Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hello,
I am new to the forum and I have rccently posted my intro. I have struggled with being Tg almost all of my life. I have tried to deal with this in a constant cycle of having thoughts and perhaps dressing and then confess it as sin and try to forsake it. I probably have done this cycle five hundred times. I am tired of pretending. I do realize now that this is the way I was born. I do see a very rough road of transition ahead. For this reason I would love to develop some friendships with other transgenders who are Christians. Obviously, I will treasure a friendship with those who are not Christians as well. I am so grateful for those whom I have already started a friendship. 

Hi,

I am also a christian. I consider my dysphoria as something I did not choose, therefore this cannot be a sin!

It is part of my life I have to accept, I believe Christ is with me in my suffering. This is my cross, my way to take part in Christ's suffering.

I pray God every day to show me the way he would like me to follow, and I trust He will do so as I asked Him, I consider He is already doing so...

I move slowly since I do not want to hurt my wife and my 4 children. I am on HRT since 4 years but still present as a male most of the time. I am quite peaceful overall, even if there are some painful moments with my wife - we love each other very much, but seeing me changing gives her the impression she is loosing me.

Hugs.

Pascale

Quote from: Autrement on November 18, 2018, 03:46:06 AM
Hi,

I am also a christian. I consider my dysphoria as something I did not choose, therefore this cannot be a sin!

It is part of my life I have to accept, I believe Christ is with me in my suffering. This is my cross, my way to take part in Christ's suffering.

I pray God every day to show me the way he would like me to follow, and I trust He will do so as I asked Him, I consider He is already doing so...

I move slowly since I do not want to hurt my wife and my 4 children. I am on HRT since 4 years but still present as a male most of the time. I am quite peaceful overall, even if there are some painful moments with my wife - we love each other very much, but seeing me changing gives her the impression she is loosing me.

Hugs.

Pascale

Pascale, thanks so much for responding to my post! I do enjoy meeting many of the people here, but it is nice to also have a chance to chat with someone who is a Christian. There are some unique challenges in being TG and a Christian. I know many have given up their faith in some way as a result of transitioning. I am fearful that this may happen to me. I realize that the way I view my faith will probably change, but I do want to have a spiritual life. Would it work for you if I can PM you some time just to share a bit more and also ask you a couple of questions about how you have kept your faith during this time of transition.

Hugs from Marsha

Hi Marsha,

Sure, please PM me when you want.

Pascale

I am Christian too, welcome to Susan's!  I know God put me here for a reason, dysphoria and all, it's my job through prayer to discover it, and to fulfill my purpose.

Hugs,

Sarah

Quote from: Sarah1979 on November 18, 2018, 08:31:46 PM
I am Christian too, welcome to Susan's!  I know God put me here for a reason, dysphoria and all, it's my job through prayer to discover it, and to fulfill my purpose.

Hugs,

Sarah

Sarah, thanks so much for responding to my post. I do enjoy meeting many of the people here. However, it is nice to talk about being TG and a Christian at the same time. As a Christian, I have found some unique challenges in accepting being Marsha. I have been fifty years going back and forth on this. How did you ever get peace in being TG and a Christian? Also, would it work for us to PM from time to time? If not, I do understand.

I'm a fellow TG Christian.
It wasn't easy growing up with a Pastor for a father. I was steeped in guilt and self hatred.

Needless to say, I now accept myself as both trans and a Christian. It took a long time and lots of praying/studying, but thank God I'm there.

Marsha and I have good conversations, and if anyone else ever needs to chat or needs some encouragement do not hesitate to message me!

Lacy

Quote from: reborn on November 19, 2018, 01:39:58 PM
Ephesians 1:11 teaches that God controls everything including your gender dysphoria. It was created by him and it is the way he wants you to be for your highest good, and the highestgood of the people.

Reborn, thanks for your post and sharing Ephesians 1:11. I do hope that we can chat some more about our faith and being TG. Please have a nice evening. Hugs from Marsha

I'm transgender and Christian also.  For a long time I believed that dressing as myself was a sin.  I'd feel so guilty about it that I would quit praying because I felt so ashamed, yet I couldn't stop dressing.  My authentic self wouldn't let me stop, and she'd scream loudly until I'd give in to her.  I purged multiple times, thinking that if I could live a "normal" life then I would be worthy of God's love.  I felt condemned.  Then I discovered that I'm transgender and there's nothing I can do about it; I was born trans and I'll die trans.  Today I'm ok with that and I'm praying again.  Someone once said that being trans just might be God's will for my life; that He designed me this way for a reason even if I don't know what that reason is or even begin to understand it.  While I still wish I were cisgender, I know that I'm not and never will be, but today I'm ok with it.  I'm both transgender and Christian.

Danielle

Danielle, My life story is related to yours in that there is always a plan.

a 'friend' posed a list of negativity questions towards me. Of one of those regarded my being transgender and subsequently 'in the wrong body' it was:
"Do you think God makes mistakes"
My answer ..
"God makes plans, man (men&women) makes mistakes.

My wife and I are soul-makes we both recognize and admit this. How could two soul-mates be brought together to build their own family if both are same gender, one raised in a strict anti-*everything* household? It's impossible? No, it's not .. I was born male.

We met, dated, married, have children, have grandchildren. At the very same moment that my wife was considering leaving me (unbeknownst to me) and was praying for guidance and a sign, I began my questioning journey. Within a few weeks of starting that journey my wife confronted me for answers (I was already trying to figure out how to tell her). I told her everything that I knew or suspected.

Today, we are stronger than ever, she went from ready to leave to wanting to stay with no intention of leaving.

Had I been born female, I would not have met my wife, would not have my children, would not have my grandchildren.

Had my revelation come at any other time in my life my marriage would not exist or would have fallen apart.
There was a plan

Faith

Marsha, I was a devout Christian, and broadened my religious studies to other faiths. I appreciate Christianity principles that guide us to lead energized, healthy lives, rather than hide in shame and denial. I love the concept of Light revealing all that is evil/harmful, and that Light shriveling darkness that otherwise festers in our darkest corners. I believe that when the Light shines on a trans person, their true gender is revealed, in spite of what human brains think. I believe that this Light winds up touching those who are closest, and can transform their perspectives as well, thus be a mode of healing, if they are open to the Light.

Quote from: Faith on November 29, 2018, 06:16:59 AM
My wife and I are soul-makes we both recognize and admit this. How could two soul-mates be brought together to build their own family if both are same gender, one raised in a strict anti-*everything* household? It's impossible? No, it's not .. I was born male.

Faith, I love this understanding of the value of your being trans. It transforms the argument from, "Did God make a mistake?" to "How does God use what Man considers an abomination?".

Marsha, may you find a smooth, well-lit path through your transition and beyond.

Quote from: MarshaJoy825 on November 17, 2018, 08:40:38 PM
Hello,
I am new to the forum and I have rccently posted my intro. I have struggled with being Tg almost all of my life. I have tried to deal with this in a constant cycle of having thoughts and perhaps dressing and then confess it as sin and try to forsake it. I probably have done this cycle five hundred times. I am tired of pretending. I do realize now that this is the way I was born. I do see a very rough road of transition ahead. For this reason I would love to develop some friendships with other transgenders who are Christians. Obviously, I will treasure a friendship with those who are not Christians as well. I am so grateful for those whom I have already started a friendship.

Hi, Marsha. I am a Christian. A bit of a unicorn among the transgender community since I would say that my beliefs would most closely described as conservative evangelical. I went through some really big struggles with the same stuff you mention. I would be happy to discuss it further in private messages if you like. I try to have a biblical outlook on things and I believe there is a place for transgender people in God's kingdom (even if my fellow conservative evangelicals would label me a heretic for believing that).

Marsha, I posted a response to another thread earlier this year in response to a question about Christians and the validity of gender dysphoria and being transgender. Here is a copy and paste of what I wrote.

I posted this answer on Quora to somebody who was asking whether I have ever experienced feelings of guilt or shame because of my religious affiliation.

https://www.quora.com/Has-anyone-struggled-with-guilt-and-denial-of-their-gender-dysphoria-because-of-their-religious-beliefs-which-prevents-them-from-coming-out-Ive-struggled-with-this-since-childhood-and-its-hard-to-keep-battling/answer/Casey-Jones-271?share=1606e641&srid=pPLse

"Yes. I was in denial my whole life because I was afraid of what it meant if I admitted it. Especially after I became a Christian at the age of 15. In the eyes of most evangelicals, especially those I have known, being Christian and suffering from gender dysphoria is impossible. Christians don't suffer from that!

I am now 36. After almost 35 years of trying to convince myself that this will all resolve on its own and go away someday, I have finally admitted to myself, my wife, and God that it's part of who I am and it's not going away.

I have had to really reevaluate my faith in light of this. Am I still a Christian? Can I still believe the Bible and say I suffer from gender dysphoria?

I came to the conclusion that yes, I can!

I was always taught the Genesis account of creation, and still believe it with all my heart. In the beginning God made them male and female, and it was good. Everything God created was good at first, wasn't it? But we know that it's a messed up world out there now, and places in the Bible like the book of Romans backs that up. It says that all of creation groans under the curse that came by sin.



One of the big obstacles to accepting gender dysphoria as real is accepting that we can't cherry pick what aspects of creation we want to allow to be under the influence of the curse. Somehow gender and sexual development in the womb is off limits. It's too sacred somehow to think that things like gender could get screwed up even though Christians readily acknowledge a wide range of other developmental flaws that are a result of the curse.

Eunuchs are found in several places in the Bible. In ancient Jewish culture, a eunuch was an outcast because they were gender nonconforming. They were considered neither male nor female. They were not even allowed to be part of Israel or to enter the congregation or temple. Yet there are verses in the Old Testament showing that God loves eunuchs and promises a great inheritance for them in the world to come.

And Jesus had something interesting to say about eunuchs. Not only did he acknowledge that there are people born that way, and even that some are forced by others to become eunuchs (slaves were frequently turned into eunuchs in ancient cultures) but he said that some people choose to become eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. Why would that be? It's certainly not a requirement for entry. I believe that he was talking about people like myself who find the burden of their biological sex so great that the depression and anxiety prevents them from being effective for His Kingdom. Whether it is a cisgender person who feels overly burdened by biological sex drive, or a transgender person who feels overwhelmed by gender dysphoria.

Jesus told us that "the flesh profits nothing". And also that at the resurrection our bodies will be like the angels, which are genderless. Male and female genders were created for this world and procreation, but will be done away with in the age to come. The apostle Paul said that since the age to come is nearly upon us we are better of to not burden ourselves with procreative roles like marriage but rather focus on the age to come and serving God.

With this in view, I have accepted that gender dysphoria is real, it is a valid experience of many people, including Christians like myself.

I want to leave with one more remark. Premature death due to suicide or substance abuse are the biggest dangers facing transgender people. The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that "Anyone who is among the living has hope - even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!". People who suffer from gender dysphoria are viewed as dogs, especially by Christians. But I would rather be a live dog who is eager to love and serve Jesus, than a stately lion who is dead inside and on its way to hell.

I hope I can challenge transgender people to consider that the Lord Jesus loves them and calls them to salvation, the same Lord who many claim finds you to be an abomination. I also hope I can challenge the viewpoints of those who claim gender dysphoria and being transgender are damnable abominations."

Quote from: MarshaJoy825 on November 17, 2018, 08:40:38 PM
Hello,
I am new to the forum and I have rccently posted my intro. I have struggled with being Tg almost all of my life. I have tried to deal with this in a constant cycle of having thoughts and perhaps dressing and then confess it as sin and try to forsake it. I probably have done this cycle five hundred times. I am tired of pretending. I do realize now that this is the way I was born. I do see a very rough road of transition ahead. For this reason I would love to develop some friendships with other transgenders who are Christians. Obviously, I will treasure a friendship with those who are not Christians as well. I am so grateful for those whom I have already started a friendship.

It's not a sin to exist. God doesn't make mistakes. God gives you what you can handle and then gives any help needed. Talk to him and not your priest or your pastor and you will find the truth.

Anyone that says you are sinning for being true to yourself should know by now that none of us are fit to judge. The things we all need to apologize to god for are covered in the commandments.

I don't consider myself Christian, I have Christian leanings though. I prayed  ever day since a young age to be made correctly or lose the thoughts and feelings. I gave up for a while and turned to anger to fuel me through and to be the most Alpha Male dick head I could be, from fast cars, fights, going to the gym 3 to 5 hours a day, numerous women in my life. Then I married and had three amazing children (was told I would never father any by my PC at age 20) I was married for 18 years, worked 50 to 80 hour weeks not to think about who or what I was, too darn tired. As things happen, she and I divorced. I met my best friend and lover after the divorce. I was content for a time, tapered off the Testosterone, to an above average level. I was ok except for all hallows eve, she kept wanting to dress me up. I refused every year, I started working more and the anger was back, I was turning 52 and felt all had been a waste. I would spend hours looking a self treatment for HRT, get as far as tying in a credit card number and then stopping.... on 09/30/2016 I changed health care providers.
on 10/01/2016 I told my love I would dress up for her (my plan was not to live until the next year) She was happy with getting to dress me... I was afraid and ANGRY. I started praying again, almost pleading for an resolution.
I had a plan for after Halloween not to be around any longer, she would be secure, I would be gone. On the night of 10/15/2016 I had a long monologue with God. I asked for any sign, I apologized for what was coming, but any sign would stop me. Checking the mail on 10/16/16 my insurance coverage documents showed up and listed on Page 52 was transgender services and what Kaiser covered. I sat dumbfounded for a time and cried, I had not cried in decades. I did not tell her, so we went out shopping that day for Halloween stuff a wig, dress, shoes etc... We went out to dinner. The next day we woke up, she asked why I bought 3 pairs of shoes, two dresses and a purse for just one night... I did not need to spend that much to make her happy.... I told her it was for me, I could no longer live as I was and about praying and the insurance coverage... she looked at me and smiled, good she said, your prayers were finally answered, I have heard you late at night talking and now you have your sign. I never once did I say anything in my prayers except make me "right" or take the thoughts away.

The transition was mostly smooth, it was very fast two years and 10 days since starting the hormones, that are correct nearly a year post GCS, 14 days post stage 2 and BA. I am content and border on happy. I don't think god makes mistakes, I think we are given what we want, I also think at times we are for the amusement of the powers that be...

One day I'll share my story how I came out to my pastor, and my congregation.
Long story short, I even got a chance to address the congregation one Sunday.
Funny though, never went to church pre-transition.

God is the answer not the problem. It's the flawed  translation of ancient prophets. Not the word of God. That's why there are more than 4000 Christian versions of what the Bilble means.

Quote from: Danielle Kristina on November 28, 2018, 09:20:32 PM
I'm transgender and Christian also.  For a long time I believed that dressing as myself was a sin.  I'd feel so guilty about it that I would quit praying because I felt so ashamed, yet I couldn't stop dressing.  My authentic self wouldn't let me stop, and she'd scream loudly until I'd give in to her.  I purged multiple times, thinking that if I could live a "normal" life then I would be worthy of God's love.  I felt condemned.  Then I discovered that I'm transgender and there's nothing I can do about it; I was born trans and I'll die trans.  Today I'm ok with that and I'm praying again.  Someone once said that being trans just might be God's will for my life; that He designed me this way for a reason even if I don't know what that reason is or even begin to understand it.  While I still wish I were cisgender, I know that I'm not and never will be, but today I'm ok with it.  I'm both transgender and Christian.

Danielle

Hello Danielle,
    Thank you so very much for responding to my note about meeting other Christians. I haven't responded because I left Susan's for awhile because of guilt feelings that returned. What you wrote was such an encouragement to me. I do hope that we can write some more. I want to be where you are with this acceptance of being both transgender and Christian. I still can't PM because I have to start all over and now I am still a "Visitor" When I get to PM people, I hope you don't mind if I PM you.  I am so happy that there are other Christians here.   Hugs, Marsha

Quote from: Nina on December 18, 2018, 07:05:38 AM
One day I'll share my story how I came out to my pastor, and my congregation.
Long story short, I even got a chance to address the congregation one Sunday.
Funny though, never went to church pre-transition.

Nina, Thanks so much for posting on my post asking about other Christians. I have been away for three months, this is the reason why I have taken so long to write to you. I am so glad that you have found a community! I would love to hear your story about coming out to your pastor and congregation. You can PM if you would like.

I'm genderqueer/trans-identified and a Christian...and a pastor.

Sent from my LM-V350 using Tapatalk

I am Christian and transgender. Even though I believe in a higher power. I do not believe in the church. There are over 4000 sects calling themself Christian. Why, if there is only one God. Why the variance in interpretation. My grand parents helped build the Foursquare Church in the 1930's with Aimee Semple McPherson and the Angeles Temple.

[quoteuthor=DawnOday link=topic=242585.msg2236286#msg2236286 date=1552686865]
I am Christian and transgender. Even though I believe in a higher power. I do not believe in the church. There are over 4000 sects calling themself Christian. Why, if there is only one God. Why the variance in interpretation. My grand parents
helped build the Foursquare Church in the 1930's with Aimee Semple McPherson and the Angeles Temple.
[/quote]
Dawn, thanks so much for sharing with me on this post. I do understand that many here do not believe in the church. Of course, I have my opinion, but I don't think it is necessary. I did post this thread to see if I could find a few people who are likeminded. I do hope that we can chat sometime in the future.   Marsha

I'm a Christian and Trans.  I searched out churches in my area until I found the right one for me that has really helped me down my trans path as well as my life.

Julie

Quote from: Julie -2010 on March 15, 2019, 08:02:08 PM
I'm a Christian and Trans.  I searched out churches in my area until I found the right one for me that has really helped me down my trans path as well as my life.

Julie

Julie, thank you so much for writing here. I started this topic because I wanted to meet others who are Christians and are transgender. I have struggled much with this and the acceptance has not been easy. I wanted to get to know others who would have a Christian perspective about this. Julie, I am so glad that you have found a church. This is very important. If you would like, I would love if we could PM each other. If this would work, please drop me a PM. May the Lord bless in your life.    Marsha

Marsha,

You are welcome.  There are a lot of Christian transgender individuals, but I understand have have a group of friends that really don't want anything to do with church.  A lot of time that is too bad since they probably just haven't found the correct one.

I would be happy to talk more.  I will PM you.

Julie

I am also a transgendered Christian. I grew up in non-denominational and Baptist churches. I hold a traditional viewpoint of Christianity.

Currently, I am trying to decouple the "fetish" part of my dressing from my gender confusion. The purpose of this is to see if (1) my trans feelings can exist without a sexual component, to see if (2) my trans feelings are the dominant force and the sexual part just a side-effect, or see if (3) the sexual part is dominant and I'm "really" just a confused "->-bleeped-<-".

Hi Marsha! I am  Tg and a Christian as well. It is a unique problem to be both, and it is likely the reason I waited to transition for so long. I am now at complete peace with myself and with Him about it because 5 year olds don't choose to "live in sin".  You can always PM me as well if you ever want to.
XOXO
Jamie

Welcome back Marsha!

I am transgender and Christian, Roman Catholic.

I remember what Pope Francis recently said to a gay man: « God made you gay and loves you like that ». This means for me: « God made you TG and loves you like that ».

May God bless you.

Pascale

God is my savior

Quote from: amandam on March 16, 2019, 11:39:28 PM
I am also a transgendered Christian. I grew up in non-denominational and Baptist churches. I hold a traditional viewpoint of Christianity.

Currently, I am trying to decouple the "fetish" part of my dressing from my gender confusion. The purpose of this is to see if (1) my trans feelings can exist without a sexual component, to see if (2) my trans feelings are the dominant force and the sexual part just a side-effect, or see if (3) the sexual part is dominant and I'm "really" just a confused "->-bleeped-<-".

Amanda,
    Thanks for sharing on my topic here. We sound like we have the same Christian background and the same "thing happening in our lives. I use to have the same problem of it being a fetish, but for the last several years, there has been no real "sexual" component to this for me. I am still struggling at times with acceptance of who I am, but Marsha seems to keep getting stronger all the time. Amanda, if you ever care to write, please PM me. It is nice to have others who have included a Christian element to being TG.  Please take care. I do hope that you will have some direction in all of this.  Marsha

Quote from: gracefulhat on March 17, 2019, 01:12:07 AM
Hi Marsha! I am  Tg and a Christian as well. It is a unique problem to be both, and it is likely the reason I waited to transition for so long. I am now at complete peace with myself and with Him about it because 5 year olds don't choose to "live in sin".  You can always PM me as well if you ever want to.
XOXO
Jamie

Jamie,
Thanks so much for sharing on this thread that I started! Yes, I have waited way too long to move forward as Marsha. Like you, I had these feelings when I was real young, but I had no where to go. I thought I was the only one like this. It was scary. Finally, there was an article in Look magazine about "transsexuals" I devoured the article. "This is me!" However, I was fourteen. What was one to do? I then became a Christian when I was nineteen. Since than, I have struggled to accept myself.  Jamie, I will try to PM you soon. Please PM me when you have the chance.  Hugs, Marsha

Quote from: Autrement on March 17, 2019, 02:07:58 AM
Welcome back Marsha!

I am transgender and Christian, Roman Catholic.

I remember what Pope Francis recently said to a gay man: « God made you gay and loves you like that ». This means for me: « God made you TG and loves you like that ».

May God bless you.

Pascale

Pascale,
   I feel so bad about not writing to you when I left here. Please forgive me, it had nothing to do with you but everything to do with me. You have been a good friend. I do trust that you are doing well. Thanks again for all the wonderful correspondence we had in the past. I do hope that we can write to each other again.  God's blessings to you, Marsha

Dear Marsha,

Thank you. Yes I am doing well on my side.

No problem at all, I understood that you were struggling with issues, that I fully respect.
For sure, we will continue discussing, on the forum or by PM.

Hugs.

Pascale

Hello Marsha, and all the others on this thread,

I asked Jesus to be the Captain of my life in high school in 1972 in a Pentacostal church. From there I ended up in a Southern Baptist Church in another town, while away from home. When I returned a friend invited me to his First Baptist Church.  I finally left home and joined a communal ministry that was started from a team out of Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel, with Kathryn Kuhlman, the healer.  I went to Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Denver, Houston, and finally South Lake Tahoe. I went to the ministry school in Oregon. Denver, Houston and SLT I was staff after graduating.  That was all in three years. All during that time and before I had this insatiable urge to wear girls clothes. I loved the silkiness and softness. It was not a sexual thing. I just preferred them to what I wore. 

I had three years with my first wife.  She lied to me and told me she was Christian, having left the faith, but needing to come back. She always avoided going to church. There was always one excuse or another. When I was standing with her and discussing how our three children that she ran off with and turned into Social Services, telling them I was dead and she could not take care of them on her own, were now in foster care and they were Christians. I thought if they could not be with us, at least they were in Christian homes.  Well, my wife said to me that all that Christian stuff was b.s. and the only reason she told me she was a Christian was so I would stop telling her about Jesus. Oh, and she wanted a divorce.  After that I was more careful.

My second wife and I celebrated thirteen years together before she crossed in late 98.  During those years I realized, through therapy that the years of anger and temper were caused from frustrations from as early as five years old. The biggest one was I hated men, thereby hating myself because I was being raised one. From that point my therapist had me try an experiment and tell my second wife what we talked about and that he wanted me to go home and start dressing as a woman just at home until our appointment next week. When I did, I received unconditional support from my wife. I was 36. That started my transition and I have been a mtf pre-op ts ever since.  I think now the proper term is trans woman before srs. 

During all this time, from the beginning in high school, until today, I have had a very strong spiritual relationship with Jesus. The holy spirit has been powerful in my life. Everything else may have been falling apart, but that one thing is strong and powerful. I too struggled for a long time with whether what I was doing was wrong or something hated by God or out of His will.  But no matter what pastors and others told me, that still voice told me all is well.  I was even told by a pastor that I better listen to the printed word and stop listening to the voices in my head.  Well, those voices, or spirit is what has brought me this far, and has not been wrong since.  There are so many reasons for having dysphoria. We really do not know why it happens.  One thing I know. God created me, just as I am.  Even imperfect and unfinished. God is the Creator and knows what he is doing and what our purpose is.  I don't believe for one second that anything big or small escapes his notice. So why would the fact we are dysphoric be a mistake?  It was intended. There is a purpose and therefore it can not be an abomination to him.  God loves us and all Creation.  But all of creation do not all choose him because of lies and the smokescreen that satan places in our lives. We have to hold on to the truth that God made us this way and there is a purpose and therefore our life is blessed by God. If I was to try and deny a part of me, I would be thumbing my nose at God's purpose for my life.  We actually go through what we go through so that we can help others when they have the same questions as us.  I too went through the buy clothes, purge clothes cycle because of the devil's guilt. The devil gives us guilt. God convicts. There  is a difference.  That is what victory is all about. Realizing we are free from guilt and condemnation. As Christians we have the holy spirit, the expression of God, to guide us. We just have to learn to be still and listen. If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth Jesus is the christ (Son of God, Messiah), you shall be saved. We are his children. We are heirs of the throne. We are God's royal family.  We have to start reaffirming that in our hearts and not the lies and accusations of the devil.
If you ever want to talk to me, I am here. You can pm me anytime. Thank you for starting this thread. It is the work of God.

Maranatha!

ReubyLouise

Quote from: Autrement on March 17, 2019, 06:17:06 AM
Dear Marsha,

Thank you. Yes I am doing well on my side.

No problem at all, I understood that you were struggling with issues, that I fully respect.
For sure, we will continue discussing, on the forum or by PM.

Hugs.

Pascale

Pascale, I will look forward as well to getting back with our discussions! Hugs, Marsha

Quote from: ReubyLouise on March 17, 2019, 07:23:31 AM

If you ever want to talk to me, I am here. You can pm me anytime. Thank you for starting this thread. It is the work of God.

Maranatha!

ReubyLouise

ReubyLouise,
      Thanks so very much for sharing on this thread! You really shared your heart! I do hope that we can communicate some more. I have been very pleased with how many Christians I have met through putting up this thread. I trust that we can be a blessing to each other.  Please know that I am open as well to a PM from you. Have a great evening!

Quote from: Autrement on March 17, 2019, 02:07:58 AM
Welcome back Marsha!

I am transgender and Christian, Roman Catholic.

I remember what Pope Francis recently said to a gay man: « God made you gay and loves you like that ». This means for me: « God made you TG and loves you like that ».

I was Roman Catholic, but found a different church.  The pope did say that but the church still views LGBT as wrong.  I couldn't take it anymore.  Where is the love. 

I'm now at a church where everyone is accepted and can fully participate in the service.  It has really strengthen my belief.

Julie

Quote from: MarshaJoy825 on November 19, 2018, 10:48:56 AM
Sarah, thanks so much for responding to my post. I do enjoy meeting many of the people here. However, it is nice to talk about being TG and a Christian at the same time. As a Christian, I have found some unique challenges in accepting being Marsha. I have been fifty years going back and forth on this. How did you ever get peace in being TG and a Christian? Also, would it work for us to PM from time to time? If not, I do understand.

PMing me is fine but I tend to babble. I don't see the conflict.  I try to imagine Jesus saying, "F you!  Your TS" or a Lesbian or whatever. I can't remember who said this and its probably not an exact quote but "I think Jesus is cool.  Its just some of his bone head followers that bug me."  Or words to that effect. These are the people who go to Church who are using some really twisted logic to rewrite the Bible to suit themselves.  Its like the era where it was torture people to confess their sins.  Or kill them if they don't convert.  I would say its madness but this would be very insulting to people with mental health problems.

Again this is horrible trying to get my awful memory to provide the exact words but there is some section of the Bible where the organized religion experts of the time try to use the 10 commandments like lawyers against Jesus.  Something like if you heal the sick on Sunday your not doing this day of rest thing.  So... (Again I'm sorry this is so not a quote) Jesus says something to the effect that if you can't deal with 10 laws?  Lets make it easy.  Just one.  Love God and each other. I went to a local church where the sermon was about this.  First I was a bit shocked. Then I thought to myself maybe I was at the right place?  Anyway I was just a babbling fan to the minister who looked at me like "Chill out.  This is basic.  Ok! Glad you liked it! Now please go away."

I listened to an audio book once called "embraced by the light" or "Saved by the light".  I don't recall which one.  They talked about dieing and being in heaven for a short time before being sent back to finish their work here.  In the book, an angel pointed out a homeless alcoholic that slept outside a lawyers office daily.  They were told this was the assignment of one of their angels, to be there to remind the lawyer of those in need.  I don't know how much truth there is to the story, but it seems we all learn from others and likely teach others by simply existing.  The old saying "no one is worthless, they can always serve as a bad example" reminds me that there are those who teach us by being an inspiration, and those to serve as a warning as how cause and effect work.  Perhaps our journey can be an inspiration to others as to how to deal with a non standard hand we are dealt.  Perhaps it may help others to see variations in their own lives and be an inspiration that if we can handle this, they might work up the courage to handle something not as dramatic.

   Also stereotypical men are from Mars and women are from Venus.  Sometimes they need someone from a neutral planet to help them communicate.  In a way I think we are gifted.  Some times a person with strong male thought patterns can't make decisions tempered with emotions, and some women have trouble making decisions without emotions getting in the way.  We have a gift of being a bit of both if we can learn to love ourselves and harness this non binary gift.

   As to Transgender Christians, I can't imagine they are mutually exclusive.  If our creator made the universe, and we are in it, then we are not a mistake.  We of the transgender community know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that being transgender is no more a choice than being born with a different skin color.  We may not be able to prove it by medical science yet, but we know this to be a fact.   

Quote from: Jennifer300 on March 21, 2019, 05:36:23 AM
   As to Transgender Christians, I can't imagine they are mutually exclusive.  If our creator made the universe, and we are in it, then we are not a mistake.  We of the transgender community know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that being transgender is no more a choice than being born with a different skin color.  We may not be able to prove it by medical science yet, but we know this to be a fact.

Jennifer,

  I love this last bit.  That is how I feel.  We are not a mistake, we aren't making this up.  We know!!

Julie

Quote from: Jennifer300 on March 21, 2019, 05:36:23 AM
I listened to an audio book once called "embraced by the light" or "Saved by the light".  I don't recall which one.  They talked about dieing and being in heaven for a short time before being sent back to finish their work here.  In the book, an angel pointed out a homeless alcoholic that slept outside a lawyers office daily.  They were told this was the assignment of one of their angels, to be there to remind the lawyer of those in need.  I don't know how much truth there is to the story, but it seems we all learn from others and likely teach others by simply existing.  The old saying "no one is worthless, they can always serve as a bad example" reminds me that there are those who teach us by being an inspiration, and those to serve as a warning as how cause and effect work.  Perhaps our journey can be an inspiration to others as to how to deal with a non standard hand we are dealt.  Perhaps it may help others to see variations in their own lives and be an inspiration that if we can handle this, they might work up the courage to handle something not as dramatic.

   Also stereotypical men are from Mars and women are from Venus.  Sometimes they need someone from a neutral planet to help them communicate.  In a way I think we are gifted.  Some times a person with strong male thought patterns can't make decisions tempered with emotions, and some women have trouble making decisions without emotions getting in the way.  We have a gift of being a bit of both if we can learn to love ourselves and harness this non binary gift.

   As to Transgender Christians, I can't imagine they are mutually exclusive.  If our creator made the universe, and we are in it, then we are not a mistake.  We of the transgender community know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that being transgender is no more a choice than being born with a different skin color.  We may not be able to prove it by medical science yet, but we know this to be a fact.

Jennifer, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I did enjoy all that you wrote, especially the part that Julie highlighted. I have spent all these years believing that it is a choice. I knew in my deepest heart it wasn't a choice, but the way I was born. I just couldn't be honest with myself. I am glad that I am understanding more and more that I was born Marsha. Now to work on moving forward as Marsha. 

I am thankful for all of those who have responded to this post. I have found some good Christian fellowship as a result and also help in gaining perspective on what it means to be a Christian who is transgender.  Here is a devotional thought that I shared on another location. I hope it will be a blessing.

"Sometimes it seems as though we are an emotional wreck. Physically and emotionally, we feel as though we can't go on. What does God say? "My flesh and my heart faileth: BUT GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART, and my portion for ever." (PSALM 73:26). When our bodies and emotions are at their worst, God is right with us to exchange our weakness for His strength. Is God the strength of our heart today?"