were diametrically opposed to the teachings of Christ."

The pastor didn't detail the "moral aspects" of the initiative in question but stated that administrators have "recently been going through our school calendar and canceling and reframing activities and events to align with our Christian Worldview."

The school, serving over 400 students, also canceled its Easter egg hunt, he said.

A teacher's aide has also been dismissed for sharing the pastor's email on social media, WPTV confirmed.

[Morgana]

I understand why the preacher is doing this and he is correct.

[Blood of Tyrants]

HOWEVER, those with autism often do not have the ability to emulate, or even understand Christ.

[No name given]

I agree.

[Fuzz]

Yeah. Those kids should learn their place. /s

[Red6]

We all need to learn our place. No /s

All this affirming everyone’s sexual fetish, ever more identity groups, diagnosing everyone with a metal illness, pretending like self esteem is the most important thing, everyone wanting to be a protected/special group and self victimization... It needs to end.

Read the quotes from the “offended parents.” Morons. I’d be happy to see them move on since if it weren’t this, I’d be that they get offended by. I would t tell that that, but I’d have a list of options available where they can put their little super special porcelain child that has the latest fashionable mental illness.

[Fuzz]

Exactly.

And why do those Down’s syndrome kids get off getting all the ice cream? Get back in line, you moochers. We see you acting non Christ like.

[whitney69]

“I understand why the preacher is doing this and he is correct.

Pentecostal Assemblies of God denomination

I find it interesting that the old Pentecostal churches were famous for their practitioners to being taken by spirits and rolling on the ground, hence the holy roller name, and spoke with tongues. Yet they can determine an illness as demonic? Just a bit outside.....

wy69

[packagingguy]

He’s not correct. That’s like saying people with Down’s syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome or the like as somehow not worthy of explaining why some people are different. It leads to acceptance that is sorely lacking in some congregations.

I have left a church over this—I have a high functioning kid with autism and the DCE decided to leave her in the baby room and away from the other kids. She was never allowed to interact with kids her own age. I let the minister know exactly why I was leaving (oh yes, and how they were accepting of the LGBTQ+++ crowd, fine for sexual perversion but no disabled kids in that congregation!)

If you want to treat people with autism like this, then you’re free to do so. But you should also treat people with heart failure, strokes, blindness, Down’s syndrome, etc. the same. No special accommodations for anyone. If you are different then conform or get out!

[packagingguy]

Please explain the increase in the rate of autism since 1995.

All the publications I have read have shown roughly 20%-25% is increased awareness.

This is a worldwide phenomenon and nobody knows why. In Korea it is seen as a mark of shame but they have one of the highest incidences in the world.

If you can explain it then you should have a Nobel Prize.

Please email me a picture of your Nobel Prize...I have never actually known someone who received one.

[alexander_busek]

From the article:

Because anything that exalts itself above the name of Christ should be brought down.

Morgana:

I understand why the preacher is doing this and he is correct.

Bringing attention to / raising awareness for a neurological maladaptation, and referring to it as such, is hardly "exalting" it.

I'm sure that the organizers of this "autism week" made it clear that sufferers have to overcome special problems in everyday life, and need our understanding.

What could possibly be "demonic" about that?

Regards,

[who_would_fardels_bear]

I would think women would want to identify as women before going to a gynecologist.

[alexander_busek]

"[T]here were moral aspects of this initiative that were diametrically opposed to the teachings of Christ." The pastor didn't detail the "moral aspects" of the initiative in question but [...]

If I were the preacher, I'd be falling over myself in my eagerness to explicitly delineate the supposed "moral aspects" of the initiative that were "diametrically opposed to the teachings of Christ."

This preacher is probably himself under attack by "demonic forces." I pity him.

Regards,

[Zack Attack]

This kids story has fascinated me for years as a late diagnosed autist myself. He really came out of his shell and might even seem hyper if you watch his TedX talk. Today I am high functioning, but nowhere near being a brainiac like Jacob.

Autistic Teenager Tipped for Nobel Prize; Higher IQ than Einstein

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy3Nj3nZtRQ

TedX Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq-FOOQ1TpE

[Red6]

Most mental illnesses are increasing.

Everyone has a metal illness.

In the 1970s you suddenly saw a massive spike in child leukemia and of course people attributed this to pollution, bla bla bla. The real reason is simple to understand but to this day not discussed. Kids were ALWAYS dying at a certain rate from leukemia, only in the 60s-70s we began testing/diagnosing this disease, so guess what happened? It suddenly shot up. If you look at the prevalence of certain diseases you realize that it’s not that this disease is new or increasing, it’s just that we never had this diagnosis, testing for it, and collection of data prior.

People have been getting fatter too. Maybe we need more fat acceptance to help out with awareness: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_positivity
Fat people suffer a lot, to include their self image. This school needs a week to discuss this VITAL subject as well. Fat kids think about suicide more often, so it’s important that we spend a week making people aware of this issue too!!! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9079098/

You tell me, where does it end?

[Nifster]

No he is not.

Do you also think a person who is autistic is demonic?

[MachIV]

“prioritize identities over their faith in Jesus Christ.”

Such as?

[Nifster]

You are very I’ll informed

No everyone does NOT have a mental illness

[cva66snipe]

Not listing specifics of what the offenses actually were send up red flags in my opinion. Christ warned about the legalisms of the Pharisees and placing burdens on persons that they themselves could not carry.

Nobody ask for Autism and it has been around for a very long time.

The nations attitude and recognition of disabilities in persons began to slowly change during and after the Polio epidemic. Before that? Worse case scenario was institutionalizing or keeping the person at home away from society WHO COULD BE HELPED. They were shunned. I knew most disabled kids in my metro region because I ended up in a special education school built for disabled kids at first to deal with Polio victims. Then it expanded to deaf, ADD, blind, kids with behavioral issues etc. I spent 7th and 8 the grade in the early 1970's.

After I left there and went to regular high school and got my drivers license my Mom ended up working there as a teachers aide and bus driver.

1985 I married my quadriplegic Bride for the next 30 years GOD gave us.

I saw some well meaning Christians do damage that was flat out cruel & unBiblical such as telling her that he lack of faith is why she was a quad. No, actually when she was a small child the physical therapist believed she likely had Polio a mild case and it returned on her at age 35 just like that. Limb deformities consisted with Polio showed up when they measured her for a wheelchair.. We married after the fact.

Some churches as well as people get so worked up in following every letter of church doctrines instituted by it's leaders they miss what Christ has taught us to.

[linMcHlp]

bttt

[Rockingham]

Not really. In a proper Christian context, the core teaching is that autistics and other special needs children and adults are to be neither feared nor scorned but must be recognized and supported as children of God as much as any of us are.

Moreover, although special needs education is difficult and limited in its benefits, it can and should include the story of Jesus Christ so that even those whose intellects are impaired can know that Jesus loves them and offers eternal glory.