Simply defined, Tourette syndrome or Tourette’s (TS) is an inherited neurological disorder, with onset in childhood, characterized by multiple physical (motor) and vocal tics – i.e. sudden, unpredictable and compulsive movements or sounds which are usually very inappropriate. All of a sudden, people suffering from TS can have an irresistible urge to blink, jerk their head or legs, grimace, clap their hands, cough, clear their throat, sniff or grunt. They can also utter insults, obscenities or other socially objectionable or taboo words or phrases, right in the middle of a normal activity - as in class or in the middle of a dinner. Every now and then, their body just refuses to do what their brain would like it to. Apart from the tics, these people are perfectly normal.
Similarly, a Christian or a church suffers from spiritual Tourette’s when their will is independent from that of the Head, Christ. Jesus says, “Don’t say a word”; and we abuse. He says, “Stay put”; and we get up and leave. He says, “Don’t touch; don’t marry; don’t do”; and the Body does otherwise. Jesus goes right and we turn left. And yet, He said: If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also (Jn 12:26). Is Jesus where you are today? Is He were you have planned to be tomorrow?
Try to imagine someone whose head would be in the parlour, the left foot in the kitchen, the right foot in the garage and the rest of his body in the market! That would be a monster, wouldn’t it? Also try to imagine someone whose entire body is governed by his little toe; or parents who take their orders and advices from their three-year old son, even when it has to do with investments. You can’t imagine that? You think it’s impossible? But this is precisely what we see every week and day in the Body of Christ. Everybody does what they feel like doing and ignores what the Brain, the Head, the Master, Christ, the LORD wants.
Exactly as it is with the human body, so it is in the Body of Christ. We all have a specific place and function assigned to us. “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ… But as it is, GOD arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose… As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you…" Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1Cor 12:12, 18, 20-21, 27) Let’s not make a monster out of Christ.
Fortunately, the good news is that the Tourette's improves with maturity in most children; and there is often complete remission in adulthood. Maturity: that’s it, that’s the word. We need to grow. A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher (Lk 6:40). It is only a fully trained (a mature) disciple, and not a child, who can pretend to give orders to the Body.
Have an amazing Tourette's free week.
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