The title about sums up the question for those here that are Christians. Does Christ come before being transsexual or anything else in your faith.
The reason I ask is because of what I have noticed among the straight Christians. It is very hard for me to enjoy their company because of the hypocrisy I see.
I have noticed that most straight Christians seem to keep him first until they have to give up anything such as pride, arogance or money. When anything that takes diligence or obedience is mentioned they soon get mad and show he's not really first and foremost in their life.
Some enjoy Christianity as long as the service is kept within an hour timeframe. Go beyond an hour and they're ready to hit the door. I personally like song services that are about 30-45 minutes long before the 45 minute message. When done right and the Spirit of God is felt a 1 1/2-2  service only seems like a few minutes.
This question is not to belittle or argue with anyone. It is for a personal observation in an area in which I am making a private study and don't expect my findings to agree with the mainstream church.

While the question is mainly for Christians that are saints that worship from the pew, I would be interested to see what some of the pastors, deacons, bishops and other ministers think as well.

Frank

I am a Christian and I don't understand how Christ could be in any other position than first in your life.

Being Straight, Gay, Lesbian, Transsexual, whatever has nothing to do with belief in Christ.

I am talking about Christ, not an individual church.

Sarah L.

I was raised a Christian, 12 years of religious school and all that, and I'm still at a loss as to why the lord and god of all creation needs my money.  Can't he make his own?

The nuns told me Jesus died for my sins - and for the life of me, thought I've done some stuff that I regret - I've never done anything worth dying for.  What a BJ here and there?  A few people I told "I love you" and had sex with, even if I didn't mean it in full at the time - that's worth life?  I don't think so.

And at that, all of that had happened in my head long before it happened in reality, so that I was condemmend before I even did it?

Yeah, I've done thing I wish in retrospect I had not done, but I feel no shame about them either.  I just wish I had not gone there.  What I'm going to hell because one night I gave some real lonely guy a BJ?  Hell, as far as I know, it might have been the best night of his life.  I can't be wrong in that.

Its not that being TG comes before Christ.  Its more like when its done and over, a man is just a man.  Jesus was good, but man or god, take your pick.  Something can't be both at the same time.

I'm sorry to say but no, I come first.  I know I am shallow, but that's the way it is...

tink

That's not shallow Tink. That's honest. And that's a good trait.
Frank

I am a Christian and can I say I try to put Jesus first in my life. To be really honest I do struggle in putting him first with my resources, time, money (limited, lol) etc. I struggle particularly with my treatment, do I send the money I pay out on laser hair removal to the starving in Africa? As yet the laser always wins.

I wish I had the resources to do so much for Jesus, for example I would love to start a charity that helps TS people, but I find it hard even to help myself. I would love to help TS people who have been thrown out of their home or can't pay the bills.

Mother Teresa was asked when she was alive, How can you possibly think you can help all these poor people." Her reply was, I start with the one." I think God started with you and me first in Christ and then through you and me to the one's. I try to put Christ first through my life. I don't know if that makes any sense.

hugs

Nigella

Nigella, Thank you. Yes, it makes sense and I appreciate your answer as well as the others.
I hope someday you can help others in the manner in which you feel led.

Frank

I try, though I am sure I do not always succeed.

I look at being transgendered as a wonderful-terrible gift.  It's wonderful to expereince life in both sexes, but it comes at a terrible price.

I firmly believe that there is a reason why I am transgendered, besides any genetic reasoning.  If I am patient, it will be unveiled to me

Chaunte

Quote from: Chaunte on February 20, 2008, 06:47:31 PM
I try, though I am sure I do not always succeed.

I look at being transgendered as a wonderful-terrible gift.  It's wonderful to expereince life in both sexes, but it comes at a terrible price.

I firmly believe that there is a reason why I am transgendered, besides any genetic reasoning.  If I am patient, it will be unveiled to me
Chaunte

Jinx!!  I feel exactly as you do Chaunte. 

Chaunte & Buttercup,
Thank you both for the input.
I hope the Lord will reveal the reason to both of you and wish you girls well.
Frank

No, she isn't.

I put no one first. No one belongs in first place. I think this is where many Christians get it wrong. 

"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Christ would place himself lower than the lowliest. He was the ultimate peace monger.

Cindi

Cindi,
  Although I do respectfully disagree with your theology I thank you for your answer.

  The Lord said that all that come before him are but thieves and robbers. He told the disciples to follow him. He also said that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart. The word of God speaks about following after righteousness. And we know it says that Christ is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. It also says follow after the truth and we know that Jesus said he is the way, the truth and the life. That leaves little room for placing man or ourselves first.
  What I do find interesting is that those whom visited the poor, afflicted and those who were esteemed least asked when did they do that. It seems as many of those who sound a trumpet before themselves and judge others may be in for a surprise and those who have just done as the word says naturally may be the ones that end up hearing "well done."
  If we love the Lord with all our heart and follow the leading of his Spirit we will tend to help those who are esteemed the least or little. Or at least I would hope so.

  But, having said that I respect your right to disagree and thank you again for the input. I'm just trying to think some things through and the answers have helped greatly.
  One of these days I may actually know what is going on in my life.
  Thanks.

  Frank

Quote from: Frank on February 21, 2008, 04:34:25 PM
Cindi,  Although I do respectfully disagree with your theology I thank you for your answer.

I enjoy a good discussion.  But I think that your arguments actually can favor my perspective.

QuoteThe Lord said that all that come before him are but thieves and robbers.

I don't disagree as I stated above.  I don't put him in the lowliest position.  He would put himself there, as we should try to put ourselves.  So, a person putting himself before Christ could be a thief or robber.

QuoteHe told the disciples to follow him.

Interpretations may vary, but I take this to mean to follow his lead, to have faith in those who are faithless, to forgive without vengeance, to love when someone smites you, to be filled with charity and grace.  It does not say to me to put him first.  He also said "Give that which is Ceasar's unto Ceasar."  That does not mean to put Ceasar first.

QuoteHe also said that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart.

Again, love is not to put someone first. To love, you must give of yourself. It requires no one else. If anything, to me, this could mean to put God above Christ.  My interpretation of the doctrine is that Christ is God's son. They are two different entities.

QuoteThe word of God speaks about following after righteousness.

And righteousness follows no one. 

QuoteAnd we know it says that Christ....

I would interject that instead of "we know" I would say "the scriptures say".  For we know nothing when it comes to faith.  We can only believe.  There are no facts to bear a knowledge.

Quoteis made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. It also says follow after the truth and we know that Jesus said he is the way, the truth and the life. That leaves little room for placing man or ourselves first.

"the way, the truth, and the life."  This does not disagree with my perspective at all. 

QuoteIf we love the Lord with all our heart and follow the leading of his Spirit we will tend to help those who are esteemed the least or little. Or at least I would hope so.

... and the second part of that is to love our neighbor with equal fervor.  There were two parts to Christ's statement of loving God.  "Love God with all thy might, mind, and strength AND love thy neighbor as thyself. Of these come all the commandments."  Again... the message is love, charity, and grace.

QuoteBut, having said that I respect your right to disagree and thank you again for the input. I'm just trying to think some things through and the answers have helped greatly.
One of these days I may actually know what is going on in my life.
  Thanks.

  Frank

You may never know Frank.  Life is a journey and we don't reach our destination until it's over.  Christ said "I am the way".  His example was the "way" or direction our life should take. 

You notice that Christ did not request or require adoration of any kind in his life time.  It was his meekness and message that were so powerful.  He never asked us to put him on a pedestal above us.  Neither did he do this himself.

I don't think that you really disagree with my post necessarily. It's just a small difference in semantics. But it is a very large difference in perspective.  We can not truly love and forgive until we completely give up our self...... to put us "below" all else.

Cindi

Cindy,

Thank you very much for your input. Your wording pretty much showed that believe very much alike.
The only area in which I see we differ is that in the days of his flesh Jesus was meek and fulfilled the prophesies that said he would be a prophet like unto Moses who was the meekest man on earth. After ascending unto his Father to present himself as a sacrifice acceptable and without spot he was given all honour and power and glory and praise. Having humbled himself he was then exalted and given a name above every name.
In this respect I see him to be followed and put before all things. Importance-wise. That nothing should be placed before him such as anything or anybody.
I do agree though on everything else you wrote. I too believe that loving our neighbor as ourself is important and that to love one another was the new commandment the Lord gave.
And I too believe that we should place "us" or "I" below all else. This may appear foolish but I tend to believe that those who humble themselves in this life may have a great "exaltation" in the life to come, so to speak.
You do have a great way of explaining things. Far better than mine.
Thank you.

Frank

Truly Frank, we both concur on how we should make the most of this life. 

Cindi

KK, quick on topic question for the christians... I get diffrent answers, and from what Ive read of the bible.....

KK, is Jesus Christ the lord...
or...
is GOD, the Almighty the lord...

there can only be one lord, so who is it? I cant see placeing christ first, but I can see placeing the almighty first... but then again due to the dogmas of the many cristian chruches Ive been banned or worse due to questions just like this so......... I guess I cant be Christian...

In the Catholic faith there is God the almighty(father), his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.  They are separate, yet one, if that makes sense!?  We say 'In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen', as we make the sign of the cross.

LynnER,

It's like Buttercup posted.
There is Jehovah, God Almighty.
The Son of God, Jesus Christ.
The Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God which reveals Jesus in the scriptures.
When we see Jesus in the scriptures we see God as Christ is the express image of God. Or as written God is light and again elsewhere, in thy light (Christ) we shall see light.(God)
They are all of one Spirit, or in complete agreement.
The Lord Jesus said he is the only way unto the Father. As written, David said "THE Lord (God the Father) said unto MY Lord (Jesus Christ) sit at my right hand.
And, Jesus said unto Mary he would ascend unto her God and his God and her Father and his Father.
And Thomas said "my Lord and my God."

You can be a Christian. You just have to be able to believe that which you can't see. It's like Cindi said. Life is a journey in which we may not know what's happening. If we had all of the answers or could see it would no longer be faith. And the scriptures say without faith it is impossible to please God.
Take care.

Frank

I AM SO ANGRY WITH GOD
i used to be a believer, i used to be good, i used to go to church because i felt calm.
but then i grew up, and i realised how difficult my life is and propably would be that way until i am gone.
God ,if exists is a sadist, who make people suffer.
Then again,God(christ or who ever) tought me to love and gave me the opportunity to be loved. Thinking of that i sometimes feel quilt and regret. but i do not know if my anger will ever go away.
Maybe i am a bad person and a hypocrite because when things go really bad i say o my jesus. But i am so sad.and i  do not want to speak to Him again