God at Work

How does one know when God is at work? A good sign is when things happen that one has no control over. Paul planted churches. Apollos watered them. But it is God who causes the growth. [1 Corinthians 3:6-9]

This Asperger Ministry is a seed designed to bring forth fruit for the nourishment of two different cultures – neurotypicals and Aspies – mainly those within God's family. Its seed is as small as a mustard seed. [Luke 17:6]

There are multiple Apollos' to water this ministry. God's timing is perfect, but sometimes it seems He acts surprisingly fast! Ten days after this ministry began, God worked anonymously.

Last Friday, February 13, the Asperger Ministry received an e-mail from the producer of Live From Seattle with Michelle Mendoza on KGNW 850AM radio. It was an invitation to do an interview about Aspergers, what it is, and about the Asperger Ministry on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at approximately 4:50pm PST/7:50pm EST.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015 is International Asperger's Day.

The outcome of this interview will be posted on Friday, February 20th.

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The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [2 Corinthians 4:4] However, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. [Romans 10:17]

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. [Romans 8:5]

This ministry understands the unbelieving mind.

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Judgmental Congregation

Church surveys consistently reveal the greatest need in the body of Christ is acceptance, fellowship, and inclusion! This means include and accept everyone.

Quoting a neurotypical's observation (from Joni and Friends, Part 2: Truth for the Church; section 18:15), "If someone comes to me with poor social skills and I reject them, I've sinned - they didn't. So, if the Lord needs to bring people into my life who are somewhat incompetent, who in terms of communication wise are not the greatest, in order to teach me how to be more accepting of people, then that could potentially also be another benefit."

What makes someone think it's Aspies who are incompetent? The neurotypical majority's opinion? What exactly is incompetent about a neuro-A-typical individual? Wouldn't the incompetent one be the person who doesn't know what to do or how to think?

Teddy & Chiliswoman answer the question, "Why do some NT's find people with Asperger's so unlikeable or annoying?" quite accurately by saying, "...they (NTs) do become annoyed - at them self because now they don't know what to say or do. They have to think about how to converse with you (the Aspie). It is no longer natural and ordinary. Some people are so uncomfortable with that that they cannot continue the conversation, others muddle through, and some excel."

Many accuse adult Aspies of creating their own problems. This thought places the blame of rejection on the victim. It is no different than telling a woman who was raped she must have somehow asked for it.

It's commonly said people with Aspergers are anti-social. This perpetuates the notion that Aspies are to blame for lacking fellowship among the church's congregation. Expressing a desire for a prayer partner for an Aspie can result in being told, "There are Christians persecuted in other countries who don’t have a prayer partner." A pastor may also say, "Aspergers is something psychologists made up." Yes, they made the label up. However, things don't need a label in order to exist. Labels are a communication tool.

The church needs Aspies as much as Aspies need the church. God created man in His own image and we are all one in Christ Jesus. The body of Christ is not complete if it does not fellowship with the believers who are a social discomfort. Social discomfort is a two-way street.

The American Association of Christian Counselors includes the post Asperger’s Syndrome and Spirituality. In it, Rev. Stephanie C. Holmes, M.A. recalls a time in her daughter’s life when she was not drawn toward the church or Christians. The reality of many Aspies’ experience with religious hypocrisy grieves her. She explains why individuals with Aspergers need the church to BE the body of Christ.

It is hypocritical to think Asperger individuals are the only ones with poor social skills. What worse social skill is there than to reject a person simply because she may take you out of your comfort zone?

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Feelings Can't Hurt

Feelings can't hurt, but they can direct you towards what is in pain. The ego is fragile. It is capable of encountering painful experiences. It can because it's empty by nature. Because ego is naturally void, it's always busy trying to fill itself up. This is gleaned from Dr. Timothy Keller's 40 min/26 sec audio sermon Blessed Self-forgetfulness.

Feelings are the messenger; not the message. Just because we may not like a message we receive doesn't mean we focus on the messenger to fix it. The source needs attention. In the case of feeling offended by others, others are not the source of offense. Self is.

Others can't make us feel a particular way without our consent. It's relatively easy to push a proud person's buttons.

A truly humble person can't be made to feel hurt or offended. Humility is thinking of yourself less. It is not thinking less of yourself. The more we know how much God loves us, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the less self gets attention.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Everything flows from our heart; not to our heart. When we love God with our entire heart, we must guard that love from other loves seeping in. Anything over-riding our love for God is idolatry.

Our love for God is the root from which the fruit of our love for others ripens. Without this root, our love for others is not agape love. It's selfish and makes our ego vulnerable to pain from external sources. With this root, our ego is not fragile or empty. It will enable us to be strong in the Lord.

Anti-bully legislation sparked by no tolerance for bullies is good, but it isn't the solution. Christ's righteousness is. Those who bully others do so because they are enslaved to their self-pride and their egos are empty. Our worst bully is self-pride.

Bullies are not bullies because they lack knowledge or don't have sufficient intelligence. It's because their hearts are without God's love. Teaching does not stop bullying. A broken heart and contrite spirit, willing to repent and be a new creature in Christ, is what is necessary.

We are to pray for our enemies. If God saves them, that's wonderful. If He doesn't, then that's okay too. He will avenge His enemies. We don't know who they ultimately are, so it's best for us to leave vengeance in God's hands.

It is God's will for us to protect ourselves as much as it is in our power to do so. God gets no glory from us being doormats. What we can't control, He can and will.

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Taking Things Personal

There are two opposite ways of taking things personal. One way displays class. The other way lacks dignity.

1 Peter 4:13 tells us, "to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." We can only do this by faith and being humble. Meekness is classy.

There is nothing dignified about the flesh. It's human nature to feel hurt when someone rejects us. Generally speaking, Aspies are challenged by this pain more than neurotypicals. We're less successful at making friends. We forget life isn't about us. It's about glorifying God in our sanctification process.
 
We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

God can use what is meant for evil to work together for our good. For example, He can use ROTTENeCARDS to help end a habit of taking rejection personal. A website like ROTTENeCARDS reveals how depraved humanity is. Society is becoming increasingly proud about its shameful attitudes and behavior.

Aspies may often wonder "What did I do wrong now?" when a neurotypical acquaintance does not lead to a friendship. It's possible the NT acquaintance may love worldly ways (2 Corinthians 6:11-18) or he may be uncomfortable having to think about how to converse with an Aspie. A Christian Aspie may be shunned because of Christ and/or because of not being neurotypical.

It's not difficult to offer up the sacrifice of thanksgiving in our tribulations when we have right perspective. If we see by faith the wisdom of trusting God to know what He is doing and realize how foolish it is for us to think we know what's better for our own good than He does, He will make us glad with exceeding joy! Faith is the cause. Joy is the fruit. Being glad isn't the cause of everlasting trust in God. It's the outcome.

We feel like we think. To question our Heavenly Father's ways may seem like it is the result of feeling disturbed. Doubting God is sin. Unbelief is the root of sin. God does not lie. He tells us He is good. Satan wants us to judge God. God wants us to unconditionally trust Him.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:9

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International Asperger Day

Hans Asperger was born on February 18, 1906. February 18th has become International Asperger's Day in honor of this man who identified a certain breed of humans like himself. He had difficulty finding friends and was considered a lonely, remote child. He died on October 21, 1980 at age 74. His work on Asperger's syndrome didn't become popular until a year after he died. Most things that remain famous start doing so after the author or artist is dead.

Postscript added on 1.19.16 – For those who are interesting in getting a highly detailed and accurate eye-opening account of the history on Aspergers, read the award winning 544 page book by Steve Silberman titled NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity. He doesn't say as much about its future as he does about its past. However, reading the history informs readers enough for them to get an excellent perspective of how autism and Aspergers is handled by society. The first edition came out on August 25, 2015.

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