Christian but cannot work

[Shamstar]

Please would someone me.

I have Asperger syndrome and I am middle-aged, I have never worked in all 30 years since I finished school. I am uable to function to demands/expectations other put to me. This has troubled me so much and kept me out of the faith for very long periods at a time. Just in the past 2 weeks I have become Christian again, but not at a church yet, I want this resolved (at least the what it makes me feel) before I go to the Altar again.

I know God love me as I am, but I have to live among people (Church community) who don't accept an able-bodied intelligent responsible person like me not ding my share of work that is normally expected of Christians. I am unable to. I need very strong statements of justification for my lack of working productivity in doing the kind of useful and helpful things normal generally expect.

Faith without good WORKS is dead - This has been troubling me very deeply for the past 25 years at least. Even all through the years I have been out of the faith, I have been wanting to be a Christian again but this 'work and do for others etc obligation' has kept me out. All though I have admitted myself back to being Christian in the past couple of weeks, but stumbling on this 'faith without good works is dead' troubles me. What can justify me being a non-worker and not serving others and be a Christian. I know I will never be a peace until this awful thing is resolved.

Before I return to God's Altar, I need advice as to what statements I can give when I am challenged on this matter and so I can be a peace with God. I know God would not expect me to be everybody elses' servant looking after people and doing all this things which all able-bodied Christians are normally obligated and expected to do, But I have to live in a world among people who do expect it and are very quick to point it out and make me feel inadequate and a failure. Even if I may not be a failure in God's eyes, But I am failure in the eyes of the rest of the human race around me.

As I am praying again each day communicating with Our Lord again. I am Christian, but not yet at the Altar. Before I return to the Altar this matter seriously need resolving. If this causes me to lose faith and communication with God again, it will be extremely painful for me. Having this *Christians are obligated to do work and help others* thing, is a very sharp nasty stone I have to walk in with every agonising step which make my life as a Christian very painful. This pain can feel more than God's love, it is awful. I need healing very badly and need to be relived of this terrible burden.

 

[Sabertooth]

The scripture, "Faith without works is dead" does, in no way, apply to a mandate of gainful employment (though other scriptures do).

In today's economy, we Aspies are often picked last to join the team. There is no shame in seeking aid until some company sees fit to pick you for their team.

In the meanwhile, you can work small steps in evangelism into your Aspie routine. You can pass out tracts. Get involved with church outreaches. My hobby/perseveration pages [1:6 scale figure collecting (from multiple genres)], on-line, all have Salvation tracts on them...! Give God your creativity and see what He can do with it!

 

[NIrelandGillian]

Good reply, Sabertooth. Shamstar, when the Bible says that faith without works is dead, it is saying that a Christian's behaviour should match his words. As for being involved in church, that is not easy for Aspies, but Sabertooth has made some good suggestions. Would it be possible to talk to the minister of your church about your concerns?

Do you have a social worker? There are some good social enterprise schemes which are there for people on the autistic spectrum. If you have a social worker, they might be able to help you find one of these.

Gillian

 

[chapmic]

Hello Shamstar, you are already working because you have just shared your testimony on the internet. Faith without works is dead is not necessarily about having a job and you do not sound lazy. You can and already are "working" for Jesus by crying out for help and sharing that you do believe. That is the good thing about the internet, it can connect us to the world and we can be a part of a global community. Do not worry Shamstar, Jesus is with you and I will be praying for you and you are definitely not a failure in my eyes or Jesus. Do not underestimate the power of communicating, you spreading the word about Jesus's goodness can literally save lives. God bless you!

 

[BlueLioness]

Don't feel bad about having autism, a mental disability. I have it too, but my doctor said it is just like having super powers, and he also said it can make you be smarter than most people. My autism has caused to to feel, act, and behave in ways different than others would, but each way has sharpened my intellect and has left me feeling rather smart (does autism have that affect on you?). Those are both strengths. But having it has put me out of work for nearly three years already, I am grateful to God that my parents are still taking care of me because I can't function on my own independently right yet without assistance from somebody.

 

[NIrelandGillian]

BlueLioness, you and your doctor have a very positive attitude. Would he be able to advise you on where you could access some support other than from your parents? It might help you with living skills and with supported employment of some sort. Do you have social enterprises of any kind where you are? That's something that is set up as a business to provide employment for peope with special needs. My son is working for a social enterprise where they mainly make candles and my daughter worked for one a couple of years ago which made chocolates.

Gillian

 

[paul becke]

Please would someone me.

I have Asperger syndrome and I am middle-aged, I have never worked in all 30 years since I finished school. I am uable to function to demands/expectations other put to me. This has troubled me so much and kept me out of the faith for very long periods at a time. Just in the past 2 weeks I have become Christian again, but not at a church yet, I want this resolved (at least the what it makes me feel) before I go to the Altar again.

I know God love me as I am, but I have to live among people (Church community) who don't accept an able-bodied intelligent responsible person like me not ding my share of work that is normally expected of Christians. I am unable to. I need very strong statements of justification for my lack of working productivity in doing the kind of useful and helpful things normal generally expect.

Faith without good WORKS is dead - This has been troubling me very deeply for the past 25 years at least. Even all through the years I have been out of the faith, I have been wanting to be a Christian again but this 'work and do for others etc obligation' has kept me out. All though I have admitted myself back to being Christian in the past couple of weeks, but stumbling on this 'faith without good works is dead' troubles me. What can justify me being a non-worker and not serving others and be a Christian. I know I will never be a peace until this awful thing is resolved.

Before I return to God's Altar, I need advice as to what statements I can give when I am challenged on this matter and so I can be a peace with God. I know God would not expect me to be everybody elses' servant looking after people and doing all this things which all able-bodied Christians are normally obligated and expected to do, But I have to live in a world among people who do expect it and are very quick to point it out and make me feel inadequate and a failure. Even if I may not be a failure in God's eyes, But I am failure in the eyes of the rest of the human race around me.

As I am praying again each day communicating with Our Lord again. I am Christian, but not yet at the Altar. Before I return to the Altar this matter seriously need resolving. If this causes me to lose faith and communication with God again, it will be extremely painful for me. Having this *Christians are obligated to do work and help others* thing, is a very sharp nasty stone I have to walk in with every agonising step which make my life as a Christian very painful. This pain can feel more than God's love, it is awful. I need healing very badly and need to be relived of this terrible burden.

 

[Shamstar]

I have no social worker. Three years ago, I was discharged from their srvice. As I am independant living and don't need carers etc. I am no eligable for support. Britain has cot back a lot of welfare services. All the day care centres have been closed down foru years ago. Even offical Autism support orna

 

[Shamstar]

I am fully mobile and able bodied-, I have not physical diability or illness. Allthough I am unable to work for a living hence me being on state benefits, I am intelligent and responsible enough to live independatly in my own home. I am not autistic enough to need to be accopmapnies by a carer everywher I go, I don't need to live in sheltered accommodation or have any kind of residential suppport. I don't seed somebody else managing my money and paying my bills for me. I can do amy onw shopping and don't get into arrers and debt and don't get into any trouble. This is why I am NOT ELIGABLE for any social-woprker support. Fpr several years the Briitsh Government has been kaing drastic cuts to and reforms to the welfare aystems, Marjins have been changed, lines drawn tighter. Four years ago all the day care centres have been closed down and three years ago the social services disharged me form their care. I no longer have a social worker and no longer entitled to one. I am also not eligable for suuport frpm any official Autisic. support organistaion becuase I am not autistic anough for that, I am too indepndant and don't need carers.

It only if you are proven irriesposible with finances and cannot handle money and get into debt and arrers, if you no good with doing shopping, such as not beinf able to get out of the house due to disability and severe mental/cognative impaimrnt etc, if you cannot clean you own bath or change bed etc. Then you would get social service support. But if you are just sociall isolated and very lonly but can look after yourself, that is just too bad. If pepople are very lonely and unhappy, thet is not their (social services) problem as it is not in their remit. It is no longer social welfare care. There is now just a reduced level of welfare care, the "social" has been deleted out of their criterion of needs.

 

[Shamstar]

That is quite hard and awful. This is the kind of thing some fundamentalist midsets would say, who want people to be scared into the faith by using this kind of quote as a weapon to make a moral attack pushing over a cliff into a quilt trap. Something you have, which you have not stolen and aquired by ligitimate means such as it being given to you or that you bought it, even though it is *extra* item, it is still righfully yours and nobody else has any right to push you into a guilt trap by saying things like this, "that extra thing you have in your cupboard belong to a poor person.". I think people should stop bannering these awful quilt-trap quots around. For saying such thing, they may as well rob the extra thing off the person who has it. If they tried that, they would risk getting into trouble and prosecuted for theft, and rightly so.

 

[Shamstar]

That is quite hard and awful. That was said by some fundamentalist who want people to be scared into faith by being puched over a cliff into a quilt trap. Some you have have which you have not stolen and aquired by ligitmate measn such as it beibng given to you or you bough it, even thoug extra, it is righfully yours and nobody as any right o push you into a guilt trap by saying thing like this, "that exta thing you have in your cupboard belong to a poor person.". I think people should stop bannring these awful quilt-trap quots around.For saying such thing, they may as well rob the extra thing off the person who has it. If they tried that, they would risk getting into trouble and prosecuted for theft, and rightly so.
This is the quote "When someone steals another's clothes, we call them a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up belongs to the poor.” ". Whether St Basil or whoever says it, It is very judgemental.

 

[FireDragon76]

Don't focus so much on how other people see your. Their opinions don't matter in the end. The only opinion that matters is what God thinks. If you are baptized, he has accepted you, including your autism.

Not everyone is called to do great works. Sometimes the little things in life are an opportunity to work out our salvation. Learning to accept what God has given us to do, and not what we want to do, is the challenge.

 

[NIrelandGillian]

I have no social worker. Three years ago, I was discharged from their srvice. As I am independant living and don't need carers etc. I am no eligable for support. Britain has cot back a lot of welfare services. All the day care centres have been closed down foru years ago. Even offical Autism support orna

I am also in the UK, so I know what you're talking about. Two of my adult children have Asperger Syndrome. They receive floating support from one of the autism charities here, but for a limited time only because of lack of funding and because of there being such a long waiting list for this service. My children are receiving this support because they are looking for a place to move into. They're also in a social group run by another charity. This group consists of adults with Asperger Syndrome and goes out together once a month, sometimes for a meal, sometimes to the cinema, sometimes bowling.

Gillian

 

[DimEyesOpenHeart]

Please would someone me.

I have Asperger syndrome and I am middle-aged, I have never worked in all 30 years since I finished school. I am uable to function to demands/expectations other put to me. This has troubled me so much and kept me out of the faith for very long periods at a time. Just in the past 2 weeks I have become Christian again, but not at a church yet, I want this resolved (at least the what it makes me feel) before I go to the Altar again.

I know God love me as I am, but I have to live among people (Church community) who don't accept an able-bodied intelligent responsible person like me not ding my share of work that is normally expected of Christians. I am unable to. I need very strong statements of justification for my lack of working productivity in doing the kind of useful and helpful things normal generally expect.

Faith without good WORKS is dead - This has been troubling me very deeply for the past 25 years at least. Even all through the years I have been out of the faith, I have been wanting to be a Christian again but this 'work and do for others etc obligation' has kept me out. All though I have admitted myself back to being Christian in the past couple of weeks, but stumbling on this 'faith without good works is dead' troubles me. What can justify me being a non-worker and not serving others and be a Christian. I know I will never be a peace until this awful thing is resolved.

Before I return to God's Altar, I need advice as to what statements I can give when I am challenged on this matter and so I can be a peace with God. I know God would not expect me to be everybody elses' servant looking after people and doing all this things which all able-bodied Christians are normally obligated and expected to do, But I have to live in a world among people who do expect it and are very quick to point it out and make me feel inadequate and a failure. Even if I may not be a failure in God's eyes, But I am failure in the eyes of the rest of the human race around me.

As I am praying again each day communicating with Our Lord again. I am Christian, but not yet at the Altar. Before I return to the Altar this matter seriously need resolving. If this causes me to lose faith and communication with God again, it will be extremely painful for me. Having this *Christians are obligated to do work and help others* thing, is a very sharp nasty stone I have to walk in with every agonising step which make my life as a Christian very painful. This pain can feel more than God's love, it is awful. I need healing very badly and need to be relived of this terrible burden.

Peace be to you, have courage and steadfastness.
God see's all that you do, do not feel discouraged by those around you who call themselves Christian but aren't showing their Christian duty of love and encouragement to you but instead resentment. Pity and pray for them! Works are great and small, physical and mental, do what you can when you can and feel peace knowing you are pleasing the Lord and not humans.