Hi people,

Just wanted to say that your answers were what I was looking for too. I had been tortured by the church and family members in the church. Even told that people like me were not wanted in the church.

I am so thankful to have found you all.

You ALL are a blessing from the Lord!! Your answers give me hope. My personal struggle was making my faith weaker and weaker, day by day. I've struggled with this since I was 15. I'm 30 now.

Thank you so much for your enlightening words.    

Speaking as one who is going back down this path, I felt I had to throw my 2 cents in. In my research, experience, and debates with other Christians, I have not found one verse in the bible thus far that holds any water. So as far as the verses already quoted, I will respond in kind.

I cross dress...
In Deuteronomy 22:5 (KJV) it states "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God."

Okay lets not even take into consideration the fact it was written for a different people, different time, and different culture. The only thing this tells me is that I am currently IN sin when my employer makes me dress as a man. Because I am in fact a woman. So I'm not worried about I'll go to hell because I put on a dress.

I imagine my self as a woman...
James 1:24 (KJV)  "For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was."

This is almost laughable as when you look at the full context of this passage, it is about someone who looks into a mirror and immediately forgets what he looks like as soon as he divirts his gaze. This is about forgetting that you are a child of god.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.   

Genesis 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Yes he did... in the beginning. In the beginning, I started out with blue and yellow paint. So of course I would never have green paint?

Who's sin am I paying for?
Exodus 20:5--"You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Not sure how this applies.

I desire to be with men...
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Being trans has nothing to do your attraction.

Romans 4:

There is a few things said in Romans 4.

With that being said I will close with a verse of my own.

1Sam 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Why is everything to do with Christianity is a matter of the heart; except this one thing?

Quote from: Gadgett on December 19, 2014, 08:18:54 AM
Why is everything to do with Christianity is a matter of the heart; except this one thing?

Actually conservative Christians seem to only care about controlling who has sex with whom from my perspective.

Quote from: Gadgett on December 19, 2014, 08:18:54 AM


I cross dress...
In Deuteronomy 22:5 (KJV) it states "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God."

Okay lets not even take into consideration the fact it was written for a different people, different time, and different culture. The only thing this tells me is that I am currently IN sin when my employer makes me dress as a man. Because I am in fact a woman. So I'm not worried about I'll go to hell because I put on a dress.

I wrote extensively about Deuteronomy 22:5 here:
Poisonous Attitudes and Platitudes of stoic Christianity
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,177398.0.html

I plan on writing about Romans 1 as well. 

I'm a Christian but I much prefer to label myself as a Jesus Follower so people see there is a clear line of demarcation between standard-issue Christianity and actually believing and following Jesus.

God loves all of His children, please remember that. one "sin" is not greater than the other. you could compare being trans to a divorce, a tattoo, adultery, or even cutting your hair/having it longer. i truly respect your strong faith, but please please keep in mind that the Bible is VERY old. some things could've been lost within the translations.

I have a passion for Theology as well.

I was baptised Catholic at Easter Vigil mass, 2014. I had long been feeling God's presence.

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Why did I approach the Church? Well ... it was because I was alone. Family have disowned me since I came out. But that's their battle, not something for me to fix. I was at church almost daily, praying for some kind of guidance.

The day of my baptism, I felt terrible, because I was still living a double life. Me being trans was a big secret back then. So, I made a phone call first thing, and told them everything.

They did not even blink. I was welcomed and baptised that night. By the RCC, of all places.

I think the Church is finally beginning to grow again, despite ongoing efforts from within to keep it rigid.

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Certainly, there are passages in the Bible that, when read alone, seem to be very set in stone.

As another user pointed out though, when we focus on a sentence, we lose the context of the paragraph.

I reconcile inflammatory parts of scripture by trying to capture what is really being said, what is really meant, through reading those parts alongside the surrounding text.

I guess, since I began treating the Bible with humanity - I can also see humanity in the Bible.

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Of course, there are deeply entrenched social mores out there, regarding what the Bible means.

But you know - why was the Bible translated, printed, and shared with the laity to begin with?

It is because we realised one should read it for themselves. Spirituality is deeply personal. Let nobody ever speak for God. Let Him only speak to you.


Sarah x