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Christianity Today, February, 2008 |

Walking a Fine Line

Pastors wrestle with transgender issues.

John W. Kennedy | posted 2/12/2008 08:41AM

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"It's here to stay," policy director Matt Barber of Concerned Women for America says of the movement. "They have attached themselves to the well-funded, powerful homosexual lobby that is fighting ...

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mozzmom

Posted: February 22, 2008 12:13 PM

I was in John Nemeceks congregation for a number of years...we were one of the last families to leave the church during his time as pastor...he wrote a scathing letter to us telling us we were sinners for leaving the church etc...He was not a tolerant or loving person...and yet he expects others to love and be tolerant of his feelings that he apparently cannot help or control...He was always disturbed by his inability to feel normal according to his own observations...How sad that he put so many others through feelings of guilt for our choices, and showed none of the same grace he now wants and expects. I am truly praying for his family as this must be difficult for all of them. He is very good at manipulating others(including his wife) to see things his way, and causing guilt and doubt if you do not agree with him...This is how Satan works...I think John is influenced by evil...not by christlike actions or behavior. I refuse to call him Julie...He needs to be held accountable.

Ephilei

Posted: February 20, 2008 9:31 AM

This article is riddled with factual errors like the main article; for that I'm thankful. But it's still just as shallow. Shallow because even if transgender behavior is sinful, the Church MUST invite everyone and welcome all who accept Christ. Jesus did it. The early Church did it. There's simply no excuse. If the religious leaders don't want to eat with the prostitutes, allow the leaders to leave, not the prostitutes. Some commenters and almost all Christians have jumped to the conclusion that the Bible condemns trans behavior. Clearly you're more concerned with your own feelings than the Bible and I have no doubt you could find some verse or two, twist it, and say it condemns trans behavior. It was once unheard of for a Christian woman to wear pants in church with no hat. We thought it violated Scripture (Deut 22, 1 Cor 13), God's separation of the genders, and was just not "civil." I see zero difference between those archaic attitudes and the attitudes of this article.

Stellewriter

Posted: February 16, 2008 7:29 PM

Every ten minutes a child is born, 1/2500, in which the doctor cannot determine the sex, or gender. These children are Intersex; they are born into a life of not male or female. Likewise in similar fashion the Transsexual is identified with a Bioneurological congenital condition they too are locked into something not quite so clearly defined as male, or female. The best we can do is live as close to what we seem to believe we are. That may preclude the wants, and often ignorant and bigoted beliefs of others. In what case do we ignore this issue and abandon the children who now cannot hide? How can anyone continue in hate and prejudice so as to deny simple equality and justice? It is either time for change and understanding, or simply extract the transgender element as inhuman and adopt the final solution as Hitler visualized? Not an easy thing to resolve, but one that is present and will not go away.

Melanie

Posted: February 16, 2008 11:24 AM


Quite obviously these "wrestling matches" are fixed.The good pastors should check out Jesus' comments in Mathew 19:12.

t	Posted: February 15, 2008 1:33 PM

I would have to say that the example that is being sent by him coming dressed, if he is, would not be a good one, and he should probably be concerned about that as well as expressing himself as he feels he is. This is the give-away for someone following their own way: They do it no matter who it hurts! The people who feel they would not be accepted within evangelical churches that way would go to "churches" where they feel they would not be ostracized. This battle though, and this SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN! THERE ARE AND I AM CERTAIN THERE ARE, EVANGELICALS WHO STRUGGLE WITH THESE DESIRES, I WOULD HOPE THEY ARE NOT CATEGORIZED INSENSITIVELY WITH HOMOSEXUALS, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY ARE NOT. ALSO SOME ARE REALLY REALLY BATTLING AND HOPING AND EVEN MAYBE THINKING THEY CANNOT COME BACK TO GOD, BECASUE OF THIS AND THE PROMISCUITY THAT FOLLOWS, THEY ARE HOPING, SLIGHTLY EVEN, THATPERHAPS THEY CAN MAYBE BE WON TO GOD, PROGRESSIVLEY. BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS, YEARS OF TRAINING CAN HINDER

stellewriter

Posted: February 15, 2008 7:03 AM

As a conservative Christian, parent, and "Transsexual", I can understand the many concerns some may have. However, this is truly not a binary world, at least not after the fall of Adam & Eve. 1/2500 are born ambiguous, where the doctor cannot determine sex, or gender. We are not so rightly divided man and woman, nor are all of the issues so clearly decided. I do resent the assumption that Transsexuals are sexual perverts, or gay. I, and most other Transsexuals I know, are not sexually active. Interesting, that the same folks who may watch “Sex in the city”, in turn, are likely the same who promote bigotry and hate within the church. How do you think a child, born like myself, feels looking up to the elders and community whose arms are closed? And whom do you think Jesus would turn away, and reject from a loving hope and promise?

Everett L Williams

Posted: February 13, 2008 9:03 PM


God made human beings, in all sort of forms and shapes , anything God made is good, so why is there a question of acceptance here?

mikey_st_louis

Posted: February 13, 2008 3:09 PM

I didn't finish my comment on the main article because of the limit. Unfortunately, many TGs have joined the LGB movement, but they're really separate issues. The TG movement is about gender. The LGB movement is about sexuality. The articles here didn't really go into it, but there is some evidence that TG is a form of being intersexed -- born with confused genders, either physically (ambiguous genitalia), genetically, or hormonally. Research Harry Benjamin Syndrome, which posits that brain in TGs is wired differently at birth. Unforunately, there isn't much medical research, as developing data would require autopsying the brains of TGs. If it's a medical condition, which can be corrected, and not a lifestyle choice or psychological disorder, then Christians must look at it differently -- and not just write it off as a "sin." The problem is complicated because some men crossdress as a sexual fetish, which is a sin. Also, some TGs work in porn and prostitution.

Dave	Posted: February 13, 2008 11:58 AM

The article is fine, as far as it goes but attitudes like that of Matt Barber do far more damage than good. It's sad that so many listen to him and consider what he says valid. HeavyMental makes a good point, we do surgeries and take life saving medications to fix what could be viewed as "mistakes" by God so what's different about this. Do some actually believe that God purposefully causes potentially tragic conditions. I applaud CT for tackling this issue.

no more sin under God's grace; by rebirth we are free from old nature

Posted: February 13, 2008 11:41 AM

the christian is not the product of a physical birth and a physical nature but is born into a holy life by the Holy Spirit of God. That means we have to leave behind the flawed nature we inherit from Adam which is under a curse and enter into the perfect life of Jesus Christ. Therefore any christian must not sin and must no longer be a sinner. Those who have walked a crooked path in the flesh are reuquired to yield to a new life. Those who are transgender must meet with God and be reborn so that they are not sinners. No person must allow themselves to walk in sin anymore for they under God's grace.

Ken J.

Posted: February 13, 2008 10:18 AM

We all know it is wrong. G*d knows it is all wrong. But what is the Father's heart for the lost, even those who have lost or forfeited their identities for a lie? Does He not desire their freedom more than they? He desires the lost even when they are running the other way. It is His Spirit that brings conviction, His goodness that leads all men to repentance (true change); His power to release us when we cry out to Him. What then for us? We are faced with the hard job to be holy as He is and to reflect His nature as we grow up in Christ. Paul exhorts us in Galatians that..."if someone is caught in a sin, you {we} who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." This is a good place to start. Let's get on our faces before a Holy, Just, Merciful and Loving G*d and ask Him what He would do?

Jeff	Posted: February 13, 2008 10:08 AM

What continues to amaze me is how much FEAR controls the hears and minds of many in the Christian Church. The reality is that our culture is/has changed and most just want to good ole days. Whether you agree or not gays, lesbians, transgenders are here to stay in fact they may be your neighbor, your co-worker or a family member. But it is in our response's to them that will say are we Christian or is it just all words (the world sees how skewed many of our words and actions are). Bible literalism is not the life of Christ nor what he lived and died for. But bible literalism is so often where we in the church have made grave mistakes that the world has a hard time not letting go. Whether you agree or not with transgenders would you be willing to accept him/her as a member into God's community? Would you be willing to befriend and know the pain, confusion, fear, self-hate that many transgenders have gone through. As the pop tag went several years ago "what would Jesus do"?

louisquinze

Posted: February 12, 2008 11:04 PM

As I understand it the injunction that 'a man does not lie with a man as with a woman' is related to the female not being considered equal to the male - a sociological understanding we now know to be un- true today. So if you take away the idea of inequality between the genders where's the problem? Jesus is not recorded as addressing either the issue of transgender nor homosexuality so it is necessary to go to extra-biblical sources to uncover what probably happened in his time. And did he say anything????? I think we need to be careful that we don't fall into the insidious practice of self-righteousness for which we find proof texts. This is further exacerbated by a literal reading of a collection of what are, for want of a better word, 'mystical ' writings which need WISDOM (not knowledge - they are NOT the same thing) instilled by the spirit of God for interpretation into our everyday lives. This includes the world around us - all of it.

Jack	Posted: February 12, 2008 9:17 PM

Here is what is wrong. Churches need not be frightened of discipline. Is the behavior outside the church's understanding of a godly lifestyle? Has the church confronted the Nemeceks about it? Have they attempted to show them lovingly what the word of God says? If they are still defiant then the church is right to discipline them. The bible says that the Word is good for teaching but also for rebuke and correction. The Nemeceks have decided that they will not agree with the church's understanding of scripture so the church did what was right AND Biblical.

HeavyMental

Posted: February 12, 2008 8:46 PM


If God makes no mistakes, why do people need synthetic hormones like insulin, surgery to correct cleft palates, etc? What makes sex-reassignment surgery and hormones so much worse than that?

Anonymous

Posted: February 12, 2008 8:45 PM

What is going on with this Magazine? I am the only one that is noticing that you are shaping it to accomodate this syndrome of post modernism in our current society? I had noticed that, this is not the same magazine that I used to read. It's definitely not the same magazine that I used to read before. You are compromising your beliefs. You need to make a stand in God's word by accepting what is right from God's Word, Not what the world tells you. I understand that God's word says not to judge others in Romans Chapter 2. however He also says, in ...Romans 2:11 ... For there is no partiality with God.

Joe Chip

Posted: February 12, 2008 8:22 PM

The whole article is missing the point. Pastors are wrestling with this particular issue? Why? Do they wrestle with the issues of pride, backbiting, gossip, judgementalism, bigotry, alcoholism, spousal abuse and the violent, warmongering spirit that so pervades American churches today? One would hope so, but it's so much easier to point fingers at confused individuals who wear clothing of another gender. Please. The church's mission is clear: love others and point them to Christ, who is the only hope for the ills of this world. Everything else is at best immaterial and at worst a distraction. I want to know what the church is doing to HELP transgendered people and not how much they struggle with the issue of allowing them in the door. If you bar those different from you from the church, where do you expect them to turn?

Jeff	Posted: February 12, 2008 5:25 PM

For liberal Christians and the post-modern movement I guess biblical principles don't apply for the sake of tolerance. Scripture is clear on the teachings about effiminate men. It is also clear that if a brother in Chirst persist in sinful behaviour they are to be put out of the church so that in strong conviction the person would repent and be reconciled back to the church (if they so choose). Love and compassion are prerequisites for biblical accountability. But love is a committment, not a feeling. And sometimes a strong medicine is neccessary. Everything we do is out of free will. Science has confirmed what Cripture teraches. The genome failed to identify any genetic markers predisposing a person to homosexual behaviour. If man wants to play the harlot, then Scripture has a remedy.

krm	Posted: February 12, 2008 5:12 PM

Everyone should be welcome in a church - as long as they are not disruptive to the church's mission of spreading the Gospel. Preventing someone with a non-biblical lifestyle (whatever it might be) from leadership seems to be a fairly obvious step. Further, someone with a non-biblical lifestyle (whatever it might be) would have to be willing to accept that the church can not change doctrine in order to "affirm" or accept sinful conduct.

Danielle

Posted: February 12, 2008 4:36 PM

I don't think God makes mistakes. There are people who are born with profound physical deformities. Did God make a mistake? No. And we as compassionate people, and Christians, do all we can to help, including necessary surgeries to improve the quality of their life. And there are people who were born physically intersexed (meaning they have the genitalia of both male and female). It used to be that doctors made a choice after birth assigned a "sex" or that person grew up assigned to one sex (but realizing, as they grew, that that was really not who they were inside). They are profoundly affected by this. And if they seek to remedy this should we as Christians judge them? Many transgendered people have not necessarily been born "intersexed" in their anatomy, but their brain is physical and we are yet to fully learn the causes of this. Are they flaunting God or simply being truer as a person God created them to be. More education and understanding is needed.

Les	Posted: February 12, 2008 4:27 PM


I agree with Phyllis. Whatever I am, and I am male, get over it and accept what the Good Lord has made you and stop listening to Satan's evil planted desires. God, Him, maketh no mistakes.

phyllis

Posted: February 12, 2008 3:08 PM

i want to know where all of gods morals went,everytime i hear something that is not scripture it makes me sick to my stomach,no matter what the world says gods word is higher and noone but noone is gonna change gods word it was the same yesterday tommorrow and forever.all these so called preachers needs to get on thier knees and start seeking the creator and not men an rules.we need more prayer of the christians (pray without ceasing)get back to the bible values and not what some man says READ THE BIBLE SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES .if it is not in the bible DONT LISTIN TO IT.i pray for all the people that are staying from the word and some knows the word and they are trying to change it for the way to make churches bigger,but bigger isnt better unless they are SOULS WON TO THE LORD.

Cristan

Posted: February 12, 2008 2:21 PM

As a Christian, I would ask church members what their primary beliefs are. If their primary beliefs are kindness, love, compassion, generosity and the like, the transgender people will be supported to grow spiritually with the help of other followers of Christ. If, on the other had, the church member's primary beliefs are fear, judgment, insecurity then they will try to denounce transgender and withhold the support a church can provide to a soul's development. Each church would need to ask itself which belief system is more beneficial to both the transgender and church alike.

Pat	Posted: February 12, 2008 11:31 AM


Seems like they want to go beyond "being like God, knowing good and evil". They want to tell God that HE made a mistake. They would toss archaic concepts of "good" and "evil" into the dumpster.

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