“Many of the things that we consider to be good and necessary expressions of Christian thought and practice are actually products of our evangelical culture. In some cases, these may not be problematic until they are elevated into the position of idols., functioning as surrogates for the real presence of God, which disturbs and disrupts even as it enriches. Like all such surrogates, they are incapable of genuinely generating love and life and end up enslaving us to violence. They will never meet the distinctive needs of those affected by autism any more than they will meet our own needs truly; but the presence of those with autism may call attention to their emptiness and awfulness. Provided, that is, we are humble enough to exercise repentance.
Where churches have asked families affected by autism not to attend because their behavior compromises the performance of the worship service, something is functioning as an idol. Where Christians undervalue others because they do not fit a certain expectation of what a believer will look and sound like, something is functioning as an idol.”
Autism and the Church: Bible, Theology, and Community by Grant Macaskill
