Pastor of Trinity Christian Academy in Lake Worth, Florida Cancels Autism Awareness Week as "idolatry and demonic"

RileyG said:

Some people don’t understand autism which is sad.

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...nor Jesus apparently.

wing2000 said:

...nor Jesus apparently.

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Or identities.

$5 says they have church groups or ministries for men and women, maybe parents, and special callouts for mothers day and fathers day.

iluvatar5150 said:

Or identities.

$5 says they have church groups or ministries for men and women, maybe parents, and special callouts for mothers day and fathers day.

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I also strongly suspect they start their day with the Pledge of Allegience.

Arcangl86 said:

I also strongly suspect they start their day with the Pledge of Allegience.

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I'm tempted to write and ask him when they will stop pledging to an idol.

RileyG said:

Some people don’t understand autism which is sad.

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I have autism myself, and a lot of people do not understand it. But a nice Christian friend here does. A guy named Frank here discussed about autism with me. He says because Adam & Eve sinned, disease made it into humans, but God gave silver linings to some diseases, and that autism may make it more difficult, but God understands, and knows the road is steep, but is all the more proud of folks with disabilities overcoming obstacles which non-disabled folks may find mundane and easy. And I have overcome those obstacles. It is still 2x more difficult to make friends, and 2x as difficult to read social cues, but I can overcome these things through God's power.

By the way, do not donate to autism organizations such as Autism Speaks (here is a flyer from ASAN that explains why). Autism has no cure, and some of these organizations advocate for removing rights of autistic children. It is better to donate to food shelters, or organizations that actually help people, instead of organizations that judge people.

essentialsaltes said:

“Anything that teaches our children to have their identity in anything other than Christ is idolatry and demonic,” he declared, as first reported by WPTV.

“Let me repeat myself just so I am not quoted out of context: 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 world, in its rejection and hatred of Christ, often devises programs such as ‘Autism Awareness’ (and cultural figures like the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause [sic], etc.) to get the benefits of His teachings (compassion, kindness, feeling love, and self-worth) without acknowledging Jesus as the ultimate authority and the source of all life.”

[I guess his god is a jealous god.]

Other parents at the meeting included Heather McKay, a teacher’s aide whose son, Logan, had a transformative experience during Autism Awareness Day last year—when the girl’s varsity softball team wore blue jerseys emblazoned with the puzzle piece and Logan was made bat boy.

So when Baker canceled this year’s event, McKay posted a copy of his email on her Facebook and Instagram accounts.

“I shared pastor Matt Baker’s email on my social media because as a parent of an autistic child, I acted on emotion,” she told The Daily Beast.

“I don’t deny it. However, I did black out the name of the school, I blacked out the name of the church, and I blacked out his name. And my social media does not say where I was employed. And all of my social media was private.”

McKay says she received a text from a school administrator telling her to take the post down. She complied, but texted the school to say she would be taking off Tuesday in personal observance of World Autism Awareness Day “to make sure that my son feels seen and heard and appreciated.”

[That's a firing.]

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Whew man. This is a heavy one. I am a Christian with autism, and I am tired of these evangelical pastors who say autism is demonic, or advocating for disabilities is "x" cos of "y". Man, I am glad to not live in the south. With Pastor Baker's flawed logic of everything not related to Christianity as being evil, then burned toast would be evil, which would totally absurd. That pastor is ignoring Proverbs 31:8-9 "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.", and Luke 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."


Here is a summary of the article, for those fed up with hypocritical pastors from the Deep South (well, there are plenty of nice Southerners, so I mean no offense to southern pastors):

In this article by Michael Daly, published on April 9, 2024, the focus is on Pastor Matt Baker's decision to cancel Autism Awareness Week at Trinity Christian Academy in Lake Worth, Florida. Andrea Gallik, a parent of an autistic kindergartener at the school, expressed her disappointment and shock over Baker's use of the word "demonic" to describe anything that doesn't align with Christ. Gallik and other parents, including Heather McKay, a teacher's aide whose son has autism, had hoped to discuss the issue at the Parent Teacher Fellowship meeting but were unable to do so.

Baker did not attend the meeting and had previously stated that discussions were only open to matters on the agenda. McKay shared Baker's email about the cancellation on her social media, which led to her being asked to take it down by school administrators. In response, she took off from work on Tuesday in observance of World Autism Awareness Day to ensure her son felt seen and appreciated.

McKay was later terminated from her position as a teacher's aide due to her "hostile work history." Baker did not respond to a request for comment regarding the situation. The article highlights the contrasting views between Baker's belief that programs like Autism Awareness are an attempt to gain Christ's teachings without acknowledging Him as the ultimate authority, and Miles Gallik's demonstration of kindness and compassion towards others, which he attributed to God.

I am a Christian with autism and my identity is in Christ, not in autism. I really don't know what else to say.

essentialsaltes said:

“Anything that teaches our children to have their identity in anything other than Christ is idolatry and demonic,” he declared, as first reported by WPTV.

“Let me repeat myself just so I am not quoted out of context: 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 world, in its rejection and hatred of Christ, often devises programs such as ‘Autism Awareness’ (and cultural figures like the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause [sic], etc.) to get the benefits of His teachings (compassion, kindness, feeling love, and self-worth) without acknowledging Jesus as the ultimate authority and the source of all life.”

[I guess his god is a jealous god.]

Other parents at the meeting included Heather McKay, a teacher’s aide whose son, Logan, had a transformative experience during Autism Awareness Day last year—when the girl’s varsity softball team wore blue jerseys emblazoned with the puzzle piece and Logan was made bat boy.

So when Baker canceled this year’s event, McKay posted a copy of his email on her Facebook and Instagram accounts.

“I shared pastor Matt Baker’s email on my social media because as a parent of an autistic child, I acted on emotion,” she told The Daily Beast.

“I don’t deny it. However, I did black out the name of the school, I blacked out the name of the church, and I blacked out his name. And my social media does not say where I was employed. And all of my social media was private.”

McKay says she received a text from a school administrator telling her to take the post down. She complied, but texted the school to say she would be taking off Tuesday in personal observance of World Autism Awareness Day “to make sure that my son feels seen and heard and appreciated.”

[That's a firing.]

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That settles it! I am not going to that church.

essentialsaltes said:

“Anything that teaches our children to have their identity in anything other than Christ is idolatry and demonic,” he declared, as first reported by WPTV.

“Let me repeat myself just so I am not quoted out of context: 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.”
.....

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Does he ever say "I am a man"?

If so, well there you go: identity in being a man.

Your Christ said something about those who hinder children from approaching him. That seems to be exactly what this pastor is doing to children with autism. If he stopped to think for a second it should scare him half to death.

keith99 said:

Your Christ said something about those who hinder children from approaching him. That seems to be exactly what this pastor is doing to children with autism. If he stopped to think for a second it should scare him half to death.

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I hope one day you are introduced to my Christ - He will change your life forever. And I am quite sure from an Atheist position/view point you believe it. From the viewpoint of one who know Christ I can tell you kindly - you are mistaken.

He may not have stated it at best - but I understand what he is saying - though I would not go so far to label it demonic. But we are hidden in Christ -

hislegacy said:

I hope one day you are introduced to my Christ - He will change your life forever. And I am quite sure from an Atheist position/view point you believe it. From the viewpoint of one who know Christ I can tell you kindly - you are mistaken.

He may not have stated it at best - but I understand what he is saying - though I would not go so far to label it demonic. But we are hidden in Christ -

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What do you mean by, "But we are hidden in Christ"?

essentialsaltes said:

“Anything that teaches our children to have their identity in anything other than Christ is idolatry and demonic,” he declared, as first reported by WPTV.

“Let me repeat myself just so I am not quoted out of context: 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 world, in its rejection and hatred of Christ, often devises programs such as ‘Autism Awareness’ (and cultural figures like the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause [sic], etc.) to get the benefits of His teachings (compassion, kindness, feeling love, and self-worth) without acknowledging Jesus as the ultimate authority and the source of all life.”

[I guess his god is a jealous god.]

Other parents at the meeting included Heather McKay, a teacher’s aide whose son, Logan, had a transformative experience during Autism Awareness Day last year—when the girl’s varsity softball team wore blue jerseys emblazoned with the puzzle piece and Logan was made bat boy.

So when Baker canceled this year’s event, McKay posted a copy of his email on her Facebook and Instagram accounts.

“I shared pastor Matt Baker’s email on my social media because as a parent of an autistic child, I acted on emotion,” she told The Daily Beast.

“I don’t deny it. However, I did black out the name of the school, I blacked out the name of the church, and I blacked out his name. And my social media does not say where I was employed. And all of my social media was private.”

McKay says she received a text from a school administrator telling her to take the post down. She complied, but texted the school to say she would be taking off Tuesday in personal observance of World Autism Awareness Day “to make sure that my son feels seen and heard and appreciated.”

[That's a firing.]

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I wonder if he read his school's ethics policy, like the one toward the bottom of this link

So guys and gals, the pastor should have read the Bible, instead of preaching falsehood, in fact, we must rebuke (1 Timothy 5:20) this pastor Matt Baker. No where does the Bible say that disability awareness is demonic, in fact, John 9:1-3 says that the "works of God might be displayed in him [the blind man]."

hislegacy said:

I hope one day you are introduced to my Christ - He will change your life forever. And I am quite sure from an Atheist position/view point you believe it. From the viewpoint of one who know Christ I can tell you kindly - you are mistaken.

He may not have stated it at best - but I understand what he is saying - though I would not go so far to label it demonic. But we are hidden in Christ -

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I want nothing to do with your Christ.

The Christ of Bonhoeffer, Lewis and Bernard Sheil is a different story.

hislegacy said:

.

He may not have stated it at best - but I understand what he is saying - though I would not go so far to label it demonic. But we are hidden in Christ -

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He stated in the follow-up email:

The world, in its rejection and hatred of Christ, often devises programs such as “Autism Awareness ” (and cultural figures like the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause, [sic] etc.) to get the benefits of His teachings (compassion, kindness, feeling love, and self-worth) without acknowledging Jesus as the ultimate authority and the source of all life.

The guy seems to need to get some sort of perspective, for by trying to equate the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus to a real, human condition, sort of makes him seem out of touch with his own humanity.