Survey about Christian Aspies and Church

[TheChristianAspie]

Hi. I would love to hear from other Christian Aspies or Christians who have Asperger's in their family.
I have a survey I am doing to try to learn more about how other Aspies function in church and what they feel they need. If you wouldn't mind completing it, just send me a message and I will send you the link.
Thanks!

 

[MoeSzyslak]

I don't attend church regularly. I do not find churches to be very accepting of people with differences. They show sympathy occasionally, but usually it is just strange looks and non-acceptance. Plus sympathy is not what I am looking for anyways. I don't need anyones sympathy.

 

[dayhiker]

I've attended church all my life. Loved it.
I taught SS for 30 yrs.
I was an assistant pastor for 14 yrs.
Right now I'm not so involved.

I don't need any special programs ... just need to continue to be accepted.

 

[MoeSzyslak]

I just found your survey on-line and filled it out.


I'll give you a hint. I am the one with all the negative responses.

 

[sheloje]

Hi christianaspie
Im an aspie who trys to go to church-not always easy, so if you tell me where to get the survey, i do it.
Im fairly new here so not sure if im replying by the right way?
your book sounds like something i would enjoy, as i consider myself very spiritual and an aspie, is it still available

Praise the Lord

 

[paul24]

Yes, please send me the survey. I think I am an (undiagnosed) Aspbergers.

Paul

 

[setfreebygod]

Yes I will complete your survey. Thanks for doing this.

 

[marybellpeden]

Hi,
I would love to have the results of your survey.I am thinking about starting an aspie friendly youth group at our church.
My vision is 1 1/2 hours consisting of the following:
Children are encouraged to bring Nintendo D.S. or something they can share at the end,
low lights or if your church has it, a firside room,
a snack like popcorn,
a short film that leads to the sermon, not too loud of course,
beanbag chairs, soft ethereal music, about 15 minutes to play outside or in the gym to run off energy,
a short sermon,
then the pastor moves around the room visiting each child one-on-one and talks about the sermon for a few minutes,
amoment of silence to pray for whatever the child thinks is important and to encourage the children to pray.
followed by share your Nintendo D.S. time as a reward
Would love to hear from you
Mary

or visit me @ The Bluest Planet on twitter

 

[Jonathan95]

I'm an asperger, and I just don't want to sing in church, but most people in my age just listen to the hymns rather than singing along, I feel that my voice is so expression less and robotic, I don't want to sing. I don't know if it's okay to not sing, is it okay for a christian to not sing along in church?

 

[TheChristianAspie]

Well, the reasons you cited for not liking to sing in church are valid. You feel self conscious or that you "aren't good enough" (voice is robotic, etc.). But you aren't singing for the congregation, you are singing for God.

Psalms 100:1 "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands."

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that you have to have a good voice (if it did, that would exclude A LOT of people). It doesn't say that you have to have expressive or emotional inflection or tones (that would exclude many of us Aspies). It just says "make a joyful noise."

I worried about singing in church because I was afraid I didn't sound "right." Now, I close my eyes to block out everyone and sing from my heart. I don't know if I sound "robotic" but I listen to the words and mean each and every word I sing - I am singing to God.

Paul had some things to say about singing in church:

Ephesians 5:18-20 - And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.

Colossians 3:16-17 - Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Singing (in church) is to be the overflowing of Christ as He dwells in you, your spirit. It is the manifestation of the Word of Christ taking root within you.

It also sets the tone, the atmosphere and prepares the heart for receiving God's Word through the lesson or sermon.

Singing in church (or worship and praise songs even when you are not at church) is important because it infuses your spirit with God's Word and His will for you. It keeps the channels open for you to more easily receive Him, His direction for you, if that makes sense.

Please, don't worry about what others think of you. God thinks your voice and way you sing is BEAUTIFUL! He things YOU are BEAUTIFUL just the way you are. He wants to hear you worship Him.

Besides, you may think that you sound mechanical, but that might not be true. Satan delights in deceiving us and stopping us from pursuing our relationship with Christ, keeping us from truly realizing just how much He loves and accepts us as we are. Satan wants to keep us from worshipping, praising and relying on God for our needs. He will lie to you to try to make you doubt God's love for you and try to separate you from God. Don't let him!

I hope that answered your question. Feel free to message me privately if you are more comfortable with that.

 

[TheChristianAspie]

I am still collecting replied to the survey. When it is finished, I will compile the results in a book. Any feedback that any of you have on Asperger's and Church, I would love to hear from you! You can either post here or PM me.
Thanks.

 

[Jonathan95]

Well, the reasons you cited for not liking to sing in church are valid. You feel self conscious or that you "aren't good enough" (voice is robotic, etc.). But you aren't singing for the congregation, you are singing for God.

Psalms 100:1 "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands."

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that you have to have a good voice (if it did, that would exclude A LOT of people). It doesn't say that you have to have expressive or emotional inflection or tones (that would exclude many of us Aspies). It just says "make a joyful noise."

I worried about singing in church because I was afraid I didn't sound "right." Now, I close my eyes to block out everyone and sing from my heart. I don't know if I sound "robotic" but I listen to the words and mean each and every word I sing - I am singing to God.

Paul had some things to say about singing in church:

Ephesians 5:18-20 - And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.

Colossians 3:16-17 - Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Singing (in church) is to be the overflowing of Christ as He dwells in you, your spirit. It is the manifestation of the Word of Christ taking root within you.

It also sets the tone, the atmosphere and prepares the heart for receiving God's Word through the lesson or sermon.

Singing in church (or worship and praise songs even when you are not at church) is important because it infuses your spirit with God's Word and His will for you. It keeps the channels open for you to more easily receive Him, His direction for you, if that makes sense.

Please, don't worry about what others think of you. God thinks your voice and way you sing is BEAUTIFUL! He things YOU are BEAUTIFUL just the way you are. He wants to hear you worship Him.

Besides, you may think that you sound mechanical, but that might not be true. Satan delights in deceiving us and stopping us from pursuing our relationship with Christ, keeping us from truly realizing just how much He loves and accepts us as we are. Satan wants to keep us from worshipping, praising and relying on God for our needs. He will lie to you to try to make you doubt God's love for you and try to separate you from God. Don't let him!

I hope that answered your question. Feel free to message me privately if you are more comfortable with that.

Yes, that helped, thanks

 

[hedrick]

I'm an asperger, and I just don't want to sing in church, but most people in my age just listen to the hymns rather than singing along, I feel that my voice is so expression less and robotic, I don't want to sing. I don't know if it's okay to not sing, is it okay for a christian to not sing along in church?

Singing a hymn isn't giving a concert. The goal isn't to express your emotion, but to listen to the Word in a form that many people find helpful. It's not your emotions that matter, but what it says and how God speaks through it. So I think you may be looking for something that isn't necessary, and maybe even not desirable.

I'd say if you can get the words and the tune with reasonable accuracy, then go ahead and sing. It's also perfectly acceptable not to sing. Plenty of people can't, or for one reason or another prefer not to. That's just fine.

Incidentally, the same issue is present with reading Scripture. it doesn't have to be a dramatic reading, and sometimes trying to read expressively is a distraction. Of course we don't want a droning monotone, but it's not hard to learn how to do a reasonable reading. And quite typically just getting everything right in front of a group of people requires enough of your concentration that you're not actually reacting to the content yourself.

 

[Netbug009]

I need people to actually care about my existence, even though I don't fit in easily.

I need people to accept that what I have is real, and who I am is real.

I have yet to receive either from a church.

 

[Jonathan95]

I need people to actually care about my existence, even though I don't fit in easily.

I need people to accept that what I have is real, and who I am is real.

I have yet to receive either from a church.

Salvation Army should be fine with Aspergers. Since people there have been ex. alcoholics, drug abusers etc, and many kinds of people there. Atleast it is so here, is there any Salvation Army where you live, or nearby?

Singing a hymn isn't giving a concert. The goal isn't to express your emotion, but to listen to the Word in a form that many people find helpful. It's not your emotions that matter, but what it says and how God speaks through it. So I think you may be looking for something that isn't necessary, and maybe even not desirable.

I'd say if you can get the words and the tune with reasonable accuracy, then go ahead and sing. It's also perfectly acceptable not to sing. Plenty of people can't, or for one reason or another prefer not to. That's just fine.

Incidentally, the same issue is present with reading Scripture. it doesn't have to be a dramatic reading, and sometimes trying to read expressively is a distraction. Of course we don't want a droning monotone, but it's not hard to learn how to do a reasonable reading. And quite typically just getting everything right in front of a group of people requires enough of your concentration that you're not actually reacting to the content yourself.

Ok, thanks . Well, I don't care anymore about what other people would think, I just sing because I want to sing for Jesus and because I love him.

 

[Mizuti]

If you send me the link to your survey, I would happily fill it out~

 

[MommaBuckaroo]

I am very late coming to this but I have 2 children on the spectrum. They are both high functioning, one has Aspergers and one with PDD-NOS and neither have had anything special as far as classes or anything goes. They attend regular classes and are both very active in AWANA and do great.

 

[jackmt]

Hi. I would love to hear from other Christian Aspies or Christians who have Asperger's in their family.
I have a survey I am doing to try to learn more about how other Aspies function in church and what they feel they need. If you wouldn't mind completing it, just send me a message and I will send you the link.
Thanks!

I tried to access it from your web site and couldn't. Is there a problem there? If you can't fix it there, send it to me here, please.