Lepers of today - another question for Christian Aspies

[Professori]

I am interested to know whether you have felt easily accepted by church members who know and have experienced that you are different as an Aspie, or have you experienced others who are different being rejected by church? We all want to be accepted, affirmed and loved, and church is the one place where this should readily take place. However, this is not always the case and to even be subtly rejected by those who should give unconditional acceptance can be very painful. Rejection is the very basis of psycho-emotional problems, and sometimes lead to feelings of struggle, shame, guilt.
In the title of this thread I am using the term 'leper' very loosely, but in the days of Jesus they were the rejected ones, and so I am using them as symbolic of all who are rejected today - and those who are different are often rejected in many different ways. When the leper ran through the crowd to Jesus it was a phenomenal thing to do. As a leper he was rejected socially, economically, spiritually, and was a total outcast in all ways. Lepers could not touch anyone because that person would then become spiritually unclean. Even those who represented the church, the rabbis, would stone them. However, Jesus even allowed him to touch him and then healed him and gave him affirmation by touching him openly. This is what Christian church should be doing today, but often it is not the case. Church is often terrible at representing Christ and accepting unconditionally.
So, in my long-winded way I am asking for your experiences.

 

[Professori]

I've never been rejected by a church because of my AS, but then I never disclosed it. I do recall once a man candidating to be pastor at a church I attended. He was everything they were looking for; however, there was one small problem. He had an autistic son. The leadership disqualified him because of that. It really shouldn't be a surprise, because that's the same church that ran me out several years ago; that's a story best saved for another thread and another time.

Wow, that is very unloving of them. I am puzzled as to how an autistic son could have been an issue at all.

 

[Crossbreed]

Everything seemed to be going great in Wimber's pre-Toronto VCF. The baptism & gifts of the HS seemed to accommodate my as-yet-un[label?]ed Aspergers. It seems to be creating barriers in the post-Wimber/Toronto AVC. I hope that isn't the case across the board. (I've met another contemporary Vineyard pastor with the same kind of openness, but he was visiting from out of state.)

 

[PlatinumBeetle]

Read "God Loves the Freaks" by Stephen Weese. It's about the same issue of acceptance, but regarding subculture rather than neurotype differences.

 

[tducey]

Never been an issue for me. I attend church regularly, maintain somewhat of a role in my church as someone who helps with the offertory proceedings (I bring up the bread or wine sometimes in preparation for communion)

 

[Gritches]

Ha, missed this thread. The whole town of about 200 people here goes to the same church. They also all know I'm autistic because when one bumpkin knows, they all know. I went to one service, and the hate was so palpable even from the pastor that I didn't have any desire to go back again. It's not that I don't dare, because if there's one thing I love doing for fun it's antagonizing bigots, but I'd rather just get some sleep instead.

 

[Crossbreed]

...if there's one thing I love doing for fun it's antagonizing bigots,...

I understand, but you are not going to get what you need from that church, if that's all that it represents.

 

[Gritches]

I understand, but you are not going to get what you need from that church, if that's all that it represents.

Of course not. I gave up finding a church that follows the teachings of Christ long ago. Now all "church" is to me is a collection of gossiping cowards who wouldn't dare say anything to me directly, and I eat that up. Too scared to come up and just tell me to leave? That I'm not welcome? Need to try to drop hints so you have plausible deniability? Pure puss. At least round up a posse and try to confront me.

 

[Gritches]

I understand, but you are not going to get what you need from that church, if that's all that it represents.

Crap, I'm picking fights in church. I'm sorry, I need to chillax. You have an excellent point; none of my sociological or spiritual needs will be met at a place that only serves as the local social club. That makes me feel better, thank you.