The Church's answer to Transgenders

Christianity Today ran an article on the church’s response to the rising transgender movement. A quote form a pastor they interviewed summed up well what the article was getting at,

We tried very hard to walk a fine line between biblical authenticity—faithfulness to our understanding of the Bible—and compassionate concern.

Being Biblical while showing compassion. Though, Christianity Today did a good job of not saying whether transgenderism is wrong or right. Take the following quote, what is one suppose to make of it?

Cumings and the elders wrestled at length with many questions: Is it right to reject an isolated, deeply troubled person who is seeking the Lord?

"Seeking the Lord?" If any transgender is truly being drawn by the Father to believe in Christ, he will start having a distain for his sin. But it does bring up a good point about our compassion towards transgenders.

Let me say out loud that sexual perversions are not the graves of sins. unbelief and rejection of Christ is! the greatest commandment is not, "live according to the sexual standards I have given you." But is, "love the Lord with all your heart soul and mind." All other sins flow from not seeing who God is. Thus, we all are under the same condemnation if we are not hid in Christ! This of course does not mean sexual sins should be glazed over. to do that is unbelief as well. If one takes sins lightly or passes it by them, he is taking God's holiness lightly or passing it by! All sins should be seen as the horrendous offense to our creator that they are. Through the cross, however, God has shown that His grace is mightier than the power of sin!

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (Rom 6:6)

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.(Rom 5:20-21)

thus we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to all under the wrath of God. Knowing that whether they are liars, robbers, or transgenders, The grace of God can reign over sin by the way of the cross.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:9-11. emphasis mine)

So what will happen when transgender start calling for acceptance by the church? How will the church respond?

There are two positions we must resist with all strength.

1. We reject them as reprobates and show them no mercy. Yes this is an extreme position. But this is our standard gear regarding those we see in gross sin. We forget that one's salvation does not depend on the level of sin one is in. It relies on the power of our Savior. The Father removing the blindness from the sinners eyes to behold the magnificent glories of Christ (2 Cor 4:4-6). That is why I made a point to bring out the truth that unbelief is the greatest sin. If that is true than our very salvation testifies that no sin is too great for the power of the gospel.

2. We accept or remain silent to their lifestyle. This is plain acceptation of sin and disregard for God's holiness. This is neither loving or Christ like! This does not proclaim anything about God but only shows our fear of man.

Instead of these options, we must lovingly, compassionately proclaim and live the gospel to those that are still in darkness. Telling them and showing them the God justifies the ungodly and Jesus came to save sinners. No matter if they disobey their parents, cheat on their taxes, or dress up as the other gender. Christ saves sinners!