Being Christian and Transsexual
https://ts4jc.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/lazy-religion-harmful-to-the-transgender-community-harmful-throughout-history/
wordpress/Posted by ts4jc in About Me, General Christian issues, The Bible on transsexualism 11/15/2015
"I sometimes hear negative comments about Christians who interpret the Bible literally. My reply takes them by surprise at first until I explain. The problem is not belief that the Bible is literally true. It's that those Christians who disparage the transgender community don't read the Bible carefully enough and apply all of it as it is written."
Indeed, there are passages in the Jewish and in the Christian bible that make it clear that it is just fine to be a eunuch - the biblical era word for a MAAB who has given up their masculinity. For example Isaiah 56:4-5 and Matthew 19:12.
I won't say that I've anything completely settled in my heart. I was reading something John Piper wrote and I can appreciate his position.
You can read here if you like: <Link Removed due to TOS 9>
Interestingly enough I was reading through Daniel this morning about how the Lord changed the mind of Nebuchadnezzar form that of a man to that of a beast and then back again. Whats that trans-species-ism?
Quote from: Aviya on December 20, 2015, 09:38:36 PM
I won't say that I've anything completely settled in my heart. I was reading something John Piper wrote and I can appreciate his position.
You can read here if you like: <Link Removed due to TOS 9>
I think that article needs a trigger warning for transphobia:
I managed to get as far as where he characterizes our dysphoria and transgender feelings as "disordered desires that need to be subdued" before I stopped reading. Actually, I skipped to the end and saw "look to the day when this light and momentary affliction of 80 or 90 years will be over and then everlasting joy and perfect wholeness."
IOW, God made us transgendered so we would spend our "80 or 90 years" in unrelieved torment.
I'm having trouble thinking of an honest response to this that wouldn't violate the TOS. Let us just say that if this is what Mr. Piper considers divine love, I'll take divine hatred, thank you. It can't be any worse, and at least I won't be cooperating in God's abuse of me.
This is from that article and it sounds great, except it leaves out an important point. The two spies were in Jericho to start with to enable the Israelites to carry out God's order to kill every human being in that town. According to Christianity, this God who gave that order was Jesus himself. God of unconditional love?????????? LOL
"What if legalism had stopped the two men sent by Joshua to spy on Jericho from lodging with a prostitute. Then those men would not have received protection from Rahab, they would have been captured by the people of that land and another generation of the children of Israel probably would have been discouraged from entering the Promised Land."
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Quote from: Asche on December 25, 2015, 11:37:51 AM
I think that article needs a trigger warning for transphobia:
What is transphobia?
Literally it means fear of trans people. In practice it describes the attitude displayed by many that includes such verbal or written gems as disrespect, rejection, ridicule and dehumanization of trans people. Accompanying this is a dogged embrace of a dogma, often but not always religious, that rejects the current medical and scientific findings on causes and treatment of transsexuality and instead assigns the cause to sexual perversion, pedophilia, communism, hatred of America, liberal conspiracies, or demon possession. These dogmas are particularly resistant to counter argument because they rely only on the vivid imagination of paranoid and fearful minds and have absolutely no foundation in either logic or reality. These beliefs appear to lower the intellectual immune system of such people and leave them vulnerable to a wide variety of other absurd conspiracy theories.
That is my wiki entry for today.
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My testimony is that I had lost my relationship with God while I wasn't being honest about who I am, and I regained it when I came out. Now I am one of the most active women in my church and co-treasurer. The congregation know my history, although I think some have forgotten. There are churches like this, and the Christian Transgender Facebook group is active and knows where they are.
I personally am an atheist and find the vast majority of religious rhetoric disgusting and borderline insane, however I find this very interesting as my mother who is Southern Baptist and my biggest supporter is conflicted over certain issues at times due to her faith. May have to let her read this thread.
I converted to Catholicism when I was 23 and miss believing in something. The hate is what pushed me out of the church, and a few years later it was easier for me to see through it. I would love to be accepted into the church again, just for the peace I had when I went. I don't know if I will ever actually believe it again. At least not in the way they want me to believe. Hopefully, this will not offend anyone. THe way that I wrote was not meant to disparage any religions validity. All just my personal opinions.
All religions are obsessed by sex, and most religions are male oriented. Written or not that is a fact.
I, personally, don't think there is any "God" up there in the sky - BTW, even if we suppose the existence of a God, well this Being would be the most intelligent and loving Being ever.
Therefore, how could this Immense Being so stupid to mind if some of His\Her* creature feels more happy changing his\her own gender?
It's said that "God is Love", and Ultimate Intelligence, Comprehension and Compassion... how could such a (supposed) Being condemn someone who is trying to live a better, happier and healty life?
Only <deleted> humans beings do that - surely no God (existant or supposed) would ever condemn transition.
Just my two cents about.
:) Aly
* God itself it's supposed to be beyond gender, or he\she would not be a Whole.
Mod edit: if you use that highly offensive and insensitive word again you will be placed on moderation
Hi, I'm Sarah, and I haven't posted around here before, just lurked in the background reading everyone's discussions. I'm from Australia and Transgender Rights has just become a big thing over here because the government has introduced anti-bullying educational elements into the school system and anti-LGBT groups are up in arms about it, provoking lots of talk over here. Anyhow, I'm what you'd call a closet transgender - I haven't come out yet, and only doctors and therapists know about me, everyone else just thinks I'm a guy who doesn't cut his hair short enough and has a tendency for knitwear and necklaces, and agrees too much with the women when discussions or arguments take place, etc...
Anyway, I am a Christian, and I find encouragement in numerous places in the Bible. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul had to write to a church where there were some disputes and problems going on. Could a Eunuch be a Christian? Could a slave be a Christian? Were men more important than women? And so on. Paul's response was:
"There are not Jews or Gentiles (people who are not Jews), not slaves nor free, nor are there male or female - you are all one together in Christ Jesus."
Basically, according to the Apostle, where you were born, whether you were a slave or a free person, or whether you were male or female, is not relevant at all as to whether someone is or is not a christian. So if it isn't relavant - if being male or female doesn't matter as to whether I am saved by God, then why should other Christians care so much about it? Anyway, verses like that help me to feel like gender is not a factor when it comes to faith.
The other thing I wanted to mention, is that Christians will often say that Eunuchs were just slaves who were castrated against their will, not men who had their genitals willingly removed. However, this is not what the bible or history books tell us. Jesus mentions three eunuchs in an example - people who were castrated against their will by others, people who for religious reasons castrated themselves, and people who were born like castrated people, and He said they were all acceptable to God.
And the first non-Jewish Christian conversion written about in the Bible was a Eunuch Official. In those days, various men (such as those with no interest in sex) could have themselves castrated by choice to take on positions of power. Willing Eunuchs were considered incorruptible because they could not be seduced and didn't care about sex with women.
It's all so silly to me. My religion is far older than the Abrahamic faiths and my goddess made transsexuals through her divine will and Her clergy were filled with trans folk. So when I hear "old fashioned conservative logic", I chuckle because my beliefs are as old fashioned and conservative as you can get, by definition. They are the new kids on the block as far as I'm concerned, spreading unique brands of hatred and exclusionary philosophy.
And even if none of that were a part of my life, I still am not able to have respect for any belief that commands their followers to judge others just for existing. Zero respect. If that's violating TOS for "bashing religion", then so be it but please cancel my account if that's enforced. They deserve no respect from any human who has love and compassion in their heart.
I must add, though, that I do appreciate some of the more liberal denominations who actually try to fit into society and act less dark aged, like Episcopalians and whatnot.
Quote from: Aviya on December 20, 2015, 09:38:36 PM
I won't say that I've anything completely settled in my heart. I was reading something John Piper wrote and I can appreciate his position.
You can read here if you like: <removed link due to TOS 9>
Interestingly enough I was reading through Daniel this morning about how the Lord changed the mind of Nebuchadnezzar form that of a man to that of a beast and then back again.3 Whats that trans-species-ism?
Not one scripture verse to back up his opinion. None.
I can talk about what God says. I don't care about this opinion....because it does not stand up to scripture.
This sounds just like the writing of the pharisees circa 300 BC. BS mixed in with good sounding words.
Jen
There was an interesting idea presented at one of the LGBT History Month events here. One of the speakers, Revd. Dr. Susan Durber (Theology Coordinator for Christian Aid), was putting the Genesis creation story in context. She said that the "religions far older than the Abrahamic faiths" as mentioned above tended to have one god who created everything good - including men, and another god or goddess who created everything not-so-good - including women. This is the point of "God created male and female in 'his' image and it was all good".
We refer to God as "he" just for the sake of convenience and because in Hebrew there's no neutral pronoun, but God is agender, neither male nor female, God is beyond gender and everything that goes with it. There's nothing in the Bible that says being transgender is wrong.
There are a number of references to eunuchs in the Bible. Many are just factual mentions, but some are interesting. Isaiah 56 3-5 is a good one. Matthew 19:12 is a bit tricky. Acts 8 where an Ethiopian eunuch is selected to be the first convert from his country.
The minister of my church introduced me to "Expansive Language". When we read a psalm or sing a hymn God is "He" in one line and "She" in the next.
Recently I read that Pat Robertson, of all people, has said he thinks transgender is okay. LOL, maybe 20 years late for me, but I'm very glad of these types of advances. I gotta say, being a kid and transgender right now stands a chance of being nothing like it was when I was little.
http://www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2013/07/29/watch-pat-robertson-says-being-transgender-not-sin
But thanks to those above who mentioned Eunuchs. As much as I dislike it, I think I could use that as an argument just to shut up any person in my family who wants to give me what for about, "God's opinion of transgender people." Which, frankly, from the standpoint they're coming at it, it's clear that they're over-reaching quite a lot.
But since the Chicago Statement of Infallibility, and the debate on biblical inerrancy in the 70s and 80s, the Baptists have basically over-reached on a lot of stuff.
LOL, I've read and studied a LOT on this. I used to be a youth group leader, all the while fearing that I was in terrible sin because I couldn't "overcome" the "sin of being transgendered." Now, I look back on those decades and think it's absurd that people even bothered that much about it.
The main thing that separates all these points from "sin" is that if anyone looks clearly at gender or sexual identity or sexual preference, it's very clear that it isn't a choice. That plenty of us (most of us) due to expediency have tried very hard, often with the deepest of prayers and supplications and submission to God to make the choice to go ahead and be what we aren't, according to what is socially easier, I think is pretty strong evidence of that.
BUT, this goes against the canon and biblical inerrancy, since homosexuality would also fall into this category. I gather that Paul disliked homosexuality very strongly. If that one is not a choice, then the entire definition of sin falls through the floor, or the canon has issues.
Still, the thing about Eunuchs. That would be very hard for anyone to argue against, I would think. Especially since it's words of Jesus himself, not even Paul or those other guys. I'll use it next time my cousin the minister tries to bother me.
--Lyra
That's from 2013. Here's a two year update on Pat Robertson.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/pat-robertson-transgender-girl-just-wants-peep-locker-room
Oh, then there's this from last month.
http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/2/24/watch-pat-robertson-goes-nuclear-new-transphobic-rant
Hah, I see. Well, thanks for sharing that. I guess it's hard for a leopard to change its spots. Does he still have two transwomen working as secretaries or did her fire them or what?
I guess, basically, his constituency doesn't like that. I mean, politics....
--L
The Christian bible says nothing about trans* people. There's one place that says cross dressing is a sin, but cross dressing and being trans* is so very much different
Quote from: Vanessa_Glidewell on April 28, 2016, 08:25:54 AM
The Christian bible says nothing about trans* people.
Actually, it does. In Matthew 19:12, Jesus demands that Eunuchs (male-bodied people who have given up their masculinity) be accepted. In Isaiah 56:4-5, we are promised "an everlasting name better than sons and daughters."
Nothing bad about* kinda what I meant lol
Quote from: Vanessa_Glidewell on April 28, 2016, 08:25:54 AM
The Christian bible says nothing about trans* people. There's one place that says cross dressing is a sin, but cross dressing and being trans* is so very much different
I've never bought into that interpretation, being that when it was written, "everybody" was wearing robes
Quote from: Marlee on May 02, 2016, 12:02:48 PM
I've never bought into that interpretation, being that when it was written, "everybody" was wearing robes
The only other credible interpretation of that verse that I have come across is indirectly very hostile to the idea of trans. It essentially says that men and women will not assume the role of the other sex.
Sapere Aude
I say the real way to read and study the bible is to do it in the original languages: Hebrew for the old testament and Greek for the new testament.
I try to learn the Hebrew words but I don't have much time in my life right now to focus on Hebrew bible study, but I can tell you that the Hebrew bible is one thing and the English translations are different and might alter the meaning of passages or words. Hearing someone read the creation in ancient bible Hebrew and the rhymes and sounds was a great experience for me....but if the same passages are read in English they don't have the same effect or even the same meaning.
Hebrew is a very unique language. It works in different ways. Not surprised if translations alter meanings. Besides, I feel like literal interpretation of the bible is wrong and should never be done by a serious believer. It's what fundie Christians do but they have their own messed up views on the bible (especially on the ot) that contradicts every other interpretation, Jewish or Christian and makes no sensecon a theological level. I say some Christians tend to be too literal and that's not the way to do theology and the bible is mysterious, too complex to just be interpreted literally. And when they use it against groups of people then it's really disgusting and offensive.
The bible also shows the culture of ancient Israelites. I doubt it was a lgbt friendly culture. 3000 years ago. No modern science or medicine. Many accuse the bible of things, like being homophobic, but the bible isn't things. It's a book that describes things and not all of them are nice because the world wasn't nice back then and never was. People who wrote it reported things and what do we expect from ancient populations? Progressive ideas? Also the bible, like other books, can be interpreted in various ways. It's the people who interpret it that use it as an anti-lgbt weapon because they hide behind religion but their hatred is within their minds and comes from something else. Religion is just a mask they wear. But I read the same bible as them and I don't use it against people, I use it for my own personal spiritual growth and I don't think we should live like the ancient Israelites because humanity evolved and as some types of Judaism teach, the Torah is alive and humans understanding of it can change over the centuries and society changes and there's rabbis discussing ideas, and Judaism encourages discussing and even questioning things. It's not a static religion. We can't be like we were 3000 years ago. It's 2016. I can't understand people who want to take us back to that ancient era, and it's mostly fundie Christians in America and it scares me because we all know how hostile they are against lgbt people.
Fundie Christians like mentioning certain quotes from the Torah but why is it that they cherry pick and only choose to follow "anti gay" verses and then they ignore all the other verses? Using books amd laws specifically for Jews, cherry picking, twisting things, spreading lies, all of this to justify their hatred.
In the NT, an eununch gets blessed. It's Paul (or St. Paul for Catholics) the one who wrote stuff about women not being allowed to teach or speak in churches and a list of people going to hell. Not Jesus. It was Paul. I like how homophobes focus on Paul's homophobia and ignore the words of Jesus their Lord.
I know there are so many nice Christian brothers and sisters out there. I was one myself. I don't think religion should be used to control others. It should be a positive personal experience, and not a way to control other people.
I'm a Christian. i don't see the bible as either literal or inerrant. I was taught and I believe that it is a collection of books/writings that is useful in showing man's relationship to the creator and also to show the story of how man is redeemed by Christ.
I don't cherry pick because i believe it is very much about the culture of the time and the context to whom it was written ( such as the Kingdom of Israel and Early Christian Churches). I don't pick and choose because i get the general spirit of it and the metaphor that exists in it. There is much i don't know and are not likely to ever know about it this side of hereafter. I don't understand hell for instance and that whole concept or whether it is a literal thing, or a historic thing etc. Are we saved from that? or is everyone saved in some form, or is that not at all what saving means. I just don't know and it is hard to form hard opinions on it.
With regard to trans people, can anyone even imagine a god that would be so imperfect and unloving as to disregard us? I can't. The god of many people that claim Christianity as their own sounds very human and very much like themselves to me. That was the whole point about the story of the Garden, man wanted to be God and form him/her in his image.
I am also a Christian. The bible is a guideline for us, not to be used as a weapon. Eunuchs have always been part of civilization. God accepts us as we are because he/she created us. We are to love both our friends and our enemies. Jesus did.
:)
Quote from: RobynD on May 03, 2016, 07:08:29 PM
I'm a Christian. i don't see the bible as either literal or inerrant. I was taught and I believe that it is a collection of books/writings that is useful in showing man's relationship to the creator and also to show the story of how man is redeemed by Christ.
I don't cherry pick because i believe it is very much about the culture of the time and the context to whom it was written ( such as the Kingdom of Israel and Early Christian Churches). I don't pick and choose because i get the general spirit of it and the metaphor that exists in it. There is much i don't know and are not likely to ever know about it this side of hereafter. I don't understand hell for instance and that whole concept or whether it is a literal thing, or a historic thing etc. Are we saved from that? or is everyone saved in some form, or is that not at all what saving means. I just don't know and it is hard to form hard opinions on it.
With regard to trans people, can anyone even imagine a god that would be so imperfect and unloving as to disregard us? I can't. The god of many people that claim Christianity as their own sounds very human and very much like themselves to me. That was the whole point about the story of the Garden, man wanted to be God and form him/her in his image.
Jewish here, raised Christian. Similar views, but I don't believe in hell :) also, very interesting interpretation of the story of the Garden, it added a new perspective :)
Quote from: RobynD on May 03, 2016, 07:08:29 PM
With regard to trans people, can anyone even imagine a god that would be so imperfect and unloving as to disregard us? I can't.
i can't imagine it either. So that leaves two alternatives. The first is as you stated. The second is to conclude that none of it, God, is real at all.
I chose the second alternative after a very long period of soul searching and dread of going to hell.
If I made a mistake and chose wrong at least I'll be in good company. But there's no going back.
Sapere Aude
This is one of the biggest things I have struggled with, and the hardest part of my transition. I was a very conservative Christian who was trans (trigger warning) and I felt that it was a sin and I had to resist it. Sinners in the hands of an angry God, and all that.
But 9 months ago my marriage broke up (nothing to do with my transsexuality) and I found myself adrift. I'm still working it out. I'm trying to see the loving side of God, the side that loves me no matter what. I'm trying to explore whether the Bible is inerrant / infallible, etc. I believe very firmly in the Apostle's Creed - beyond that, things are nowadays a bit on the table for discussion.
The big problem is, that all of my friends are conservative Christians too, and they are absolutely going to freak when they find out I am transitioning, most especially my estranged and eventually-to-be-ex-wife. But that's a worry for the future.
For now, as Paul said, I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling, yet depending on the grace and peace of Jesus Christ.
I base my faith on what Jesus said.
People who were sick in "The Bible" were thrown out of the city and discarded. It may have seemed like a good idea at the time. And that's the thing. This is a text of questionable origin and concerns the daily lives of a pre-industrial country. Much of "the law" is political, power plays, health, and sacrifice. Most of that has no bearing on our lives today. We should remember that the holy texts were used to govern as well as prop up a belief system. If we were to implement "the law" as laid out in "The Bible," we'd have a fundamentalist theocracy not unlike the Taliban or ISIL.
So, believe what you will from the faith of "The Bible" but please don't torture yourself over old laws concerning governance.
Quote from: Cindi Jones on May 31, 2016, 10:30:52 AM
This is a text of questionable origin and concerns the daily lives of a pre-industrial country.
For a fundamentalist God spoke these laws through the scripture so they apply to all people in all times in all societies.
Sapere Aude
it is hard to quantify trans individuals. a trans female lesbian can and often does manifest as a straight man. now, a straight trans female would appear gay. people just do not know what to do.
i asked my former priest if i should continue living as a lesbian or be a 'gay' male. i then asked which is the lesser sin? his response was that it did not matter because i am an abomination to the lord.
he also refused communion. i want to note that the assembly said that i should take it anyway. this is after my ex-wife outed me publicly. i was shamed publicly in church on that day. :'(
ChasingAlice,
That's pretty low outing you and calling you an abomination. Rather heartless I would say.
The truth in scripture is that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Only Jesus was without sin.
One scripture used frequently is Deuteronomy 22:5. Many who use that do not even stop to think in a spiritual sense they do the same thing.
To start it does not say a woman who wears men's clothing. It says "that which pertaineth unto a man." There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. He is the "man" or "Husband" to the church his bride or "woman."
Therefore when a church judges a person "she" has taken on the "breastplate of judgment" her Husband alone is allowed to wear since he is a High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. It goes way farther but this is just a simple example.
It says the man shall not wear a woman's garment. Isaiah said our righteousness is as filthy rags. When a church becomes self righteous they sin because they think that the Lord accepts their self righteous attitude. Or, in a sense they think he will wear their covering of filthy rags and honor their twisted belief and high and mighty attitude. Once again, this goes way farther but I'll keep that simple.
The bottom line is that many straight and cisgender Christians throw stones while doing what they accuse others of. Sort of like the old saying the pot calling the kettle black. None of us are without sin. We may not agree or condone something but it's not our place to judge or condemn.
The words that you are an abomination appear condemning. Had he of said he believes what you do is an abomination it would have been different. Sadly many will damn themselves with a judgmental attitude. With the same measure it will be measured back to them. The merciless shall be shown no mercy, etc....
A few years ago when I was still going to Church I was teaching bible classes for adults. I was at the time trying to reconcile myself with what the Church teaches. After the class one day I was having a conversation with a man and I said something to the effect that there was no sin in having homosexual attraction if it was not acted on. He replied that "all homosexuals should be killed." I asked him if that included the ones who had never done anything and he replied, "yes."
He didn't know what I was but I'll never forget the vehemence in his desire to see people killed for nothing more than what they thought.
Sapere Aude
Deborah,
I'm sorry to see that. That's sick, judgmental and hateful.
Maybe he has never read that the heart of man is deceitfully wicked, who can know it, the spirit of man lusteth to envy and the carnal mind is enmity with God.
We all have felt things at different levels, for a lack of better words. Some of our thoughts and feelings cannot be helped and to say a person should be killed because they have them is terrible.
I would venture to say the most upright people have had some very bad thoughts. They just haven't shared them.
There is an old saying, "there but by the grace of God go I." The word of God even says we should consider ourselves lest we be tempted. I wonder how he would like to wake up and feel gay or transgender after saying that?
That man's lack of mercy may come back to haunt him.
Ah, Deuteronomy 22:5... Del is looking at the King James translation or one of it's derivatives. It may surprise some to learn that the original text is not in English, but an old dialect of Hebrew. The correct translation makes a little more sense, when one considers what clothing looked like for nomadic tribes of that period. Men wore what were effectively robes, fastened and arranged with cord. Women also wore robes, fastened and arranged with cord. Atop the robes, men in the warrior class wore 'armor', leather or heavy fabric pads.
The actual Hebrew translation makes more sense knowing this:
QuoteNever cause or force a warriors weapon to be used by a woman or weak person; neither dress warriors armor on a woman or weak person for to Yahweh, God of Host, disgusting is such that do so.
Yup. Don't use non-warriors as decoys. That is cheating.
I'm not disgusting. I'm pretty. ;D
(12 years of Jesuit education, Latin, and other such dreck rattling about in my skull...)
Anyway, none of it matters anymore. After 45 years of unanswered prayer I concluded that either God hates me or God doesn't care or God doesn't exist. In all three cases that means that none of it matters. I opened the door and nobody was on the other side.
Sapere Aude
I cannot help but believe that, God made us who we are. Whatever the reason, we will likely never know, while on this Earth. I was raised Catholic, and became Christian in my late teens. This does not mean I attend services, as I find most congregations to be full of hypocrites, as well as those who judge others.
Such congregations may be enough to make many lose their faith, especially with ministers that do not discuss even a whole paragraph. Twisting the meanings to fit their whims scares me away as well.
I believe in God 100%. However I am not big on religion, I don't really know which one is true and which is not.
One of my dreams as transgender is to became a priestess of an evangelical path..
It's not about "being good"... the "Law". It's about loving God and loving our neighbors"... How do I know that? Jesus told me!
I have been a devoted Christian for nearly 30 years. My heart aches because of the pain represented by these posts.
I am embarrassed to say that I had very little understanding of trans issues and never thought it was my issue because I did not present in the "cliche" ways which are covered in the mainstream articles one would probably see. When I finally researched my issues and was led to transgender issues I was challenged in my thinking. In looking for some guidance I came across a website called gendertree. It provided me a lot clarification and comfort. I would highly suggest it.
I do believe that the "church" as a whole will have to answer to the Lord someday for how it has treated the entire LGBT community. Very sad.
I fully understand that we can all believe what we choose, but if your eternity was at stake don't let a screwed up ambassador steer you away from a God who dearly loves you just the way you are.
Quote from: Tinatima on March 06, 2017, 05:47:23 PM
It's not about "being good"... the "Law". It's about loving God and loving our neighbors"... How do I know that? Jesus told me!
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It's sad to watch so many people turn away from Jesus because of denominations, Christians, and the constant "my sin doesn't matter, but yours does" mindset.
It says the were first called Christians in Antioch.
Not straight Christians, gay Christians, transgender Christians, but Christians.
Not Baptists, Pentecostals, Catholic or anything else.
So many have forgotten, or overlooked for their own conscious that there is a sin not unto death, or sin which is not willing and can be prayed for.
There is also a sin unto death, willful sinning after knowing the truth which is blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. Jesus said that sin cannot be forgiven.
That means that if I am transgender and don't care what the Lord thinks or the word of God says I am committing a sin unto death, or blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.
This also means that if I am transgender and cannot help how I feel, what I think or how it effects my life it is a sin not unto death which can be prayed for and forgiven.
So how does this set of scriptures and their meanings effect straight and cisgender people?
If they are proud of heart and don't care what the Lord thinks or what his word says they are committing a sin unto death, or blasphemy of the Holy Ghost which can not be forgiven.
If they accidentally get lifted up with pride and do care what the Lord thinks and what his word says, just like a transgender person who cannot help how they feel, etc... , it is a sin not unto death and can be prayed for.
The problem is too many clergy so called professional and not enough preachers led of the Holy Ghost. No where in scripture do we find seminary, Christian colleges or education but in one scripture; and if memory serves me right she was a keeper of the wardrobe. Either way, being a Prophetess, she was speaking as the oracles of God by the Holy Ghost and not college teaching.
These divisions such as straight, gay, cisgender, transgender, Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Protestant and so on are all divisions. It is written in Proverbs that those who cause divisions are an abomination.
What doesn't matter is if I'm transgender. What does matter is if I believe in my heart the Jesus Christ is the Son of God, Jehovah, Lord God Almighty.
What does matter is if I care enough to know that scripture declares it wrong but that I trust the Lord for mercy because I cannot help it.
It's sad that people pick and choose their sins and abominations and some of us end up hurting and many lose their trust in the Lord and turn away.
Rant's over.
I hope nobody's offended. If so, I'm sorry.
I am transgender and Christian.
I've been asked many times, if I have mentioned something to do with church, "are you religious?". It does seem to confuse a lot of people when I say no, I'm not religious, but I have faith.
The problem, as I see it, is that mankind decided to dictate what people should and should not believe, think, do, not do.
Jesus was quite clear that no one should be stopped from coming to Him, that obeying all the Jewish laws wasn't enough, and that all were welcome - including those who were regarded as social outcasts of the time.
The current composition of the Bible for instance is based on decisions made by the early 300's AD, and there's lots of stuff missing for which we either have some whole chunks (as in the Apocrypha etc.) or fragments of "gospels" from the early church. So, although we have the passages about Eunuchs that have survived, I would have imagine that amongst all the people that met Jesus, and formed part of the early Church, there were LGBT people - Roman and Greek sources show that LGBT people were around in that society. But of course the early church went off down a very male dominated path over time, and so a less balanced and inclusive view of the life and events of Jesus and the teachings from the early apostles gradually developed, and it is only very recently that even the Church of England has been able to allow women Bishops for instance, and the objections to this was supposedly theological. The Catholic church can't even yet handle women priests!
I have been very much supported by ministers and others in local churches, and at some point soon I will hopefully present myself in church as Michelle. I am very much looking forward to taking communion and receiving a blessing as a Christian woman. There are though people - particularly in the "evangelical" wing of the church that really can't handle LGBT, and indeed can be condemning and very un-Christian, but luckily I don't really (with one or two exceptions) have much contact with them.
My faith is strong and I am happy and know I am loved by God.
Michelle
I am a Christian and just that. Faith in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, Son of Man and that He Sacrificed Himself upon the Cross so that we may have eternal Salvation.. No man made church is required. That includes the Roman catholic chvrch. Joining a congregation or attending church is strictly up to you.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you read the Book of Matthew, all of the prophecies had been leading up to Jesus Christ, the Sacrificial Lamb, dying upon the Cross to pay the debt for Man's/Woman's Sins.
Matthew 27:50-53 50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Read closely and you can see that the reason for an intercessor (Holy of Holies) is no longer required. Other translations has "the rocks split" to mean the alter stone of the Temple split in two, meaning that the Sacrifice has been made and accepted as payment for the debt of our Sin. The Laws of the Old Testament no longer hold sway over us, nor can they prevent us from Walking with God, thru Jesus. Even if the Bible actually did call us out as a Sin, we can longer be held accountable to the point where we can no longer be immersed in the Love of the Lamb. Remember, Christ Died on the Cross for ALL humankind's Sin; Good or Evil.
Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
When I came to accept that who I am on the inside belongs on the outside, I experienced a warm, gushing euphoria that enveloped me. It was as if I was connected to the energy of the cosmos. It was a strange, yet all too familiar feeling. I quickly recognized it as the way I feel with my direct connection that I have with Jesus. For a long time, I struggled with the question of what I was feeling was correct or was I headed off into some worldly tangent. Jesus was letting me know that I was His Child and that it was alright for me to be who I am. That is my personal experience.
Quote from: smart_michelle on April 27, 2018, 02:36:14 PM
I am transgender and Christian.
....
My faith is strong and I am happy and know I am loved by God.
Michelle
Please read my post that I made. It correlates to what you said and our Beliefs.
Quote from: BritneyX on December 31, 2018, 07:30:26 PM
I am a Christian and just that. Faith in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, Son of Man and that He Sacrificed Himself upon the Cross so that we may have eternal Salvation.. No man made church is required. That includes the Roman catholic chvrch. Joining a congregation or attending church is strictly up to you.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you read the Book of Matthew, all of the prophecies had been leading up to Jesus Christ, the Sacrificial Lamb, dying upon the Cross to pay the debt for Man's/Woman's Sins.
Matthew 27:50-53 50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Read closely and you can see that the reason for an intercessor (Holy of Holies) is no longer required. Other translations has "the rocks split" to mean the alter stone of the Temple split in two, meaning that the Sacrifice has been made and accepted as payment for the debt of our Sin. The Laws of the Old Testament no longer hold sway over us, nor can they prevent us from Walking with God, thru Jesus. Even if the Bible actually did call us out as a Sin, we can longer be held accountable to the point where we can no longer be immersed in the Love of the Lamb. Remember, Christ Died on the Cross for ALL humankind's Sin; Good or Evil.
Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
When I came to accept that who I am on the inside belongs on the outside, I experienced a warm, gushing euphoria that enveloped me. It was as if I was connected to the energy of the cosmos. It was a strange, yet all too familiar feeling. I quickly recognized it as the way I feel with my direct connection that I have with Jesus. For a long time, I struggled with the question of what I was feeling was correct or was I headed off into some worldly tangent. Jesus was letting me know that I was His Child and that it was alright for me to be who I am. That is my personal experience.