Autism Is Not a Good Gift From God: Part 1
Many people argue that autism is a gift from God, and Scripture has never shown us that.
Before we call autism, or anything else, a good gift from God, we must first understand the outline Scripture gives us concerning what is good and what is evil, what comes from God, and what comes from the enemy.
We cannot allow culture to define what is good and then attach God’s name to it. The Word of God has already established that definition for us.
Jesus said:
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Matthew 7:11 NKJV
Notice that Jesus did not simply say that a father gives gifts to his children. He specifically called them good gifts.
That distinction matters.
If we are going to call autism a good gift from God, then we first have to ask: What does God call good? As the preachers say, I am glad you asked.
What Is a Good Gift?
The Greek word translated as “good” in Matthew 7:11 is agathos (ἀγαθός), Strong’s G18.
According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, agathos can describe something that is “of a good constitution or nature” and something that is “useful, salutary.”
And this is where it gets interesting.
Under the definition “useful, salutary,” Thayer specifically references both Matthew 7:11 and James 1:17.
In other words, when Jesus speaks of a father giving good gifts in Matthew 7:11, the word good is not insignificant. It speaks to the nature and benefit of what is being given.
We see this same word used again in James:
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
James 1:16–17 NKJV
Thayer describes the phrase translated “good gift” in James 1:17 as “a gift which is truly a gift, salutary.”
The word salutary means something that is beneficial or produces a good effect.
Pause and rewind real quick. I want you to pay close attention to how James begins:
“Do not be deceived.”
We have to be careful that we are not deceived concerning what we attribute to God.
Everything that happens in our lives did not necessarily come down from the Father as His good gift to us. Scripture gives us context for the correct distinction.
Jesus said:
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10 NKJV
You see here, Jesus gives us two completely different operations.
The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
Jesus comes to give life, and life more abundantly.
So when we call something a good gift from God, we need to examine the fruit of what we are actually attributing to God.
Is it adding abundance or stealing it from us?
Is what we call a gift from God destroying our lives or the lives of others?
Does it hinder any part of our lives when Scripture calls us to thrive and live in good health?
Or does it produce and promote the abundant life that Jesus said He came to give?
Our standard cannot be culture, false mindsets, or opinions based on what we feel that do not align with the Word.
Our standard cannot be what we have learned because the world shouts, “Just accept it.”
We have to look at good gifts solely based on the Word of God.
If God never called disorder a good gift, neither are we to do so.
Just as Jesus only did what He saw the Father do, we are to be no different as believers walking in His footsteps.
Our standard and only foundation has to be the Word of God.
Autism is not a good gift from God.