Posted on 04/08/2024 8:31:36 PM PDT by 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.
His technical, theological instincts seem to have been pointed in a generally right direction, but his methodology appears to have been a horrific fiasco, grossly confrontive, needlessly ham-fisted, I mean — good God, man! What of GRACE!?!?!?
I agree with you BUT the good pastor was not very skilled in leading his flock.
He snhould have had a congregational meeting of prayer with all concerned and gently explained why they had to change course.And then he should have substituted some other family based organized activity.
The parent reactions described in the article prove the pastor was right. These parents are making an idol of identity politics.
Straw man argument against a statement never made.
And yet Anugrah Kumar didn't deign to list the aspects or events of Autism Celebration Week except for "dress up day". What does "dress up" have to do with undefined "autism"?
Praying for the pastor.
1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
How do you dressup for Autism? With no listing of immoral activities, cannot make any conclusion. Except this pastor does not seem to know God’s grace.
“ 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.
Preacher isn’t a hero, he’s speaking Christ-like, like a Christian!!!!!
Yes!!!
This preacher boy has some big issues.
“Yet they can determine an illness as demonic? “
No he did not call the illness denomic. You don’t understand what he was saying.
“Baker argued that these events led students to prioritize identities over their faith in Jesus Christ.”
Kids today are autistic, gay, furries, trans, anything but Christian and I get what this preacher is saying.
“Baker argued that these events led students to prioritize identities over their faith in Jesus Christ.”
“Baker argued that these events led students to prioritize identities over their faith in Jesus Christ.”
This is what I understand.
“No everyone does NOT have a mental illness”
Nifster you have not heard the old joke that the only person without a mental illness is one who has not been evaluated by a psychiatrist.
Doesn’t everybody have autism but to a different degree read that some place long ago.
Kids today are autistic, gay, furries, trans,
= = =
Gay, furry, trans are choices.
I do not think autism is a choice.
Worshipping autism would be a problem.
It is all a matter of degree.
In theory, virtually any self-identification (as a patriotic American, as a bus driver with an immaculate driving record, or even as "McDonald's Employee of the Month") - when taken to an extreme - could overshadow one's self-identification as a Christian.
But the preacher here is straining at gnats, and probably ignoring far graver matters.
I seriously doubt whether - in the case at hand - there was any concrete danger of the autistic children viewing "Autism Week" as any sort of "exaltation."
Regards,
“No he did not call the illness denomic.”
“...any philosophy, teaching, or program that teaches our precious children that their identity is found in anything other than Christ is idolatry and demonic.”
You’re right except he did say the program teaches our kids that their identity is something other than Christian. They are the ones that identify demonic attached to their identity. And that identity is attached to their illness.
And the byline says:
Christian school cancels autism week after pastor calls activities ‘demonic’.
wy69
Tell me where I’m “ill informed?”
That most mental illnesses are on the rise statistically?
That about 20.3% of all Americans get mental health and 1/8 take drugs. The rest simply have not seen a shrink yet.
That most people would be diagnosed with some sort of mental illness if tested?
Am I wrong to say that fat people think about suicide more?
Tell me where I’m wrong and I’ll adjust.
You said all people have mental illness. That is not true
Guess not
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