Autism or possession

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

Every individual with autism has different symptoms. They call it a spectrum disorder. Hyper sexuality in autistic people have things like masterbating in public and intentionally pooping their pants that seems to be common. You are correct again that most people deal with different levels of sexual drive, but anyone that can’t make it through a day at work without having to stop to masterbate has problems.

According to votivesoul its neurons.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

If you have opportunity to evangelize someone with autism, by all means, preach the Gospel to every creature.

But in terms of their autism, if you come at them with "God can heal and deliver you of your autism", the likelihood that they will hear anything you have to say after that is about zero.

You are making, to them, an a priori de facto claim of dysfunction and disease that came about in some fashion other than God made them that way. Treating someone with a disability or a disorder to defunct and broken and in need of fixing is a sure-fire way to get yourself on the pay-no-mind list, by those who have a disability or a disorder.

And you can call it pride or stubbornness or whatever you want, but the fault will be with you.

People with disabilities or disorders need the love and mercy of God to save their souls. They are sinners like the rest of us and the blood of Jesus is the only thing they need to be made whole. Leave their disabilities and disorders to them and God.

Now, if someone with a disability or disorder comes to you and asks for the elders to anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord and lay hands on them so that they might recover and be healed, then by all means, all power to you.

But short of that, especially in the case of autism, maybe you should try taking my advice and leave them alone, when it comes to their autism.

Now, you could try understanding and listening and kindness and patience and acceptance and tolerance, but that doesn't seem to be on the table, as of yet.

As a pastor, I am asked to help about many different things. If a family comes in with a autistic child and ask me to pray, I am. I promise you I am not going to traumatize the child by some aggressive exorcism prayer.

Do you think that some with a disability can be hindered or even prevented from obeying the gospel? If they have a disability that prevents them from obeying the gospel why not pray for their infirmity?

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

According to votivesoul its neurons.

I think he thinks someone is trying to abuse some children. When the real abuse is what doctors do to treat these kids. I have seen kids turn into a zombie after taking their doctor prescribed meds, but I will choose prayer over that any day.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

People in the church can do what they feel they need too. I encourage prayer first.

How exactly do you encourage prayer first? Do people call you when they have a headache? Or is it a teaching within your congregation? You make it known that no one in your family does any sort of medication, or go to the hospital, or go to a family physician. You see, within a religious paradigm individuals actually don't get to do what they want to do. Because it is preached against, it's taught through church doctrines. If the church elder believes a certain way, and that certain way is that prayer should be sought in every situation, including a headache. Well then people might think twice about making their health care known to the congregation, especially to the pastor. Or forgo treatment because they (through misunderstanding) think they would be sinning by taking the aspirin. I mean, think about it, how long should someone pray before taking an aspirin? I believe you would say, there is no allotted amount of time. Jesus will heal everything, from Brother Foofoofnick's having a heart attack in the middle of the sanctuary, to MeeMaw taking some aspirin to deal with her arthritis. I believe in the miraculous, but I also don't see any Bible to refrain from medical treatment.

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

You see what the missionary saw in that country was something that was small turn into something that was bigger. Meaning, people that took the medicine for their headache felt the relief, well through that experience they began seeking their need through the medical field. From there the miracles they've seen ceased, and it started with Americans sending medicine for pain relief. So, you tell me why?

Tell you why? First I don't believe the story. Especially from a missionary, they tend to be embellishers. Taking aspirin and feeling better? How about someone having stomach discomfort and feeling better after they went to the bathroom? Do I now tell them to pray instead of using the facilities? How about PawPaw, having a lower back issue and me cracking his back, he feels better. Am I to believe that God would rather me pray for an issue when a simple adjustment can do what is needed? Also, you didn't comment on any of the scripture verse I offered you. Jesus said those who are ill need doctors. Paul telling the young evangelist to drink a little wine for acid reflux. While all these individuals believed in the power of prayer, prayer was not Paul's council to young Timothy. Are we to believe that revival was halted because Paul prescribed medical advise?

[good samaritan]

The other extreme to that though is people that take 30 pills a day for things all over their bodies and they would be better to simply trust God. There are definitely some that put their faith in medicine. Just like this covid vaccine, people act like you are dumb if you haven’t got your vaccine. If you know through experience that something works then it is silly to not take it , but beware because I have seen people’s health destroyed by “practicing” physicians.

[good samaritan]

Is wine used for the symptoms are does it alleviate the problem?

[diakonos]

Who is the missionary to the Marshall Islands? Is he independent or UPCI?
How long ago was he there before the islands received medicine?

There is an apostolic Marshallese church nearby that I’ve been wanting to visit. I’d like to verify if people used to get healed all the time in the islands. They may not know the missionary, but they may know someone who does. They are a close knit community, if I’ve ever seen one.

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

How exactly do you encourage prayer first? Do people call you when they have a headache? Or is it a teaching within your congregation? You make it known that no one in your family does any sort of medication, or go to the hospital, or go to a family physician. You see, within a religious paradigm individuals actually don't get to do what they want to do. Because it is preached against, it's taught through church doctrines. If the church elder believes a certain way, and that certain way is that prayer should be sought in every situation, including a headache. Well then people might think twice about making their health care known to the congregation, especially to the pastor. Or forgo treatment because they (through misunderstanding) think they would be sinning by taking the aspirin. I mean, think about it, how long should someone pray before taking an aspirin? I believe you would say, there is no allotted amount of time. Jesus will heal everything, from Brother Foofoofnick's having a heart attack in the middle of the sanctuary, to MeeMaw taking some aspirin to deal with her arthritis. I believe in the miraculous, but I also don't see any Bible to refrain from medical treatment.



Tell you why? First I don't believe the story. Especially from a missionary, they tend to be embellishers. Taking aspirin and feeling better? How about someone having stomach discomfort and feeling better after they went to the bathroom? Do I now tell them to pray instead of using the facilities? How about PawPaw, having a lower back issue and me cracking his back, he feels better. Am I to believe that God would rather me pray for an issue when a simple adjustment can do what is needed? Also, you didn't comment on any of the scripture verse I offered you. Jesus said those who are ill need doctors. Paul telling the young evangelist to drink a little wine for acid reflux. While all these individuals believed in the power of prayer, prayer was not Paul's council to young Timothy. Are we to believe that revival was halted because Paul prescribed medical advise?

People as a majority will march in lockstep with anything a leader directs them to do either actively or passively.


Decisions like these are made not with common sense and scripture used for doctrine in context but tradition and leadership form spiritual microclimates called churches and apparently theres a thermostat controlled by man independent of scripture and to some extent directly contradicting scripture deferring to tradition with an almost Talmudic vibe. We rattle off scriptures if they connect or fit but ignore the big picture implications of our beliefs if extrapolated over a longer period of time establishing a discordant counter harmony of written or unwritten and sometimes even unacknowledged rules and regulations that hobble the work He desires to do through our obedience but we typically fuction through obedience to man without actual revelation. Sure, we can quote scripture and get the gravelly voice yelling about it but is it really alive to where it speaks to you or is it on the shelf of your spirit as an inanimate souless trophy like a toaster we might *win* when we join a certain bank?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

Is wine used for the symptoms are does it alleviate the problem?

When individuals have low stomach acid they get what is called “heart burn.”
Drinking a small amount of vinegar diluted in water makes the issue go away.

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

How exactly do you encourage prayer first? Do people call you when they have a headache? Or is it a teaching within your congregation? You make it known that no one in your family does any sort of medication, or go to the hospital, or go to a family physician. You see, within a religious paradigm individuals actually don't get to do what they want to do. Because it is preached against, it's taught through church doctrines. If the church elder believes a certain way, and that certain way is that prayer should be sought in every situation, including a headache. Well then people might think twice about making their health care known to the congregation, especially to the pastor. Or forgo treatment because they (through misunderstanding) think they would be sinning by taking the aspirin. I mean, think about it, how long should someone pray before taking an aspirin? I believe you would say, there is no allotted amount of time. Jesus will heal everything, from Brother Foofoofnick's having a heart attack in the middle of the sanctuary, to MeeMaw taking some aspirin to deal with her arthritis. I believe in the miraculous, but I also don't see any Bible to refrain from medical treatment.



Tell you why? First I don't believe the story. Especially from a missionary, they tend to be embellishers. Taking aspirin and feeling better? How about someone having stomach discomfort and feeling better after they went to the bathroom? Do I now tell them to pray instead of using the facilities? How about PawPaw, having a lower back issue and me cracking his back, he feels better. Am I to believe that God would rather me pray for an issue when a simple adjustment can do what is needed? Also, you didn't comment on any of the scripture verse I offered you. Jesus said those who are ill need doctors. Paul telling the young evangelist to drink a little wine for acid reflux. While all these individuals believed in the power of prayer, prayer was not Paul's council to young Timothy. Are we to believe that revival was halted because Paul prescribed medical advise?

Brother you can call the elder, believe what you will. Call him up and ask him.