Posted on 08/25/2014 7:02:07 PM PDT by Morgana
IMO our theology "predicts" the type of place we make for the mentally disabled among us. As a Calvinist, I believe in Total Depravity, which is to say that every single part of a man has been touched by sin. We sin because we are sinners; if we say that someone does not sin, we are saying that they are not a sinner. David says that he had been a sinner even in his mother's womb (Psalm 51:5). IMO there are no "innocents" of any age that have never sinned.
There is no corner of creation that has not fallen. To believe this would mean some have no need of the mercy and forgiveness of Christ. Or, as I argued in my previous post, that to believe so is to pronounce that some have a need but due to their infirmities, they do not need to be told of / cannot respond to the grace and mercy and healing of Christ's blood.
God Bless you!
Try a noisy church. Our praise and worship services are joyously loud. We are just as loud when we thank Jesus as most people our when they cheer their favorite NFL team.
Find a Pentecostal or Charismatic non-denominational church near you. If you can't find one start one.
For your gentle correction, remember it was Jesus who said, “let the children come to me.”
What did I say that you believe is incorrect? How does "let the children come to Me" contradict my previous posts?
In order to bring people to the Lord, you do have to welcome them. It is about welcoming people, even special needs folks.
Because you framed your response as a "gentle correction", what did you read in(to) my posts that you interpreted as specifically "not welcoming" to the special-needs person?
How do I know what?
One of the saddest things I saw in a Catholic church recently was a large room at the back of the main room with a glass enclosure for children. Parents with young children are encouraged to sit in there instead of with the rest of the church. I guess their version of Jesus doesn’t like children or the noise they make. Can’t interrupt the sermon with the noise of one of God’s children.
The stricture of “decorum” can steal goodness and mercy from us if we’re not careful. Does anyone doubt that our Lord Jesus Christ would make a straight path to the “least” among us? Who knows, maybe the least aren’t people with physical disabilities but those torn to pieces in their spirits? He sees, and knows, and will NOT break a bruised reed or extinguish a dimly burning wick!
I knew a big burly man-child at one church I went to that would walk up to you, put his arms around you and say “I love youuuuuu” with a playful growl. I’m not sure if he had Down’s syndrome or what, but I can testify that it was as if God had hugged me in person! Ha!
It seems some people here do not know the Commandment:
3. Remember to keep holy the LORD’S Day.
Staying home and refusing to assemble and share with others — is that what you are talking about?
“One of the saddest things I saw in a Catholic church recently was a large room at the back of the main room with a glass enclosure for children. Parents with young children are encouraged to sit in there instead of with the rest of the church. I guess their version of Jesus doesn’t like children or the noise they make. Can’t interrupt the sermon with the noise of one of God’s children.”
Have you ever tried to hear a sermon over an opera singer? Try several opera singers at once. Yea one starts they all join in. The “cry room” is so the babies can be included and don’t disturb everyone else. “Seen but not heard”.
That as apposed to the Baptist church I grew up in. They had a nursery for the little ones. You prefer that? Not to call out Baptists here but hey most Baptists in fact most churches in general have nurseries for babies these days esp the ***cough cough MEGACHURCHES cough cough***. So you walk into a church and leave your most precious child with ?? in the nursery just because that person is a Christian, so they say. Oh but that is another story.
Yea I’ll take the “cry room”.
Then someone decided the thread needed a slam against non-Catholics.
...sure, bud, sure...if you say so...
FReeper, please!
Why do you think I weaseled in the term “standard?” ;)
That you don’t “need” Church.
As a person who is ASD, I can say they we are able to control ourselves. It just takes effort.
My parents would not take me to church to avoid the problems.
It happened.
Personally, I believe there is a "grace" conferred upon the assembly that is otherwise not conferred.
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