Blog: Can One Be A Transgender Christian?

[LostInTime]

Link

Yet despite the comments of Ramundo, Beebe, and Leach, one of the interesting issues that's been brought up in Professor Nemecek's legal complaint is that officials at Spring Arbor University have never precisely identified the Christian principles Nemecek violated. In other words, apparently Spring Arbor University has never spelled out exactly why it believes one can't be transgender and Christian — to either Professor Nemecek or her attorney Randi Barnabee (one of the attorneys that litigated the Smith v. Salem case).

[Kate]

Wow, ya know, it must be really hard to have such a confusing, conflicted system for determining morality. My heart goes out to people who have to reconcile these sorts of things with their religious beliefs. It can't be easy.

And yet, that's what happens when you look outside yourself for answers to things you SHOULD already know.

Kate

[Sarah Louise]

My two cents worth is, that of course you can be Christian and Transsexual at the same time.  My Christianity is between me and Christ, not me and the (lower case) church.

Sarah L.

[Julie Marie]

Christians are followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ (or at least by definition should be).  I know of no incident where it is written Christ was intolerant, prejudiced, condemning or hateful towards another human being.  If someone thinks being like that is being Christian they have a very different view than I of who Jesus Christ was.

Julie

[Kate]

My Christianity is between me and Christ, not me and the (lower case) church.

I sure wish more christians felt this way.

What I don't get is why my coworker, for example, feels he's qualified to interpret God's will for me, judging - as if HE is God - whether or not my transitioning will burn me in hell or not.

I figure only TWO beings know God's will for me: God Himself, and me... at least during those magical moments when I hear him speaking through and AS my heart.

Kate

[Sarah Louise]

Good question Kate.  I don't have the answer.

Sarah L.

[Suzy]

Christians are followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ (or at least by definition should be).  I know of no incident where it is written Christ was intolerant, prejudiced, condemning or hateful towards another human being.  If someone thinks being like that is being Christian they have a very different view than I of who Jesus Christ was.

Julie

Well said, Julie.  I only know of one exception.  Christ was quite harsh towards the religious establishment of his day with its hypocrites and bigots.  To the people who needed his good news, he always offered it.


Kristi

[Hazumu]

My two cents:

I think that there are certain branches of Christianity that have a strong internal mythology that requires a cast of sinners, demons and devils to cast out and exclude.

Imagine these same flavours of Christianity suddenly plunged into and then attempting to exist in a world where there were NO bad things -- no homos, no sexual predators, no terrorists, everybody perfectly good and moral, and everybody WILL go to heaven.  I do believe it would drive them crazy...

Karen

[Ms Bev]

My Christianity is between me and Christ, not me and the (lower case) church.

What I don't get is why my coworker, for example, feels he's qualified to interpret God's will for me, judging

Amen. 
My religion is between me, and Christ, no one else.  This may surprise some, maybe not, but one of the few people who know I'm TS is one of my pastors (female, if that matters).  She has known me many years and sees me only as a child of Christ, no different than any other, including the fact I'm lesbian, but cautions me about many closed-minded Christian leaders who would condemn.

As for your coworker, many fellow Christians forget a very important rule....'judge not'.

My relationship with God has not changed, for neither has my spirit.

Love, Bev

[cindianna_jones]

From the article:

"It seems very carefully orchestrated," says Ramundo in reference to the discrimination claim; "the way they're going about it, the legal connections, the public relations move. I feel this professor has been very carefully coached on how to respond, on how to 'come out,' on how to build a case."

Duh!! Knowing what surely would happen, she took legal precations and is likely following planned counsel from her legal representatives.  It's not like she is being treated fairly!  Of coure she is being carefully orchestrated!

Here's another:

The Free Methodist Book of Discipline lists gender identity issues - along with organ transplants and environmental issues - as ethical dilemmas not sin or something perverse.

Uh.... you mean if you get a kidney transplant from your sister, you're going to be treated in the same fashion?  Of course not!  Why would they?  It's catalogued as such... but a kidney transplant doesn't make you have sex with other men!  Oh, these are twisted people my friends.

Cindi

[Chaunte]

My two cents:

I think that there are certain branches of Christianity that have a strong internal mythology that requires a cast of sinners, demons and devils to cast out and exclude.

Imagine these same flavours of Christianity suddenly plunged into and then attempting to exist in a world where there were NO bad things -- no homos, no sexual predators, no terrorists, everybody perfectly good and moral, and everybody WILL go to heaven.  I do believe it would drive them crazy...

Karen

Karen,

lol!  Its sad but true.

There are certain sects of Christianity that are as far away from the teachings of Christ as they can possibly be.  And there are "ministers" who prey on people's worst fears

Imagine their reaction when they find that the Almight is both male and female!

Chaunte