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!
“ 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.”
https://www.tca-warriors.org/athletics/
Why are their sports teams called the “Warriors”? I bet there is a lengthy explanation somewhere.
The schools appears to be affiliated with the Pastor’s rather large and seemingly well-funded church - https://tci.org/
While there are many families with members on the spectrum, and the philosophies range from “find a cure” to “acceptance”, as a general rule I NEVER heard of a parent who jumped for joy when they got such a diagnosis. Nobody is “celebrating.”
If ANYTHING, the families and autists want a chance to live and produce without the fear of ostracism and denial of employment. That’s hardly having an identity in anything other than Christ-if anything “autist” or “on the spectrum” is a short-cut label that helps others understand and adjust. I believe Jesus would want me to change my approach with an autist - which I’ve done when so informed - because they learn and respond differently.
This smells like there is more to the story.