I have written an article about what God has to say about homosexuality in the Bible. But is there anything about transgenders/transsexuals and transvestites? Where is anything said about that?
For ease of writing I will use the words in the following way, even though some are used interchangeably. I will use the word transgender to refer to someone who was born one gender and believes they are emotionally and psychologically the other gender, but have not had surgical reassignment surgery. They do, however, present themselves to the world as the opposite gender, living and dressing as the opposite gender. I will use the word transsexual to refer to someone who is a transgender, but has gone the full course, having had sexual reassignment surgery and who now presents themselves to the world in every way as a member of the opposite sex, requiring that the world accept them as a member of their chosen gender by having their gender changed legally in a court of law. A transvestite is someone who merely likes to wear the opposite sex's clothing for reasons of their own (usually sexual fetishes). They are not necessarily homosexual in orientation, but may be, and they are not necessarily transgenders, (although they may be) being happy with their gender, but simply liking to cross-dress.
Before discussing any of them, one thing is certain. If a person, no matter how they are dressing or living gender-wise, is having a homosexual/lesbian relationship, they are guilty of that sin. See my article about homosexuality to address that. Is Being Gay Okay. Now on to other matters pertaining to the subject of this article.
I think the first thing that we have to establish is, scientifically is it possible to change genders? The first thing we have to ask in the inquiry is – what determines a person's gender? A baby's gender is determined when they inherit two sex chromosomes from their parents. They get one chromosome from their mother who contributes one of her two “x” chromosomes, and they get one chromosome from their father – either an “x” or “y” chromosome, as he has one of each in his sex genes. It is the father's contribution to their sex genes that determines a baby's sex. If the baby gets the father's “x” chromosome, it becomes a girl. If it gets the “y” chromosome it becomes a boy. From that point on, the developing fetus goes about creating the required sexual organs that go with that chromosome. So, a person's gender is determined by their chromosome makeup.
Can their chromosome makeup be changed? No. So can the gender of a person really be changed? No. A person can have their body surgically mutilated, take hormone shots, wear the clothes of, and even live as the opposite sex, but that does not change their chromosome makeup. All the surgery and artificial hormones in the world are not going to change a person's chromosomes. If a man, who does not want to lose his genitalia, through some horrific accident loses it, does that make him a women? Of course not. So surgical removal of genitalia is simply a mutilation of the body, not a change of gender. Neither does cosmetically adding fake genitalia change one's chromosomal makeup and alter a person's gender. Hormones simply induce artificial reactions in the body. As women get older, they start growing unwanted facial hair due to a change of hormones in their bodies, brought on by menopause. Does that make them a man? No. Transsexuals are simply fooling themselves when they think they have changed genders. And the world does not help them by accepting the facade. You are what your chromosomes say you are. Having a tail put on cosmetically does not make one a monkey (well maybe some people it would – LOL) or a dog. So surgical alteration or mutilation cannot possibly change one's gender.
So now with transsexuals, we have the situation where a person has had surgery, legally changed gender, and they have a partner. If the woman reassigned as a man takes a man as her partner, she is not a homosexual in God's eyes, as she cannot change her gender or chromosome makeup. She however would see herself as a homosexual, as she now believes she is a man. The reverse is true if the transsexual is a man living as a woman. So what the world would “see” as a homosexual relationship, if a transsexual was living with a member of the “same” sex, would not truly be homosexuality and therefore that part of their transsexualism would not be a sin (of course if they are unmarried and having sex, they are still guilty of fornication, which is a sin). Usually though the person is a homosexual/lesbian before reassignment surgery and therefore after the reassignment surgery has a relationship with a member of the “opposite” sex, which in actuality is the same sex or chromosome makeup. This then, while it looks like a man/woman relationship to the world is actually a homosexual relationship and is a sin. So it would appear from the standpoint of looking at transsexuals, that depending on whom they are having a relationship with after surgery, they may or may not be guilty of the sin of homosexuality (or fornication). But is that the only problem, simply whether or not they are having sex with the same gender (or sex outside of marriage)? No, it isn't as we shall shortly see.
Now we pass on to the transgender and transvestite people. While the one feels they are a person trapped in the body of someone of the opposite sex, and the other merely likes to play dress-up, the two have something in common. They both like to present themselves to the world as members of the opposite sex. In fact, all three – transsexuals, transgenders, and transvestites all have this in common. They try to (and succeed very well in many cases) pass themselves off as members of the opposite sex. Is there a problem with that? Apparently God thinks so.
Deuteronomy 22:5 “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.”
In these verses we first see that a woman is told she should never wear a man's clothing, and a man should not wear a woman's clothing, as that is an abomination to God. Does that mean women should not wear slacks as some legalistic churches teach? No, of course not. That is a complete misunderstanding of the verse. In Bible times both men and women wore robes. There is nothing about a robe that determines sexual orientation. So obviously God was not talking about the style of the clothing itself. So then about what is this verse speaking? What is God's point? Obviously it is speaking to trying to deceive people as to what your gender is. In other words, it is referring to transvestites, transgenders, and transsexuals (even though this last did not exist back then). Notice in Corinthians men are to have short hair and women long hair. Back then, prostitutes would cut their hair to advertise their vocation. It was a shame for a woman to cut her hair, and this was how a prostitute was viewed - shameful (as they still are today). Women were not to cut their hair, which would have enabled them to pass themselves off as a man, or dress in a way that would deceive anyone into believing they were a man. Neither was a man to dress as a woman and try to pass himself off as one. Long hair would help him accomplish this, which is one reason why it was shameful for him to wear it long.
So women were not to dress to pass themselves off as men, nor to cut their hair, for that was shameful, and men were not to dress to pass themselves off as women or to wear long hair as that was shameful. The message in these verses is clear – do not try to pass yourself off as the opposite sex. It is an abomination to God to do so. We are to present ourselves as the gender that we are. Women can wear slacks, and Scotsmen can wear kilts. That does not deceive anybody into thinking that they are the opposite gender, even though in years past, slacks were strictly looked upon as men's clothing and a kilt is viewed by some as a skirt (although you should never say that to a Scotsman) and the domain of women's clothes. It is not the clothing that matters. It is the intention to deceive. Deception is the sin here. Deception is a lie, and the Bible teaches that lying is a sin.
So there it is. Transsexualism, transgenderism,and transvestitism are sins, because the person is seeking to deceive people into believing they are of the opposite gender, which God has forbidden as an abomination. If they are homosexual in addition to this, they are also guilty of that sin before God.
If you want to know how to get right with God, go to this article.
Addendum: I published this article some time ago, and now Bruce Jenner is in the news having decided that he is a woman. Not only does God say this is wrong, but now the medical psychiatric world is saying this is a mental problem that should be dealt with as such, not by surgery and acceptance of the lie. Please read this article.
Addendum: Below in the comments are some lengthy dialogues about this subject in which I am insulted and called names (which is fine, that doesn't bother me), because people do not accept that God is the one saying these things (in spite of all the Scriptures you will see below) but think that this is just my personal opinion. It is not my opinion that is relevant. I have simply relayed the message God has written. It is His opinion which matters. What I would like to know from the reader is, if I were saying that the Koran was saying this or the Bhagavad Gita, or Confucious, or whomever, would you be as upset about it, or would you just shrug and say, oh well, who cares what she and that particular religions says? Why is it that people can blow off what other religions might say, but if the Christian God (or Jewish God - who is the same God) says that something they are doing is wrong, they get really irate and want anyone who has told them what the Bible says to retract what they said and apologize. Why, if you do not believe in God to begin with, nor care what He says, do you get so mad at what someone else thinks? Why does it matter what my personal opinion is, if that is all you think it is? I don't know you and our lives don't intermingle, so who cares? I don't care what you think of me or whether or not you approve of me. I only care what God thinks. And if you don't believe in God, why do you care what He thinks and want His (and my) approval? Why is this so crucial to you? I'm interested in an answer to this.
For ease of writing I will use the words in the following way, even though some are used interchangeably. I will use the word transgender to refer to someone who was born one gender and believes they are emotionally and psychologically the other gender, but have not had surgical reassignment surgery. They do, however, present themselves to the world as the opposite gender, living and dressing as the opposite gender. I will use the word transsexual to refer to someone who is a transgender, but has gone the full course, having had sexual reassignment surgery and who now presents themselves to the world in every way as a member of the opposite sex, requiring that the world accept them as a member of their chosen gender by having their gender changed legally in a court of law. A transvestite is someone who merely likes to wear the opposite sex's clothing for reasons of their own (usually sexual fetishes). They are not necessarily homosexual in orientation, but may be, and they are not necessarily transgenders, (although they may be) being happy with their gender, but simply liking to cross-dress.
Before discussing any of them, one thing is certain. If a person, no matter how they are dressing or living gender-wise, is having a homosexual/lesbian relationship, they are guilty of that sin. See my article about homosexuality to address that. Is Being Gay Okay. Now on to other matters pertaining to the subject of this article.
I think the first thing that we have to establish is, scientifically is it possible to change genders? The first thing we have to ask in the inquiry is – what determines a person's gender? A baby's gender is determined when they inherit two sex chromosomes from their parents. They get one chromosome from their mother who contributes one of her two “x” chromosomes, and they get one chromosome from their father – either an “x” or “y” chromosome, as he has one of each in his sex genes. It is the father's contribution to their sex genes that determines a baby's sex. If the baby gets the father's “x” chromosome, it becomes a girl. If it gets the “y” chromosome it becomes a boy. From that point on, the developing fetus goes about creating the required sexual organs that go with that chromosome. So, a person's gender is determined by their chromosome makeup.
Can their chromosome makeup be changed? No. So can the gender of a person really be changed? No. A person can have their body surgically mutilated, take hormone shots, wear the clothes of, and even live as the opposite sex, but that does not change their chromosome makeup. All the surgery and artificial hormones in the world are not going to change a person's chromosomes. If a man, who does not want to lose his genitalia, through some horrific accident loses it, does that make him a women? Of course not. So surgical removal of genitalia is simply a mutilation of the body, not a change of gender. Neither does cosmetically adding fake genitalia change one's chromosomal makeup and alter a person's gender. Hormones simply induce artificial reactions in the body. As women get older, they start growing unwanted facial hair due to a change of hormones in their bodies, brought on by menopause. Does that make them a man? No. Transsexuals are simply fooling themselves when they think they have changed genders. And the world does not help them by accepting the facade. You are what your chromosomes say you are. Having a tail put on cosmetically does not make one a monkey (well maybe some people it would – LOL) or a dog. So surgical alteration or mutilation cannot possibly change one's gender.
So now with transsexuals, we have the situation where a person has had surgery, legally changed gender, and they have a partner. If the woman reassigned as a man takes a man as her partner, she is not a homosexual in God's eyes, as she cannot change her gender or chromosome makeup. She however would see herself as a homosexual, as she now believes she is a man. The reverse is true if the transsexual is a man living as a woman. So what the world would “see” as a homosexual relationship, if a transsexual was living with a member of the “same” sex, would not truly be homosexuality and therefore that part of their transsexualism would not be a sin (of course if they are unmarried and having sex, they are still guilty of fornication, which is a sin). Usually though the person is a homosexual/lesbian before reassignment surgery and therefore after the reassignment surgery has a relationship with a member of the “opposite” sex, which in actuality is the same sex or chromosome makeup. This then, while it looks like a man/woman relationship to the world is actually a homosexual relationship and is a sin. So it would appear from the standpoint of looking at transsexuals, that depending on whom they are having a relationship with after surgery, they may or may not be guilty of the sin of homosexuality (or fornication). But is that the only problem, simply whether or not they are having sex with the same gender (or sex outside of marriage)? No, it isn't as we shall shortly see.
Now we pass on to the transgender and transvestite people. While the one feels they are a person trapped in the body of someone of the opposite sex, and the other merely likes to play dress-up, the two have something in common. They both like to present themselves to the world as members of the opposite sex. In fact, all three – transsexuals, transgenders, and transvestites all have this in common. They try to (and succeed very well in many cases) pass themselves off as members of the opposite sex. Is there a problem with that? Apparently God thinks so.
Deuteronomy 22:5 “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.”
1 Corinthians 11:14-15 “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”
In these verses we first see that a woman is told she should never wear a man's clothing, and a man should not wear a woman's clothing, as that is an abomination to God. Does that mean women should not wear slacks as some legalistic churches teach? No, of course not. That is a complete misunderstanding of the verse. In Bible times both men and women wore robes. There is nothing about a robe that determines sexual orientation. So obviously God was not talking about the style of the clothing itself. So then about what is this verse speaking? What is God's point? Obviously it is speaking to trying to deceive people as to what your gender is. In other words, it is referring to transvestites, transgenders, and transsexuals (even though this last did not exist back then). Notice in Corinthians men are to have short hair and women long hair. Back then, prostitutes would cut their hair to advertise their vocation. It was a shame for a woman to cut her hair, and this was how a prostitute was viewed - shameful (as they still are today). Women were not to cut their hair, which would have enabled them to pass themselves off as a man, or dress in a way that would deceive anyone into believing they were a man. Neither was a man to dress as a woman and try to pass himself off as one. Long hair would help him accomplish this, which is one reason why it was shameful for him to wear it long.
So women were not to dress to pass themselves off as men, nor to cut their hair, for that was shameful, and men were not to dress to pass themselves off as women or to wear long hair as that was shameful. The message in these verses is clear – do not try to pass yourself off as the opposite sex. It is an abomination to God to do so. We are to present ourselves as the gender that we are. Women can wear slacks, and Scotsmen can wear kilts. That does not deceive anybody into thinking that they are the opposite gender, even though in years past, slacks were strictly looked upon as men's clothing and a kilt is viewed by some as a skirt (although you should never say that to a Scotsman) and the domain of women's clothes. It is not the clothing that matters. It is the intention to deceive. Deception is the sin here. Deception is a lie, and the Bible teaches that lying is a sin.
So there it is. Transsexualism, transgenderism,and transvestitism are sins, because the person is seeking to deceive people into believing they are of the opposite gender, which God has forbidden as an abomination. If they are homosexual in addition to this, they are also guilty of that sin before God.
If you want to know how to get right with God, go to this article.
Addendum: I published this article some time ago, and now Bruce Jenner is in the news having decided that he is a woman. Not only does God say this is wrong, but now the medical psychiatric world is saying this is a mental problem that should be dealt with as such, not by surgery and acceptance of the lie. Please read this article.
Since publishing this, I received a very pertinent comment from a Tiago Rangel below which I answered in three posts below the comment. As his comments and my answers cover a great deal more on this topic, I would encourage anyone who has read this article to continue down and read the comments as there is important information there.
Addendum: Below in the comments are some lengthy dialogues about this subject in which I am insulted and called names (which is fine, that doesn't bother me), because people do not accept that God is the one saying these things (in spite of all the Scriptures you will see below) but think that this is just my personal opinion. It is not my opinion that is relevant. I have simply relayed the message God has written. It is His opinion which matters. What I would like to know from the reader is, if I were saying that the Koran was saying this or the Bhagavad Gita, or Confucious, or whomever, would you be as upset about it, or would you just shrug and say, oh well, who cares what she and that particular religions says? Why is it that people can blow off what other religions might say, but if the Christian God (or Jewish God - who is the same God) says that something they are doing is wrong, they get really irate and want anyone who has told them what the Bible says to retract what they said and apologize. Why, if you do not believe in God to begin with, nor care what He says, do you get so mad at what someone else thinks? Why does it matter what my personal opinion is, if that is all you think it is? I don't know you and our lives don't intermingle, so who cares? I don't care what you think of me or whether or not you approve of me. I only care what God thinks. And if you don't believe in God, why do you care what He thinks and want His (and my) approval? Why is this so crucial to you? I'm interested in an answer to this.
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ReplyDeleteI have no objection to disagreements to my blog as long as you keep your language clean. I will delete comments with foul language.
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DeleteCurse words are not the only words that are hurtful.
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DeleteGod says "Hey Connie, if you were a doctor, I'd say your bedside manner is awful!" But you're not a doctor, nor a scientist. (But if you could at least come up with a couple statistics or something your pseudo-science might sound a little more convincing. LOL. )
DeleteCOME ON!
God made me the beautiful creature I am, and when I throw on my prettiest dress and shake it like king David I assure you, it is not a disease, a mutation, or anywhere close to a sin akin to murder, in fact, it is quite pleasing in the eyes of the Lord! But don't take my word for it, ask Her in prayer yourself.
But please, don't EVER pray for me. There are far too many people that ACTUALLY need your prayer Connie. Like you.
Joshuana,
DeleteI do not have to be a police officer or a lawyer to understand that if the speed limit is 55 and I am going 90 that I will probably get caught and have to pay the penalty for speeding. To tell you that if you speed you will get caught and have to pay a penalty may not seem like a good bedside manner to you, but it would be the truth, wouldn't it?
God's Word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As stated above, deception is a sin. This is deception. That does not change. God is the police officer than never lets a person get away with speeding. He catches everyone. The only way out of having to pay the penalty is to let Jesus pay that price by accepting Him. But when you do, and if you really mean it, you will no longer want to live in the sin in which you are living.
All who reject Jesus need prayer, and all who accept Him need prayer, for we all are guilty of sin. It is just that those of us who have accepted Jesus are sorry for the sins we commit and confess them. God forgives us, and Jesus has paid the price, so we do not have to. The choice lies with every individual as to whom they want to pay for their sins, themselves or Jesus. You seem to have chosen yourself. So be it. God does not force anyone to be His child. Neither do I.
Joshuana, did you just call our Lord "Her"?
DeleteThere is more reference in the bible to not eating shrimp then there is for someone not to try to deceive someone about gender... Eat any shrimp lately ?
DeleteThis response will require several posts below. First to answer you - How many times a sin and its punishment is mentioned doesn't matter. Once is enough, so your argument is irrelevant on that score. Then, no, I don't eat shrimp or any crustaceans actually. So sorry, you didn't hit a home run on that one, not that you would have, even if I did eat shrimp, and I will tell you why below.
DeleteYour response is a typical response that is given by people who don't know or understand the Scriptures. They just use what they think is an argument, because they hear others using it when it is pointed out to them that they, or others, are engaging in behavior that the Bible teaches is a sin, and they don't want to accept it. It is an argument from ignorance, for when one understands the Bible, one understand that these are not the same thing at all. Unfortunately these silly arguments gained momentum, because not only are the people offering them ignorant of the Scriptures, most of the Christians out there are equally as ignorant and can't answer the argument as a result. Before I explain the difference, I have to ask - why do you care what the Bible says? Why do you need Christians' approval? Or God's approval? If you aren't a born again Christian, then it doesn't matter what the Bible says, does it? Any more than it would matter what the Koran or Book or Mormon or any other book says. If you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior, then it really doesn't matter what sin you are engaging in, because the sin sending you to hell is your rejection of Christ's taking the punishment for your sins upon Himself. God doesn't take kindly to you rejecting such a huge sacrifice on His and Jesus part. Every other sin can be forgiven and wiped from the record, but if you go to your death in that state, you're out of luck. So instead of trying to throw one of these silly arguments about eating crustaceans, or mixing materials, or not putting a railing on your roof (all of which are arguments people use, and which I will explain below) just answer the person that since you haven't accepted Christ, it really doesn't matter what you do. You can do as you please, because you aren't saved anyhow. There's not a Christian alive that can argue that point with you. Don't feel the need to go around trying to tell Christians they are wrong in this issue. They aren't, but it won't matter to you in the long run anyhow. So let it go. Just ignore us. It only matters if you become a Christian. And many transgenders are trying to tell me that they are Christians.
Now to the point. The Ten Commandments and all of the behaviors that would fall into their category are considered MORAL SINS by God which carry the eternal death penalty. So the commandment about adultery would have under it all sexual sins, such as homosexuality, bestiality, etc. Bearing false witness is a sin, so lying of any kind is also a sin, which as pointed out above, transgenderism is a sin based upon a lie and deception.
As for other rules, God gave them rules so that they would be healthy, reproductive, safe, and faithful to him so that He could bless them. Rules for living and commandments for not committing moral sins are not exactly the same. The rules about the temple were given to remind them of their need for repentance and obedience to His rules, as living by God's rules actually makes one's life very much better than if one lives without them. Naturally disobeying a law is a sin, but not a sin unto death. It is the act of disobedience, not the thing about which the law was made in which the sin exists and it is punished accordingly. That is hard to understand, but hopefully will become clear as I further elucidate. (cont. below)
The rules for civil situations were given to keep law and order and justice in a society. Breaking them brought penalties as do our laws today, but not always the death penalty, as they weren't sins against the holiness of God.
DeleteFor instance, the rules about putting railings on your rooftop. In the society of that day, they had flat roofs, and it was part of their living area like a patio. The railings were to prevent people falling off (especially children) to their death. It was a good idea, and a civil rule, for if you didn't do it, you were ultimately responsible for anyone who got hurt or died if they fell off, right? Therefore if you didn't do it, you were stupid, rebellious, and guilty of manslaughter, deserving of the punishment you received if someone got hurt, weren't you? So was it a good rule that God set up? Yes. Was it a moral sin not to do it? Well if someone died, then yes, I suppose it could be considered a sin, for someone is dead due to your negligence. Do we need to observe it today? Well, in case you hadn't noticed, most people do have a railing on their balcony if they live in high rises, don't they. Just common sense. My roof is just a roof and nobody goes up there except when I have it replaced, so I don't need a railing. Hence the New Testament did not reiterate that rule, as the times would be a changing. Oh, yes, the New Testament does repeat the moral laws from the Old Testament that are still required by the way. And I guess God trusted that the civil laws of our own governments would take care of these issues, so did not feel the need to make them moral laws that still carried weight.
As for kosher eating? Eating bottom feeders or pork back in that day would have no doubt led to the outbreak of illness and diseases, which is why God was so concerned with clean and unclean and how they cooked their food. No hospitals in town, you know. Why not eat rabbit? Because they have no nutritional value. You can starve eating rabbits all the time, believe it or not. It happened in the frontier days. God wanted a large, healthy society that could produce the Messiah who would die for their sins. Hence the kosher rules. It was not the eating that was the abomination. It was the unclean animals themselves that were an abomination to God, if you read carefully, for if you'll excuse the expression, they ate crap. Notice that the rules of what could be eaten were altered in the New Testament. Even Christ said that what went in the mouth came out the other end, therefore it wasn't what really made us unclean, but what came out of our mouth, for that reflected the state of our heart. Hence it is not a moral law which we must obey.
As for mixing materials such as wool and linen, well I learned as a young girl when learning to sew that you didn't do that in one garment, because if you did, the first time you washed it, the garment would be ruined, for the two materials do not react the same way. Wool shrinks. The garment is no longer of any use, because it is totally destroyed. Modern synthetic materials make it possible to combine them, but the reason for not doing it was not because it was a moral sin. It was common sense to avoid the waste of material and time. No death penalty, but the consequences of disobedience brought its own punishment. Hence no longer a rule. (cont. below)
Moral laws, the Ten Commandments and the derivative laws from their morality, are still in effect. That is why they were repeated in the New Testament somewhere within the gospels and epistles. So you see, comparing the lie of transgenderism to eating shrimp is an argument born out of ignorance. Better to just tell people that you aren't a Christian and don't care what God says. They can't argue that.
DeleteSo why do Christians focus on things like homosexuality and transgenderism? Because society is no longer calling them sins. They say it is natural and right and good. They still think murder and lying are wrong, but these sins have been labeled as non-sins. That is why we focus on them. Because people are denying that they are sins at all. People think they can live this way and be right before God. You can't. Any more than you can commit adultery (which yes even Christians do that. They jeopardize their salvation if they do not repent), or any other moral sin and think that God will be okay with it.
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DeleteYes, every sin except disbelief in Jesus is forgivable, but that's the point. These people are not calling it a sin, they are not sorry and asking God for forgiveness, they are not repenting and turning from this sin. They are embracing their sin and flaunting it in God's face and expecting Him to approve. And that is all the difference. Without repentance, there can be no forgiveness.
Deleteisn't sin forgivable except for one sin and that is not beleaving that Jesus Christ died the cross for our sin or not be leaving in Jesus Christ
DeleteTo repeat the answer above, yes, every sin except disbelief in Jesus is forgivable, but that's the point. These people are not calling it a sin, they are not sorry and asking God for forgiveness, they are not repenting and turning from this sin. They are embracing their sin and flaunting it in God's face and expecting Him to approve. And that is all the difference. Without repentance, there can be no forgiveness.
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DeleteNo matter what the sin, transgenderism, or mass murder, if a person truly asks God for forgiveness and lets Jesus be their Savior and lives in obedience to Him and loves Him, that person will go to heaven. No matter how good the life, even if one lives like Mother Teresa, if one does not repent and ask Jesus to be their Savior and live for Christ, they will go to hell. It's really quite simple. Accept Jesus (with your heart as well as your head) and you have eternal life. Reject Christ and you have eternal death.
DeletePaul, the greatest apostle, was a murderer. Particularly a murderer of Christians, before he was saved. Yet he became the greatest apostle and author of most of the New Testament when He accepted the Lord. God doesn't care what your sin is, He cares if you repent and ask for His forgiveness. He sent His Son to die a torturous death and pay the price of separation from God for you and everyone, and to throw that back in His face is an insult. It is saying that you will pay for your own sins. Well, if you want to pay for your own sins, God will let you.
However with transgenderism, it is a little more difficult. One cannot continue to live as the opposite sex of what they were born and live in deceit. They must forsake their change and present themselves to the world as God created them. The same difficulty exists with homosexuality. The practice must stop. This is true of any sin, but it is harder with these two sins, as the world is telling them that it is not a sin, so they must do what God says in spite of the fact that the world will tell them that they are fine as they are and to ignore God's Word. In other words, they will get the scorn and disapproval of the world for following God's Word. In spite of the fact that there are murderers and adulterers and liars and cheats, most of the population does not put their stamp of approval on this behavior. So the disapproval of others helps remind those dealing with these sins that these sins are not to be entertained. It makes it easier to do what is right when the world helps you. It is far harder when the world is against you.
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DeleteOf course not. God does not care what your state is when you come to Him. If you are truly repentant, even after surgery, God will forgive and you can go to heaven, however once you are saved, God expects you to renounce your sin. That means that a trans who already had the operation should revert as much as possible back to what they were. If a man has had his genitalia removed, then he must live as a man who is basically a eunuch. He should stop hormone treatment so that he starts to grow facial hair again, etc. If he can get surgery to try to revert, that is good for him, but as long as he lives and acts as a man and lives as a Christian that is all God cares about. For a woman, she needs to go back to living and acting as a woman, and more specifically a Christian woman. But anybody who repents, regardless of the sin is forgiven and can go to heaven. What is important after repentance is living according to God's Word though. A person who asks God to forgive them, then continues to live in sin as if it doesn't matter is probably not going to get into heaven, because they don't really have a relationship with God, if they don't obey him.
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DeleteIf a transgender had a sex change and asked for forgiveness to god and let Jesus Christ in their heart will they be forgiven even tho they had a sex change will they go to hell
DeleteBlake, I've answered this several times already. Just go up and read what I wrote. This is the last time I am going to answer this. No matter what state you are in when you come to Christ, your sin is forgiven, and you are heaven bound. But forgiveness does not undo the damage that the sin has done. A person who has had surgery would need to start living, acting, and dressing the way God originally created them, and give up the transgender life. But God gives us the ability to resist sin when we accept Him as Savior. As long as you walk with God and obey and repent when you disobey and sin, (which we all do on occasion), YES, a transgender who has had an operation can go to heaven if they accept Christ. But they can no longer live as a transgender.
DeleteAs I would like to address Anti Religion Gods comment that I was forced to delete, I will put the non-vulgar part here so that I can answer it. "how can you go talking about scientific research and genetic/chromosomal makeup when you downright reject gays because the Bible tells you to?"
ReplyDeleteHow I can go talking about scientific research and chromosomal makeup is simply because it is a factual truth. Do you have a problem with facts and truth? As for rejecting gays, I do not reject gays. God rejects them acting out this sin. A repentant celibate gay can get into heaven. I did not set the rules as to what constitutes a sin, God did and I believe Him. I am guilty of sins too, just like a homosexual/transgender, and without repentance I would also be hell-bound. This is only one of a long list of sins God lists, and every human being on the planet is guilty of one or more, so God isn't picking on just gays. According to Him, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 "There is none righteous, no not one."Romans 3:10. God says all are deserving of hell. Fortunately God made a way around that. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Christ took those sins for us, provided we repent. So nobody has to be rejected. They choose to be rejected, when they reject the free gift of having their sins forgiven through repentance and belief in Christ's substitution for us. I can't reject anybody. Only God can.
Hmmm....Hmmm... funny how someone with XXY, XYY, XXYY etc chromosomes are just ignored. Well probably the author is more than likely uneducated. Yep the author's arguments are invalid.
DeleteObviously you did not read the comment section, for I dealt with that problem. I am not uneducated, especially in God's Word. My arguments are valid, because God has said what He has said and I am just relaying that information to others. He is the final judge that you will stand before, not me. These chromosomal combinations are abnormal, and as such need to be dealt with on an individual basis by pursuing God in prayer as to what to do. The vast majority of people fall into the normal XX, XY categories, and it is usually these people who are seeking to change their gender appearance, for that is all they are changing. These people are as God made them, male and female, and to present themselves otherwise is the sin of deception and lying. My arguments are valid.
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DeleteI know this is a late comment but obviously Tony Tigerus himself is uneducated. XXY is Klinefelter syndrome which is characterized by physical, cognitive and developmental signs and symptoms. It has nothing to do with gender identity. Males with this syndrome are still males but could possibly identify with females because the physical differences but it doesn't mean that mentally they feel like a woman. XYY is not a syndrome but the physically have an increased growth velocity from early childhood, possible severe acne and normal testosterone levels and fertility. Again, nothing to do with gender identity. They may have developmental delays and behavioral problems though. XXYY syndrome is characterized by developmental delays in early childhood, learning disability or intellectual disability, adaptive functioning (life skills) difficulties, neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorders, and psychological/behavioral problems including anxiety, depression, and mood dysregulation. They may also have medical problems such as seizures, congenital elbow malformations. Again, nothing to do with gender identity.
DeleteThank you so much for clarifying that for us. And showing that there is no reason to altar one's appearance and act like a member of the opposite gender. God made us male and female. That's how He expects us to remain.
DeleteI just like to say that I learned that back in creation in the beginning, if there were murder ( a very strong act of sin ) there must have been homosexualism, transgender and all that fall under this category....Im reading this article because I do have an issue of this kind. I battle every day with this in my mind. It has been difficult for my life to carry this burden....or you could say....im carrying my cross....but the bible also teaches us to let Christ carry our burden....so the conflict continues....should I continue the way I am (male) or seek help? Now...One thing got me thinking, is the fact that...whats the true, deep-down purpose of changing my "gender"? Something else too....If sin came to earth...sin affected all aspects of human beings, physical,mental, spiritual, so there could be a great probability that many people out there have a problem/misplacement on there physical "chromosome alignment" because of sin...in alignment with there brain functionality. Or vice-verse. The point I'm trying to make is....SIN messed up every thing...in all levels...Now, where does JESUS comes in in all this? I believe HE payed the price..and who believes in him will go to heaven...period. But, whats my row here on earth as a follower of Christ? Is to bear the fruits of the spirit...So, I should carry my cross because I've gained this knowledge and understand. But others that are ignorant to the subject of GRACE and JESUS, Jesus already carry there crosses even if they do change there sex "gender".
ReplyDeleteI would like to read what you have to say...
My search continues....
Thanks...it really was appreciated your article, and I will wait for a replay.
PS: I'm a Pastors son, I have gone to church all my life, I deal with this battle as far as I can remember.
Dear Tiago Rangel,
DeleteI do hope you come back to read my reply which will require several posts, so please keep reading to the end.
I am so sorry you struggle with this and will pray for you. Your comment is appreciated, because I did not take this article far enough, and you have made that deficit apparent and it allows me to correct that. I referenced my article on homosexuality in this article because there were things there about demonic problems that I thought people could apply to this situation, but I should have really addressed it here.
Yes, all of these sins have probably existed from the beginning, not only because man is sinful, but for the same reason that Eve was tempted to sin. Satan and his minions work overtime whispering in people's ears and trying to twist their minds. Also, you are correct in that our biological makeup, especially by this point in time, is probably quite messed up, so people have hormonal imbalances and such which create feelings and emotions that one might otherwise not have. Unfortunately that does not negate that certain acts are sinful. We may have longings to do things which God says are sinful, lust is a big one that most people struggle with, as is greed, envy, etc. We are not to act upon these, but that does not stop the longings, does it. Our only recourse is to ask God to help us overcome these longings, and to struggle to control them. I am finding that every time I have the sinful longings that I struggle with, if I start praying and get my mind off of those longings, they will go away. That and reading the Bible seem to be our only method of escape if God does not remove the longings, and I have found that He does seem to leave everybody with a struggle of some sort, as that is how we grow spiritually.
That said, there are several things that need to be addressed when speaking of someone who feels they are in the wrong gender's body. The first question is, do you find yourself sexually attracted to the same gender? If you do, then that is a completely separate problem which is addressed in my blog about homosexuality. The help for that problem can be found in the link above in this article on that subject.
If you are not attracted to the same gender sexually, but are a heterosexual who just prefers female things, what exactly are the female things you are attracted to? Is it just dress? Or do you like doing the things that our society has labeled as being in a woman's domain? These are separate issues too.
Our society has put erroneous labels on things dictating that they should only be done by one gender or the other, when in fact it is simply a cultural thing and has nothing to do with your gender. The problem is, if you are not conforming to your culture's mandates about these things, people slap a label on you. For instance, my sons were brought up that having sex before marriage is a sin, and that it will bring consequences that in some cases may be severe. They have a relationship with Christ and therefore have chosen to not sleep around. This has made them the focal point of mockery by many of their male acquaintances who are not Christian and even brought about the suggestion that maybe they are not heterosexual. They definitely are heterosexual, just sexually pure. But if they were not confident in themselves and their reasons, possibly they would begin to doubt it themselves and feel pressured by society to do something neither of them actually feels.
The same goes for occupations or hobbies, etc. If the thing in question generally is the domain of women, a man who likes to do those things is told and pressured by society to think he is not heterosexual, or manly or whatever. This is ridiculous. What was considered a manly thing to do 200 or 100 years ago is not the same as what falls into that category today. So if you are struggling thinking you are the wrong gender because you prefer to do something like style hair or design clothes, it is not because you are a transsexual. It is because you simply like those things, and society can just get over it and you should pursue the occupation that makes you happy.
DeleteIf you are a transvestite, then your problem lies with the society in which you live, if you like the female clothes of this society. If you lived in a society in which males wore skirts and females wore pants (and these cultures do exist) would you be perfectly happy to be a man in that culture or is it a homosexual issue? It comes down to exactly what is your problem, sexual attraction, clothing styles, occupational preferences? The only problem in this group is the sexual attraction. It is the culture, not God who is dictating some of these other problems. With God the problem of cross-dressing is not about the style of clothing, because as I pointed out, in some cultures the man wears a skirt and the woman wears pants. It is the sin of deception and trying to deny your sexual gender as God made you. So say if you are in a culture where you are stuck with a style of clothing that doesn't appeal to you, and that is the only problem you have with your gender, you either need to change your culture to one whose clothing styles appeal to you, or you have to accept that to abide by God's rules, you must conform to society's standards.
The last thing I need to address is that of demonic control. While a Christian may not be possessed by a demon, they can control areas of our lives if we have opened up that area to their control. It does not take much to do that. Viewing pornography, playing the Ouija board, horoscopes, certain movies, books, or TV shows, being abused....all of these things open doors for demons to come in and influence us.
Added to that is the generational curses. Most people are not aware that if an ancestor, near or far removed, has dabbled in the occult in any way, or has been cursed, the demon attached to that person can be passed down to the next generation or even skip a generation. My grandmother had this problem and my mother was harassed by it. When my mother died when I was a young woman, I was attacked by demonic forces who tried to drive me insane. With God's help and power, I was able to drive them off, but had I not been aware of the situation, they might have gained the upper hand. Likewise, my husband's family has things that were passed on, so when my children were little, I renounced and rebuked any generational curses and demons that may have been passed down to them. But rebuking and renouncing demonic influences has become an almost regular thing with us as we realize that the world we live in has made it almost impossible for us to not be pulled into something with occult foundations, even if we are unaware. By this I mean the above mentioned things such as TV, radio, books, movies, magazines, etc. We can avoid the overt Satanic and occult things such as horoscopes, ouija boards and such, but this subliminal stuff is impossible to weed out, as it assaults us daily in every form of media.
Music, much to many people's surprise I am sure, is one of the biggest sources of occult influence in our society. Read my article on that in "Is It Really Christian Music" here in my archives. The wrong music, this new contemplative prayer, many of the things being introduced in our churches are geared to opening the doors to demonic control and people are completely unaware of that and find themselves suddenly having longings and doing things they never would have thought of doing before.
DeleteSo while I don't know exactly what your precise struggle is, I hope I have given you more insight and help into how to deal with it and to whether or not it is society that has made you think you have this problem, or if you are struggling with an issue that is sin and must be overcome. Hopefully I have shown you where the source of your problem may be stemming from also, so that you can go on the attack against it.
Jesus did die for our sins, but our job is to repent, which means turn away from, not just confess, and live a life pleasing to the Lord. We can turn our problems over to Him, but He may ask us, as He did Paul, to endure and persevere with our "thorn in the flesh" so as to grow more dependent upon Him and mature in our walk. Not what we want to hear, I know, but sometimes we have to take up our cross and bear it as hard as it may be. That may be your cross to bear.
Please let me know how you are doing with this. I will be praying for you.
"and that is the only problem you have with your gender, you either need to change your culture to one whose clothing styles appeal to you, or you have to accept that to abide by God's rules, you must conform to society's standards." That is the only thing really you said that I disagree with. Society's customs or ideals do not dictate God (Yahuah). Israel did not conform to the standards of the people they were surrounded by in the land and neither should we. The only instance I can see where one would need to conform would be to stay alive in a culture that is hostile. Of course in that, I do not mean to conform in a way that compromises your faith and relationship with Christ. Some are called to die for the faith.
DeleteWhen speaking of conforming to societies standards, I was referring ONLY to the mode of dress which distinguishes male and female apparel, as that was the topic being discussed at that moment, not the moral standards of the society. It was not meant as a generalization to all topics.
DeleteThe type of apparel that designates male and female has not been described by God anywhere except to say that modesty is the rule. After all, in Christ's time everyone wore robes. Other than modesty, a culture seems to be free to determine what is female apparel and what is male. You are simply not to cross-dress to hide your identity. My point was that if a person's only problem was that they felt more comfortable in the clothing that was usually assigned to the opposite gender, then maybe a change of culture where the dress was different would be their way of dealing with their problem. For instance, a guy who wants to wear skirts could move to Scotland and wear kilts. I like wearing jeans, because I live on a farm and they are so much more comfortable for work, but years ago that would not have been acceptable attire for a woman. I would have had to wear a dress to do my gardening and deal with the animals. Much more modest in my opinion to wear jeans. I don't have to worry about bending over, or the wind whipping (which it does very briskly around here). But I wear women's jeans and women's blouses. Nobody would mistake me for a man, ever.
Thank you for clarifying.
DeleteOkay I just wanted to put my little two cents in here.
ReplyDelete1.) If you continue reading in the Bible after the whole "Men don't wear women's clothes and vice-versa" statement, you will also find that it is God's law to put railing around your roof, not to wear clothes of mixed fabric etc. just let me ask you this, when was the last time you picked up a cute blouse from the department store and checked the tag to make sure it wasn't made of cotton and polyester mixed together before making the decision to put it on? I'm gonna go ahead and guess never, which means that you have committed a very harsh sin, according to the Bible. Do you have railing on your roof? Unless you live in an apartment complex, or have a very big home, then I'll go ahead and guess no as well, which means you have committed two very grave sins.
2.) Why should it be that a single split second, the introduction of a certain, microscopic cell, decides who you are in your life? Does that chromosome decide whether you'll be a musician? Of course not, does it decide who you will marry, or who you are attracted to? Of course not. So if it doesn't decide those things then, through deductive reasoning, it does not decide your fate, therefore it should not decide for you whether or not you pursue a transsexual transition. You shouldn't let a single cell decide for you whether or not you are happy in your own body.
3.) There are many documented cases of girls born with XY chromosomes, they simply do not menstruate or have children, this makes up for about half of the infertile female population, that in itself should tell you that chromosomes do not decide your gender, therefore your argument is flawed.
4.) Is it so hard to believe that God made me transgender for a reason? Maybe He made me this way so that I could overcome the ultimate obstacle of my life, to be happy in my own skin by seeking out, and doing something about, the feelings I have deep down inside, you can not help how you feel. I'm tortured with this every single day, saying you can help how you feel about this is like saying you can help feeling sad over the loss of a loved one, it simply does not work like that.
5.) And after this one I'm done. God wants us to be happy yes? He does not desire for us to be depressed, stressed out, sad, lonely, angry, confused and conflicted, am I right? So how then, can you justify saying that He condemns people for seeking out something that makes them genuinely and truly happy in their lives? Many people transition MtF or FtM and go on to dedicate their lives to God and serve Him with everything they have, knowing that it was His will for their lives.
Just something to think about. I look forward to your response.
P.S. I was raised Christian and I'm a MtF transgender. Just thought you should know.
My answer is that you are entitled to your own opinion. I have written what I have written based upon the Scriptures and common sense science. You can take it up with God when you stand before Him, if you don't like what He says. I didn't write the rules.
DeleteYou should consider this though. It isn't all about how you feel, it is also about how others feel. A Christian heterosexual man who is walking with the Lord will believe as I do, and does not want to accidentally find himself in a homosexual relationship with what he considers to be another man, because you have deceived him into thinking that you have two x chromosomes. So you see, the sin is lying, not just homosexuality, and both are definitely sins whether of the O.T. or N.T.
But you assume that I am a homosexual as a blanket term. Does it not make sense to say that a natural born female, who is born with XY chromosomes, is also a homosexual because she is attracted to men? It is documented, very frequently, that there are girls born with female parts and XY chromosomes, as I have stated before, the same for men in reverse, men born with XX chromosomes. Are these people homosexual because they are attracted to other people with the same chromosomes? I don't quite think you are catching my point here, chromosomes do not decide your sex, they do play an important role in defining your sex but it has been clearly proven that they do not make the ultimate choice of who you will be in your life, that's like saying you have to wear polo shirts because you have XY chromosomes, or you HAVE to be an engineer because you have XX chromosomes, it simply does not define who you are. And I'm not attracted to men, by the way, I'm attracted to women. And I know the first thing you will say is "Then why not stay a man?" because it's not about sex or lust or pleasure, it's about being comfortable in your own skin.
DeleteAnd yes, I do realize that my choices will not only effect me, but my family and friends as well, they don't have a choice, if I choose to transition, they would just have to deal with it one way or another, and I know that it is not fair to them because I do have a choice whether or not to transition, but the thing is... Ultimately it is MY life and MYself that I need to make happy before I can even think about making anybody else happy, how can I make other people happy if I am so incredibly unhappy with my life? Yes, I do have a choice in the matter, but for me it's a treatment, it's medicine to help me get better and become who I want so desperately to be, to look in the mirror every morning and not have to stare for an hour just to make myself look somewhat decent to myself. I guess you don't, and will not, truly understand unless you've had these feelings before. But people bashing other people like me, simply for trying to make ourselves happy, causes a lot of people like me to commit suicide, and that effects their loved ones a great deal more than if they were to just transition. I don't think you truly understand just how unhappy it makes us feel to be stuck in a body that we didn't ask for and we don't want, you can quote scripture all day long, but at the end of the day you're going to interpret it however you want it to be interpreted.
Lastly, and I'm done. Most transsexual people (those of us who have already completed their transition) are very open about who they used to be with their partners. They don't "deceive" them into believing that they're something that they aren't, they're upfront with them and let them know, before going into a relationship "Hey, I'm a trans-woman/man and if that bothers you then I understand, but I really do want to see where this goes." and, for the most part (aside from the south), a lot of people are okay with it. Why are we the only ones who don't deserve happiness? You preach about the fact that "It isn't all about how you feel..." okay but also, it isn't all about how YOU feel, it isn't all about how everyone else feels either, if that were the case then there would be no such thing as individuality and you would just have to blindly follow the sheep over whatever cliff is coming up. I'm sorry, I don't say this often, but I did take offense to that, because how I feel is sacred to me, just like how you feel is sacred to you, and why are my feelings about a certain matter any less important than yours? I'm not a toddler and I don't wish to be talked down to, I am not less than you and you are no greater than I. We were all created equal, that doesn't mean we were all created the same.
I apologize if my train of thought is hard to keep up with, I am sick and have taken medicine.
I don't expect you to come back and read this, but for the sake of others I will respond to you comments. My answer to chromosomal mutations in the rare person that occurs, would be that the parents when informed would have to spend a great deal of time in prayer as to what to do and follow God's leading. In the case of xy gonadal dysgenesis, which you described above it seems that the baby is born with female genitalia and streak gonads instead of ovaries. In most cases the gonads go cancerous even in infants, hence they are generally removed asap. Medication must be taken to bring these girls into puberty, but they cannot produce eggs due to lack of ovaries, although implantation into their wombs is a possibility. Then there are the problems of the hermaphrodite. These cases are not the norm, and require seeking God as to what to do, as the person is for lack of a better word, a mutation from the normal person. This is the result of sin reigning in mankind from Adam. In the first case it seems that the indication from God is to be a girl. In the second it is a case of seeking the Lord for guidance. This is a difficult situation for these people and I would not dare to judge their decision, as it is between God and them.
DeleteYou on the other hand seem to be a normal (in the physical sense) man who has emotional and mental issues. You do not fall in that category above. God created you a man. There is no choice when reading God's Word. You are to remain as you are, as for you to present yourself to the world as a woman is a lie. Lying is a sin. What is the cause of your condition? According to what you have said, it is merely feelings, not physical abnormalities. I don't believe God made you "feel" this way. It is quite possible that it is demonically inspired, and that somewhere a door was open that caused this. It is the same with homosexuality (BYW, I didn't say you were definitely homosexual, I was giving a scenario explaining how it could work out. And if you were with a woman as a "woman," to the world it would look lesbian. You can't avoid homosexuality either way. We are to avoid even the appearance of evil.) God tells us this is all a result of sin, not of being born that way. Even if it were the way God created you, and based upon Scripture it's not, we have an obligation as Christians to pick up our cross and bear it. You asked, don't I think you have the right to be happy. God never promised us happiness, only peace in him to bear our trials. That is the mistake too many people make. They want a God who gives them everything they want in life. They think He wants their happiness at any cost, even sin. It doesn't work that way. We are supposed to be obedient to God and His rules if we want to get to be with Him in the end.
I have suffered from chronic severe pain for over 30 years, since my mid-twenties. Medication only somewhat cuts it. Surgery was required at one point which also helped, but did not eliminate the pain. Did I ask for this? No. Must I bear my cross? Yes. Does it make me happy? No. Do I have peace with the situation? Yes. I have other situations which I won't go into that are extremely difficult. Most people would have walked away from them years ago, but God requires that I stay, according to His Word. Am I happy about it? No. Am I at peace? Yes. Do I think God will bless me for being obedient? Yes. God doesn't say that we can break His Word to pursue our own happiness. If that were the case I would have made much different choices than I did over the years. I chose to be obedient even though the cost has been very painful both physically and mentally/emotionally at times. If you feel your happiness and having your way is more important than being obedient to God, and your emphasis on "it is MY life, and MY.." etc. shows that it is, (it's called selfishness) you can expect that He will treat you accordingly. You say how you "feel" is sacred. I've got news for you. It isn't about how you feel or how I feel, it is about what God says. I have written what God say, not what I think. I don't always have to agree with God to write what He says or to be obedient to it. In fact I struggle at times with some of His rules. That's just the way it is, like it or not. If you don't like it, then you can choose to ignore Him and suffer the consequences. That's the chance we all take when we blow Him off.
DeleteWell I did come back and read. I'm not the kind of person who walks away from something that easily, just because of differing opinions. But you say God made them (those born with genetic mutations) as a result of sin? I'm sorry, but God is not the type of deity who scalds innocent children for the sins of other people, He gives punishment where punishment is due, He is a just God, and making an innocent child pay for the sins of a guilty man is not justice, it's just naming someone guilty in their absence. I was raised Christian and was taught the old scripture of "...know that your sin will find you out..." LITERALLY meaning be sure that YOUR sin will find YOU out, not be sure YOUR sin will find your CHILD out.
DeleteYou seem to think that I'm a selfish person, I am not, I treat others with respect and dignity, I give what I can to those less fortunate than I am, and I'm not just saying that to seem like a good person, I don't just do it to be seen as a good person in society either, I do it because it is what I believe is the right thing to do, and I believe that if you can help someone, and they are in need, then you have a moral obligation to do so, without regard to how it will effect yourself. I'm the type of person who would give you $5 if you asked for 1. I'm not trying to toot my own horn here, I'm just trying to let you know that I am not, by any means, a selfish person. Do I have selfish tendencies? Of course, name one person who doesn't, but that does not mean that I act and go about my life looking out for only myself.
I also suffer from an illness, it's called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type III Hyper-mobility, you may look it up if you like. It causes all of the cartilage in all of my joints, to be much, much thinner than what is normal, causing my joints to grind against each other, frequent dislocations and subluxations and it is very, very painful. There is no treatment for it and there is no medicine that I can take in order to ease the pain. So I know what it's like to go through pain day in and day out, and just have to learn how to live with it, and I understand what it's like to give it up and say "There is nothing more I can do for myself." However... This is another matter entirely, this has nothing to do with not being able to move on by yourself and help the pain on your own, I CAN help the mental and emotional pain that I go through, simply by going on a path that, I believe to be, is right. I spent hours and hours in prayer, asking God "If this is what You want for my life, if You want me to pursue this, then open the right doors." and guess what?... There have been plenty of doors open for me to pursue it. I don't think you quite understand that everyone's walk with God isn't going to be the same, we're not supposed to march to some imaginary drum and be the same as everyone in the church. My life is vastly different from yours, if coincidence would have it that we are of the same religion, does that mean that I have to do the things you do and talk/act the way you talk and act? That's absurd to answer yes to, because we are all made differently and our walks with God are all going to be different.
When I say that it is MYself that I have to make happy, I'm not saying that I need to just focus on me, it means that I can not truly try to make someone else happy if I myself am not happy, if I'm miserable then how can I truly spread joy? THAT would be the biggest lie anyone could ever tell, over something as simple as gender. It's so basic, it's individuality, it's who you want to be, it's nothing to do with lies and deceit, to me, the ultimate lie is making myself out to be a perfectly happy male, I'm not only lying to other people, I'm lying to myself.
Last thing and you have the proverbial floor... My people, the Native American's, revered those who were born with the male and female spirit as their priests and shaman, in other words, all of their priests were and still are homosexual men. I think we all know how successful, blessed and smart the Native American people were, they had no worries and no problems until the Europeans came over here, so I think that should tell you something.
DeleteRick,
DeleteThis is totally aside, but from the first I was curious so I just have to ask, why are you still calling yourself Rick? Okay now to business,
I want to respond to all the things you wrote an will in a few days, but first I want to go in a different direction for a moment. As I want to give you time to respond to the question I will pose at the end, (sorry this may take a couple of posts to get to the question) I will hold off on responding to the other things for a bit until you have a chance to answer this one. Before posing my question, I want to assess the situation to make sure it is correct. If I have anything wrong here, please correct. me.
The situation is that you were born a normal (physically) male. You have felt you are a woman trapped in a man's body and that it needed to be fixed by surgically cosmetic procedures so that your outside matches what you feel is inside. You are attracted to women, not men. Have I got that right?
Here are our diverse positions.
My position: God made you what you are. You do not accept what God made you to be and want to change that and present yourself as the opposite gender of what God made you. The world will see you as what you present yourself as, not as God made you. This is a deception and a lie to both God and man. Homosexuality is not your sin, for I do not see you as a homosexual. Deception and lying is the sin of which you are guilty. Because you do not view this as a sin or see yourself guilty of sin, you are unrepentant, hence my belief is based upon what I wrote above in my article (including those Scriptures), plus these Scriptures.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
1 Tim. 1:9-10 Knowing this, that the law (the commandments) is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for LIARS, for perjured persons, and if there be ANY OTHER THING THAT IS CONTRARY TO SOUND DOCTRINE.
Rev. 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all LIARS, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
(cont.)
Your view of the position I take is that there is no such thing as having a physical definition of male or female, neither genitalia nor chromosomes dictate it. It is simply a matter of what you feel inside. You feel you are a woman. You are attracted to other women, not men. Your point of view of my position leaves you with the state of being a lesbian. Hence either way, from my position you have a problem with sin. Here are Scriptures that address your point of view of my position.
DeleteRomans 1:20-32 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
1 Cor. 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, NOR EFFIMINATE, NOR ABUSERS OF THEMSELVES WITH MANKIND, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Now, these things do not have to send people to outer darkness for all eternity. In the next verse Paul says.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
My point of view is not my personal feelings on the matter, for I don't put my feelings above God's Word. I simply try to teach and warn of what God's written Word says, not my opinions or feelings. I think the above verses are clear and need no explanation, so I am putting no interpretation or spin on them. I feel no need to twist God's Word. I acknowledge that I did point out certain words.
Now your position from what I can gather (I may have some of it wrong) is that God has no view on this, or if He does it doesn't matter for He wants you to be happy, so you have every right to change yourself to accommodate that. God will approve. I guess you think this because you think God is loving and not judgmental. Just a guess, don't know for sure. You may correct that if wrong.
(cont.)
My view of your position is that God does not approve, given the above verses, and that we are not given carte blanche to follow whatever inclination we want. We are to keep to God's laws and rules and be obedient to them. It is obedience that is supposed to supply our happiness, not following after our own lusts and desires. Here are some verses on lusts (there are far more than I could list) and some on happiness.
DeleteRomans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Eph. 2:2-3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2 Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.
Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Proverbs 29:18b He that keepeth the law, happy is he.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
My question for you is, what verses are you using from the written Word of God to support your position? My position comes from reading and obeying God's Word. If someone can show me that God teaches otherwise from accurate Scriptural exegesis (remember I did not interpret the verses above, I let them speak for themselves) then I am open to changing my mind. So the ball is in your court. Can you give me a good Scriptural defense for your belief that God is okay with what you are doing?
I'll start off by answering your first question. Why do I continue to call myself Rick? There are a couple of reasons for this, the first reason is that my family does not know of my feelings, they have no idea that I'm transgender (except for my sister, who is fine with it.) second is because my Email was set up a while back, when I was still confused about my gender identity and wasn't sure what was going on with me, and "Rick" is the name assigned to the account and lastly because I have not openly declared that I am transgender and I would like for all of my family and loved ones to hear it directly from me and not through reading where their email came from.
DeleteOn to your question about whether or not I have scripture to back up my claim that God is okay with it, I do actually, but before I give you the scripture there needs to be some explanation as to the contents, mainly a certain word. The word "eunuch" back in the times that the Bible was written, a eunuch was someone who either voluntarily or involuntarily had their genitals mutilated, either they had their penis cut off, they removed their testicles, or they removed everything all together, leaving only the ability to urinate as a means of staying healthy, these people are the closest example of transsexual people we have in the Bible, they mutilated their own genitals in order to achieve something that they desired. Now onto the scriptures...
Isaiah 56:4-5
"For thus says the Lord: to the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast to my covenant, I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument better than sons and daughters, I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off."
Matthew 19:12
"For there are some eunuchs, who were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, who were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."
And finally
Galatians 3:28
"...there is neither male nor female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus."
These are clear examples of acceptance, by God, for those who have chosen to either bend the gender norms, or change their genitalia for their own purpose. There is actually debate that transgender people have been given a gift, that they actually show the entire image of God, because the Bible says that God created man AND woman in His own image, so if someone were to be both man AND woman in their life, they would encompass the full image of God.
Last point. A couple of cosmetic surgeries aren't the solution to the problem, it takes a few years of hormone replacement therapy, voice training, personal battles and then only two (maybe three, sometimes only one) cosmetic surgeries to bring the solution to the problem, it's not a quick "nip-tuck" fix, it's a process of stages and hurdles to jump over.
Thank you I know what a eunuch was. First of all, while there were eunuchs (I think there were far more involuntary that voluntary, as this was a common practice by conquerors to do this - Daniel and the other three boys were made into eunuchs by the Babylonians, don't know if you knew that or not), they never ever passed themselves off as females. They remained in male garb, kept their male identities and were obviously celibate. I know they did this, for Daniel followed God's laws to the letter and he was born a male, and in the O.T. for a male to wear female clothing or pass himself off as a female was an abomination to God. Daniel would know this and obey it. Paul became a spiritual eunuch for the kingdom of God. I don't know that he necessarily cut off his genitals, but he chose celibacy. Notice in those verses you gave that these were men who were dedicated to the Lord and His service. They kept His commandments, His Sabbaths, and some did it for the kingdom of God. If you want to do that, to become a eunuch, keep your male identity and remain celibate, and do it so that you can be in service to God or serve Him all the better, by all means you have my blessing. I see that as a viable and Scripturally acceptable solution to your problem. But that is the problem if I understand you correctly. You are not seeking to become a eunuch, you are seeking to become a female. God is quite clear that a man is not to pose as a female. Eunuchs are a whole different subject. They did not pose as women, and you can't misinterpret the Scriptures to defend what you want to do, no matter how much you want God to bless this. Daniel and the others maintained their male identity. I see no examples of the eunuchs posing as women in Scripture. This is the example you are to use if you want to go this route, Daniel's example, not the modern day "legally become a female" route.
DeleteAs for the verse there is neither male nor female in Christ, you have completely taken that out of context. It is speaking of our spiritual state before God, not our physical condition. It also says there is neither Jew nor Greek, nor bond nor free, but there is, isn't there? Obviously this is speaking of our spiritual rights not our earthly rights. On earth, free men had more rights than slaves. Greeks had more rights than Jews (in the legal sense, but in the spiritual sense Jews were the chosen, so had more position with God (until they rejected Christ). Men had more rights than women, but in Christ, in the spiritual sense, nobody is better than anybody else. God does not give preference to one or the other when it comes to the spirit and salvation. Everybody is equal. It doesn't mean that there is no difference on a non-spiritual level. You can't twist the context to suit your problem. Sorry.
Okay, I'm sorry but based on that last post, you're exhibiting that you have no intention of understanding anything about whether God deems it okay or not. You already have a pre-formed opinion on the subject and are unwilling to let your thinking be challenged in the slightest, you are unwilling to accept a new way of looking at these things and to me that is very sad. I'm not going to debate you any further if you choose to pick apart my posts and only tell me, over and over again, that I am wrong without having any sort of scripture to back up WHY I am wrong or any sort of guidance from a Biblical scholar to say whether or not I am wrong about the way it has been interpreted or not. I don't wish to come off as angry in this reply, but unfortunately I am angry, because you are basically mocking something that I can not help and something that I did not ask for. You would have me try to understand the deeper meaning of the scripture you're providing, but have no intention of understanding the deeper meaning behind the scripture in which I provide and that, to me, is very unfair and you seem to be almost toying with me about it. I will not continue to debate you on this matter, I have peace with God and have been given peace from God about this matter, He has opened doors for me, all that's left for me to do is to walk through them. I really do find it sad that you are unwilling to accept that I have spent many hours in prayer with God, formed a very close, very strong relationship with God and I have HIS okay to do this based on my relationship with HIM, I do not need your "blessing" the only blessing I need is from God, and I don't much appreciate you trying to play God by not bestowing your "blessing" on me like that.
DeleteThe question, however, was not about whether they dressed up as women, they didn't, they did NOT dress as men either, however, they dressed up as EUNUCHS, they had their own garb, that's common knowledge about history, they were actually required to wear their own garb, for the simple fact that they needed to be spotted. But the question was about altering of one's genitals, your argument is that I shouldn't change what is natural about them, I provide you scripture and you fail to accept it, so you find something else to pertain it to, an old argument that we've already gotten past. And you seem to be confusing something with another thing, dressing as a woman is called crossdressing, that is being a drag queen, I don't desire to be a drag queen, the changes that my body will undergo will, in a sense, transform it's appearance, it's hormone make up and it's overall function to that of a woman. I think you need to educate yourself a little bit better on this subject before you start trying to tell me how wrong I am about it. I've been researching this for quite some time now and the only thing that would not be female about my body is a single chromosome (I could actually receive a uterine transplant in order to have the ability to give birth, so the ability to give birth isn't an issue that separates us from being any less of a woman. And yes, some genetic women get that procedure as well.) So I think I've said just about all I can say, I've provided you with scripture that backs up my side and, because you couldn't accept it, you told me that I misinterpreted it, that shows, not only ignorance, but also an inability to accept anything as truth, other than what YOU are willing to accept, not what GOD is trying to help you understand. So good day to you ma'am.
Your response shows me that all you wanted was for someone who knows the Scriptures to validate a decision you have already made. I did give you plenty of Scriptures, so don't say that I didn't present any. Of course my opinion was pre-formed. For heaven's sake, do you think I did not search the Scriptures and do my research before I wrote the article? After doing that why would I suddenly change my opinion just because you want me to? That is an ignorant statement. I have to go by God's Word, not what you want. I didn't write from off the cuff not knowing anything about the situation and only now need to examine what I wrote, because you disagree. I am not mocking you. I feel deeply sorry for you that you are caught in this sin, but my intention is not to make you feel good about it when the Scriptures say it is a sin. That would get me in trouble with God for not presenting you with the truth. I understand how hard this is for you, but that won't change God's truth on the matter and you need to face that fact, because it won't change. You will be deliberately sticking your middle finger up at God and telling Him that you don't care what He says when you choose to ignore the facts, so you need to be made aware of that. That is my job.
DeleteYou say you don't need my blessing, but you obviously wanted it and are mad that I won't give it based upon God's Word. You say that by withholding my blessing that I am playing God. I am not playing God. I am merely telling you what He says. You are shooting the proverbial messenger. Quite honestly I don't understand why you ever bothered coming here trying to get my blessing. You've already made your choice, so why are you seeking to find out what God says? If you were so sure you were right, you would never have looked for anyone to validate your decision. That seems to be a typical response with people who want a mature Biblically knowledgeable Christian to validate their sin for them.
Homosexuals say the exact same thing you are saying. So do adulterers or any other kind of sinner for that matter. "I deserve to be happy" is the rallying cry. They are mad that Christians will not put their stamp of approval on their sin. I believe that they feel if a Christian who is adamant about following God's Word will give their blessing, then somehow they are excused before God. Well I am afraid that you are as out of luck. I will not go against God's Word and if you find a Christian who will to help you justify your sin, then they will merely suffer some punishment for their sin of agreeing with you and encouraging you to commit the sin. It doesn't make a sin less a sin, because you find someone to agree with you that it isn't a sin.
You say I misinterpret the Scriptures, but I haven't. You used eunuchs as your Scriptural evidence then tell me that they didn't present themselves as women, because they wore special clothing that designated them as eunuchs. I'll agree with that. Eunuchs were not transgenders and they were readily identifiable. They were basically considered no gender. It had nothing to do with changing from a male to a female, so the Scripture does not back up your viewpoint. In fact it was irrelevant to your situation to even use these Scriptures. You were to present me with Scripture that said it was okay for you to change your body and pass yourself off as a woman. You did not do that.
DeleteWhether you want to accept the scientific facts or not, or the Scriptures or not, God created them male and female and He created you male. There is not a single scripture that says that you can change that fact. Becoming a eunuch is a different (and in this case irrelevant) subject entirely. I gave you my blessing to become a eunuch. I scripturally cannot give you my blessing to become a "woman". I do understand the medical procedure and in your response you really know the truth too. You said the surgery will "transform its appearance" and "its overall function." You didn't say it would transform you into the other gender. That's what they call a Freudian slip. You are absolutely right. It will only transform its APPEARANCE. Appearance is what we present on the outside to the world, not what may actually exist. So you will be passing yourself off as a woman in appearance, which is exactly what I said the sin was. I can put a dog costume on a monkey or try to surgically alter it to look like a dog, teach it to be my companion, bark when someone comes to the door, fetch the paper, and guard the sheep (its overall function), but it won't make it a dog. It is irrelevant also as to how the medical procedure is accomplished. It is not what the crux of the matter is. The medical procedure is cosmetic, hormonal, and psychiatric. It is basically irrelevant (as it does not alter the spiritual situation) and has no bearing on the issue of changing what GOD made you to be, or what He says on the matter. That is a spiritual matter, which is the true problem. HE made you a man. If He had wanted you to be a woman, don't you think He would have made you one? Think about that.
I believe you may very well be demonically influenced in this area. Demons can make you want to be a homosexual or a transgender or a murderer or an adulterer. Have you even explored that this may be the root of your problem? I somehow doubt that you have explored that area. What if that is the cause and if the demon/s were exorcised you suddenly felt that you wanted to be a regular man, not a woman? It will be too late after the surgery. You can do anything you want to do, but you cannot have my blessing, as I don't find any Scripture that allows for it. I told you that at the very start. God allows us to do whatever we want, but we do reap what we sow. You are the one who will face the consequences of your decision, and believe me there will be consequences. I'm not mocking you. I feel very sorry that you are caught in this situation, but doing what you want to do is not the answer. God does have the ability to get rid of any problem and sin, if we will truly give Him the control and do as He says. You seem to have chosen what you want to do over what God would have you do. So be it. It is not I who has an inability to accept the truth of what God says, it is you.
Obviously you people are not geting the point! Demons attack everyday everywhere in many different ways. If one can have you believe you were meant to be something your actualy not, or have you in any way unhappy with the way God made you, knowing your so weak as to fall for it then so be it! They will continue to make you think, act, feel, and present yourselves unto their likings, not God's!!! Clearly you people are sooo blind, confused and mislead!!! Be proud of who you are because GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES!!!!!!
DeleteGod is not the author of sin, so sin is not God's mistake. When people choose to thumb their noses at God and do things that are sinful, the Bible tells us that He will turn them over to their vile ways. He doesn't make them that way, He allows them to go as far as they desire in their sins. But they will suffer the consequences of that choice.
DeleteI would like to reply to Rick if he is still here. You used Galatians 3:28 as one of your "God accepts us verses". The moment we are saved, born again, our spirit goes to the Lord according to John 5:24 and Eph 1, There is no male or female in heaven. We are all sexless like the angels are. You also kept saying Rick, "my happiness" and "my, me and I" We are to die to ourselves. Put on our new nature in Christ. Jesus never said we are to have out best life now and give into our every want. That would be Joel Osteen. In Paul's words, "fight the good fight". Webster's dictionary describes fight like this.. To strive or contend for victory, in battle or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapon; to contend in arms, to fight against, to act in opposition, to strive to conquer or resist, to struggle.
DeleteConnie, your armor is strong, your sword is sharp, and you never compromise. Your opinions are from the word of God, therefore, the words you are using are His. Don't shoot the messenger people! Fight the good fight!
I would like to take a moment to address the verse Galatians 3:28 and correct some misconceptions that exist because people don't really know all the little obscure verses of the Old Testament. First I would like to address the verse in Galatians. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Above it was used to try to say that the Bible does not have a prejudice against transgenderism, for there is no gender in Christ, therefore the idea of being stuck in a gender is merely a man thing, not a God thing.
DeleteFirst let us look at the verse in context. Galatians 3:26-29 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
This is not speaking to there being no gender, so you can pick and choose. It is speaking to the fact that God does not play favorites when it comes to giving salvation. The Jew does not take precedence over the Greek or Gentile, the free man does not take precedence over the slave, nor does the man take precedence over the female. To say that it means that gender is something you can change would mean that a Jew could also become a Gentile or a Gentile a Jew. They cannot. One is born either one or the other. One can be converted to the religion of Judaism, but one cannot actually become a Jew by ethnicity if one is not born that way. Neither can a female become a male, or male female. You are what you were born. (Let's not get into the XXY or hermaphrodite problem here. That is addressed elsewhere in the comments.) This is talking about the fact that God does not treat a man with more preference when handing out salvation than a woman. We all have equal importance and are one with Christ in spirit, and we are all Abraham's seed by faith. (No that still does not make us an ethnic Jew. It makes us a spiritual Jew).
The next topic I would like to address is one which much of Christendom has a wrong idea. That is the idea that angels are sexless and in heaven so will we be. This idea comes from the verses Matthew 22:30 “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” and Mark 12:25 “For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.” Instead of accepting exactly what the verses say, that the angels do not get married, the verses are added to and it is assumed that they don't get married because they are sexless. Let us take a look at the verse in Luke which comes from the parallel passage.
(continuation of above)
DeleteLuke 20:35-36 “But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” Notice in this verse that we will not marry in the world to come, but that is not why we are compared to angels. We are compared to angels because we will not die, just as angels do not die. What this is saying is that we will not need to marry (and have children, the biggest reason for marriage), because we will no longer die.
What is the reason for marriage? The first reason given was that it was not good for man to be alone. Genesis 2:18 “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” The second reason is to produce godly offspring. Malachi 2:15 “And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.” There is a necessity for producing offspring because we die. Angels to not die. They do not need to produce offspring. They are not to populate the earth or heaven. That was not the purpose of heaven. Angels are not alone, they do not need to produce offspring, and therefore there is no need for them to marry.
The argument may still come, “but they are sexless.” Not according to Scripture. According to Scripture some angels were seen as men, and some seen as women. Ah, that is a new one for all of you isn't it? You know about the men, but where is there an angel described as a woman? First let's look at the Scriptures where they appear as men.
Genesis 18:1-2, 19:1, 4-5 tells of when the Lord appeared in His pre-incarnate form to Abraham and Lot along with two angels. “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground.....And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.......But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.” These angels are identified as men.
Daniel 8:16b-17 “Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.” Daniel calls Gabriel “he”. Daniel is identifying Gabriel as a man. Again in Luke 28:29, Luke identifies Gabriel as a man. “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.”
(continued below)
Michael, the archangel is also identified as a “he”. Daniel 10:21 “But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.” Daniel 12:1 “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Jude 1:9 “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” Revelation 12:7 “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.” Michael is identified with the pronouns he, his, and is called a prince, not a princess.
DeleteSo we can clearly see that both Gabriel and Michael and the two angels that appeared to Abraham and Lot are male in gender or manifest as male in gender. So where are the female angels? If it were not for this verse, one might assume that angels are either all male, or are sexless and just referred to as male for the sake of ease as we are used to referring to people in one gender or the other. But this verse does exist, so it must be taken as truth.
In Zechariah 5:9 we see the vision of Zechariah about the whore Babylon. In this vision the two angels carrying her to her place in Shinar are called women. “Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.” As humans do not have wings, especially like those of a stork, these women are obviously female angels. So here we see that gender is seen in heaven. We will not become genderless in heaven any more than the angels are genderless. We are partially defined by our gender and that should not change because we have gotten a new body. We simply will not marry, because there is no need to. We will not die.
Now, as verification that angels are not sexless we have that greatly debated passage in Genesis where the Sons of God mate with the daughters of men. A complete article that I have already written can be found on this subject here. http://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2012/01/giants-nephilim-aliens-do-they-exist.html
To any readers,
ReplyDeleteI had promised to get back to some comments Rick made above, for they did need to be answered, but our dialogue got off track. Because I feel it is important to respond to his comments for anyone reading this, even though Rick may never come back to read it, I will post those responses.
First, mutations ARE a result of sin, just as every other problem on the earth is. God created the world and everything in it in perfection. It wasn't until Adam and Eve sinned that decay and death and corruption entered the earth. So yes, all of the problems of the world - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, crime, etc. are the result of sin- original sin and personal sin.
As for the second comment, I am not trying to be insulting, but the comments show a decided lack of knowledge of the Bible. It is stated that God is not the type of deity who punishes children for the sins of other people, He only punishes where it is due. I'm sorry, but that is not true. When Ham sinned against Noah, the curse was placed upon Canaan, Ham's son. When Jephthah rashly made a vow to God to sacrifice whatever met him on his return home (he was thinking it would be one of the animals) and his daughter, his only child, came running out to meet him, he was compelled by his vow to sacrifice her to God. There was no choice because of the laws God had set up, so she suffered for her father's sin of making a rash vow, which is the lesson of that story - don't make rash vows. (I have an article on this story in the archives). In Exodus 20:4-5 we are told “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION of them that hate me.” and Exodus 34:6-7 “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION.” and Numbers 14:18 “The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION.” Deuteronomy 5:8-10 “Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.”
(cont.)
God doesn't have to actively punish the child of the sinner. The sin is generally passed on by the parent. For instance child abuse seems to be passed from generation to generation. It requires someone (most often someone who becomes saved and turns their life over to Christ) to break that cycle. That is the way it is with sin. It is passed on by the parent to the child for generations, because children do as we do, not as we say. They follow our example and if sin is the example...... On the other hand this is the verse that follows immediately on the heels of the above in Exodus 20, “And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” and you notice in the other verses this condition is also stated again. We also have this verse in Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” The sinner's family is punished for three or four generations. The faithful servant's family is blessed for a thousand generations. So our sins have a direct effect upon not only our immediate family, but our descendants as well. This may be the source of these types of problems. What is in your history? I had things passed on to me which I had to renounce and rebuke and make sure they did not get passed on to my children. I made sure the cycle was broken not only from my side of the family, but from my husband's as well. It also makes me aware that I need to be careful of my own life so that I do not pass on my sins to my descendants.
DeleteThe next thing is about being selfish. The statement was made “Ultimately it is MY life and MY self that I need to make happy” That statement smacks of a selfish attitude. It is an statement that says that you are going to take your happiness no matter what the cost to someone else. If someone said that to you, wouldn't it seem to smack of a selfish attitude to you? It doesn't mean that every act of your life is selfish, it just means that the statement smacked of a selfish attitude. Well....what can I say. It does.
The next thing to be addressed is the pain this sin brings. I understand both physical and emotional/mental pain and can only imagine how painful this is. What I take umbrage at is the statement, “I CAN help the mental and emotional pain that I go through, simply by going on a path that, I believe to be, is right.” That is the point I am trying to make. It doesn't matter what YOU believe to be right. It is what GOD says is right that matters. It is not of concern to God how we feel or think about His rules being agreeable to us or not. He wants us to obey them.
(cont.)
It was stated that hours had been spent in pray and the doors opened to pursue this agenda. Well, let me tell a story. I have, or had, two friends who loved the Lord and lived lives that reflected that love of God in every way. At one point some years back they both started listening to an internationally known “Christian” man, who has since been since shown to be a fraud and con who preyed on his listeners. During the course of the years this went from bad to worse as they got further and further into his teachings. Despite my multiple attempts over the years to warn them and show them that this man was not preaching what the Bible was saying, they dismissed God's Word in favor of this man's words. At one point I was told that they had been praying and “God” had confirmed to them everything this man had said. I made one last desperate attempt to show them that the Bible said this man was a fraud by his teachings and actions. Desperate because one of them and her husband had literally signed their lives' possessions away, as of a certain date when the world was supposed to end. When the stuff hit the fan, (and the world didn't end) they both found their spiritual lives a disaster, not knowing what to believe anymore. (I have no idea where the one who had made arrangements for the dispersal of her material possessions is at now with that situation.) Their faith had been shipwrecked at the very least, and I have no idea where their faith (if it still exists) is now, for this disaster led them to sever their relationship with me. (I am guessing out of embarrassment.) When they told me that “God” had confirmed this to them through prayer (by opening doors), I told them that since the Word of God said that what they believed was not right, that this was not God who was opening the doors or speaking to them. This was Satan deceiving them. When we want to walk out of God's path and go our own way despite what God has said, it opens the door to Satan and gives him the right to deceive us, just as he deceived Eve when she opened the door by accepting his lie and then adding to God's Word herself. If something is in disagreement with the Word of God, no door opening, no communication via dream, visions, a thought popping into one's head, etc. is from God. When we want to sin, God will let us sin, and sin opens the door to Satan to then lead us down the merry path of destruction. I believe that is who opened your door. How different we are is irrelevant. It doesn't change God's laws and His requirement for our obedience to those laws.
DeleteAs for the Native American shamans being homosexual. Well, I already posted a link above as to what God has to say about that sin. If you need to read more on what God says, here is the link to my article on that again, although I listed it above in the article. http://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/08/is-being-gay-okay-and-can-gay-person-go.html
It is an abomination to Him and those who practice it unrepentantly will suffer the punishment that God says He is going to give to them for their disobedience to His laws. I have absolutely no control over that. He is the boss; He calls the shots. He was very clear in the Bible as to what the consequences are. That really has nothing to do with how the people lived or what the Europeans did to them. Your example was irrelevant to the problem. It is an individual spiritual matter between God and them.
This should answer all the statements posed.
this by far is the most uneducated blog i have ever seen....you are as bad a salad bar christian as i have ever seen and are just as guilty of picking verses that suit your agenda ..... as rick said ... i hope you havent been eating shellfish ... and that mixed polyester cotton blend yup you deserve death for that... every time you menstrate i hope you leave your dwelling and sleep seperate from your husband for you are unclean in the eyes of the lord! and your husband and kids hope they never touched a football cus well that is unclean too....hope your husband never shaved hius face cus surely he won't be allowed in heaven either for that one! but surely as you stated you follow all of God's laws because you are a good obedient follower right?
ReplyDeleteDo you feel better now that you've told me just what you think of me? I am sure it will disappoint you to know that how you feel doesn't affect me in the least. Here are some points in response.
Delete1) In case you hadn't noticed, although I am guessing you are so unfamiliar with the Bible that you wouldn't know, I used a great many New Testament verses, not just Old Testament ones. It's wrong there too.
2) As for uneducated, at least I can spell, punctuate, and use grammar correctly.
3) Yes, I do try to be a good servant. When I do sin, I repent and try to keep from doing it again.
4) Your not liking God's truth doesn't make it go away any more than speeding invalidates the speed limit.
5) It's your life. You can do as you wish and believe as you want, but God is more powerful than you, and He has standards. He gave His Son to suffer an agonizing death, taking your sins, so that you wouldn't have to spend eternity in hell. But that gift is not without some response on our part. You have to believe in and obey Him. You ignore His Word at your own risk. HE chooses who lives with Him and who doesn't. It is HIS dwelling place after all. Now when you stand before God, you can't say you were never warned.
Read the entire thing and all I can determine is that Connie is not a true Christian. God will judge you on the way you judged others, and that's all that really matters. You can hate all you like, but in the end, you'll be the one to suffer for it for all eternity.
DeleteProverbs ch 18 v 2 A FOOL TAKES NO DELIGHT IN UNDERSTANDING, BUT ONLY TO HIS OWN OPINION!! It's really pointless to try to have one understand what is reall being said, which is truth and facts in the statement above to try to get a pure ignorant person to understand! The less one values the bible and the TRUTH , THE LESS "CONTEMPT" ONE WILL HAVE FOR THE WAY OF "THE WICKED". v4 says The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom( the bible) as a flowing brook. Meaning the worldly wisdom of man is like a brackish pool that quickly dries up; however for the man who knows and understands the bible, his "mouth" will be as "deep waters."v 5 it is not good to accept the person of the WICKED, TO overthrow the righteous in judgment. Meaning the only correct "judgment" in the world is that which comes from "the righteous." Mostly and with GREAT LOSS , THEY ARE IGNORED!! People often misinterpret what the true meaning of something you may read in the bible. If you are sincere with your walk and relationship with God , you should pray before reading for understanding and if you have a good king James bible it will have the defenition of words
Deleteand quoted scripture in the back . All sin is against God and we are not perfect, but the real question is knowing this are you still purposly doing what God forbids us not to? You cannot ask for forgivness, but yet continue to still commit the same sins you keep wanting God to forgive you for!! Are you living to please God in everyway , everyday? What would Jesus do? God certainly would not have made a cruel remark as you did and spoke death on someone! Do you think God is pleased with that?? You seriously have things you need to work on and repent that was not kind of you at all you are clearly caught up in the world!! Oh yea just because you quote scripture dosen't make you a saint! The devil knows the bible front and back aswell!! You will know who God's true servants are by their fruits!! Meaning the way they treat, act ,talk to others and think!
Mo85, You don't have to get so nasty. Connie is right, and she hasn't misquoted or twisted anything that I have read. You are very combative.
DeleteIt is a common occurrence that people who want to willfully sin against God and His laws believe that anyone who embraces and stands for God's truth must hate people who willfully sin. This is not true. I do not hate people because they are sinners. If that were true, I'd have to hate everybody on the planet, including myself. If I hated homosexuals or transgenders/sexuals, or adulterers, or whatever sin you want to plug in there, I would not be warning them of God's impending wrath that will be coming soon when He returns, (or sooner for a person if someone dies before He returns). I would just let you die in your sins if I didn't care. Love is willing to speak out with the truth to try to save others, even when that truth is unpopular and makes a person the object of other people's hate, such as the hate directed at me.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you do not want to accept God's truth does not make it any less the truth and calling me names will not change it either. It is what it is. Again, you are shooting the messenger. I didn't make the rules, I am just passing them on and warning you that if you break the law, you'll be convicted of the crime. That's God's rule, not mine. Your lifestyle choice does not affect me one way or the other. It does affect any possibility of your having a relationship with God, however. If you want to hate the author of the rules, then aim your hate at God, not the messenger. Do you hate the doctor if he gives you bad news about your medical condition? This is the same thing. I am telling you the disease and the cure (get right with God by admitting you sin, repenting or forsaking your sin, and accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior, then following God in obedience and living a holy life). Not my fault or problem if you don't want the medicine. That's between you and God.
Once upon a time I entertained the idea that God existed, but people like you have long since proven me wrong. No "loving" God would create hatemongering messengers in his image. Either he is a hateful bastard who revels in the torture and outcasting of certain types of people by his own followers, or you are just cooking up justifications for the judgments you pass upon others in the name of some idea somebody else made up long ago.
DeletePeople like you taught me that God doesn't exist, plain and simple. You turned me away from the faith, and many of my friends as well. We love one another and don't judge each other, so how could we follow a religion that promotes the exact opposites of those things?
Sorry, but I choose to believe that people like you have the whole thing wrong. I'd like you to know that you are seriously hurting transgendered people, though, and I urge you to retract it. You won't be converting a single soul with the message you put forth. I know the world is full of hate in the name of a "loving" religion, and that will never change, but I wish it could be otherwise, and it makes me terribly sad.
To any trans/queer folk out there reading this: please, don't listen to what this person has to say.
Your words, "I choose to believe that people like you have the whole thing wrong," says it all. You have chosen to reject God and His truth and believe the lie. That is your prerogative and God allows you to do that. You know, I didn't come up with these rules myself, and I am getting a little weary of pointing that out to people who are too filled with animosity to think logically. I am just telling you what the Bible says. I have no personal grudge against anyone. While I have never known a transgender, I have or have had friends and family who are homosexual/lesbians. I love them dearly and we get along great. Do I think God will judge their sin. Yes, as He will all of us, including me. Does that stop me from loving them? No, of course not. They are nice people. Again, I reiterate, you are killing the messenger, not the author, but none of you seem to get that point. You don't shoot your doctor when he pronounces your illness, do you?
DeleteYour rejection of God did not come from anybody but yourself. When you stand before God, He will not accept the excuse that others wouldn't approve your sins, or act as you wanted them to, therefore you rejected Him because of them. You stand or fall on your own. You have been told the truth by God in the Bible and that is what God will point to as your lack of excuse, as that is His personal message to you. He will say that He told you and you chose to reject Him. I did not write the following verses, He did.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Ex. 20:3 (Setting up your own rules about what is right and wrong is making yourself God)
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rom.3:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 6:23
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Prov.14:12
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb. 6:26-31
Mankind chooses to sin against God. In the greatest love that has ever been, God gave His only Son to suffer not only the physical torture, but take upon Himself the eternal torture and punishment of everyone's sins. We have the choice to either accept that free gift and live according to this LOVING God's ways in response to the love He gives us, or we can hate him as you obviously do, and tell Him that we don't "need His stinkin' gift". And He will gratify your desire by allowing you to spend an eternity where His presence does not exist. He will not intervene in anybody's free choices there, so expect that you will have company with the likes of not only Hitler and his ilk, but Satan and all his minions. They will no longer be restrained by God from doing to you exactly what they want to do. It won't be the party some think it will be.
DeleteIf the "trans/queer" folk as you call them (those are your words, not mine) don't want to listen, then this is what they can expect according to God.
1 Cor. 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, NOR EFFIMINATE, NOR ABUSERS OF THEMSELVES WITH MANKIND, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Rev. 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all LIARS, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Rev.22:14-15 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and WHOSOEVER LOVETH AND MAKETH A LIE.
God is both a loving God of mercy and a God of wrath. It is possible for both those things to exist side by side. Read my article in the archives on that subject if you want to understand how.
Really all I can deduce from this is that no matter what kind of a committed, loving relationship I am in, I'm going to hell. Presuming there is a hell, all my friends will be there for the most part. So long as I get to go to the heaven where all the gays and transpeople are, I'm good. I guess that the place would go by the name "Hell," but the only hell I can think of would be the place where all the self-righteous Christians go... and it goes by the name "Heaven." I definitely do NOT want to go there.
ReplyDeleteThese blogs have touch my life, I'm a 17 and I had problems discovering my sexuality and I must admit I experimented with a guy several times, he as well had problems discovering sexuality note I was 10 yrs old, this experimenting lasted for 5 yrs and I was and I'm a christian I really love God but I had a battle to fight as a child, I had christian parents who love me very much and thought me the things of God but little did they know that I was struggling with my sexuality. As a boy I was attracted to guys but also to ladies. I never toll anyone about it because I was too afraid but I fought for years crying to God to help me sometimes I would naturally feel as thou my heart was ripping out because after experimenting I would feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit and I would repent but few months later me and the guy was back again and I wondered if I was possessed, but I realize that from having oral sex I had created and ungodly soul tie because he was the only guy I was mainly attached to. I ask God to deliver me I begged and begged,until one day I told the guy that was the same age as me 15yrs old that God wants me to cut this nasty thing out and I have to stop because it is destroying my relationship with God. And I really value my relationship with God, after that I still struggled because he was my neighbor and was close to me we were even pre-school classmate but I had to come to the decision that my relationship for God is more valuable than my feelings for a guy, and that I was made in the image of God himself and that I really need to live totally for him. The experimenting totally ended and I started focusing on things that are heavenly because what I came to find out that life is about overcoming something that the devil couldn't over in heaven and that is pride, what do I mean? Why did Eve eat the forbidden fruit because the devil trick her and said that you would be just like God and why Adam ate it because he saw something in Eve that he didn't had and that is Knowledge of Good and Evil pride lead to all of this they wanted to be wise not as God but as gods why did I said "as gods" because God breathed into them life and gave them dominion over the earth, they had great wisdom they named all God's creators but they did lack the knowledge of good and evil which the devil trick them by saying "if you attain this knowledge you would be like gods" . But where am I going with this? I view pride at a different angle we use the word "accept" but it is actually pride we are proud to be transgender and homosexuals and nobody can't change that we proud to take sin as our partner and make him at home in our hearts and call it a disorder. When in fact it is the devil deceiving us of who we really are in God by making us proud to accept sin, to make us believe that we have a disorder or we are in the wrong body or we can't control who we are attracted to....I have come to realize that the devil is a big time liar. I have been delivered from the lie that the devil toll me "I am gay" and I as a child I believed it but not anymore I realize that the thoughts that God have are good and lovely that I would have an expected end meaning eternity with him. Because to be like God is to follow what he says and how do we do that? through the Word the Bible and when you become proud of what God has made you and his righteousness then you are becoming more and more like him..... ITS A FIGHT BUT IF WE HAVE GOD ON OUR SIDES WE AREN'T TO WORRY JUST BELIEVE IN HIM AND HE WILL HELP YOU OVERPOWER THE LIES OF SATAN AND ENLIGHTEN YOU OF HIS MARVELOUS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE AND IN THE END BEING AN OVERCOMER YOU CAN REIGN AND ROLE WITH HIM IN HIS KINGDOM TO COME BECAUSE YOU DID SOMETHING THE DEVIL REFUSED TO DO AND THAT IS YOU REPLACE YOUR PRIDE FOR LOVE, FOR GOD IS LOVE AND IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR GOD YOU ARE APART OF GOD. Thank you for reading my post it toke a lot out of me to type it but I'm glad I did.
ReplyDeleteHi, as I read this comment I just think to myself how lucky you were to be attracted to both female and male. Also that you were comfortable in your own skin. If that were my case I would choose to be with males because that's what's right before god. Unfortunately, I have never been attracted to males and I never felt comfortable as a female. I envy straight males because I myself am transgender. Born a female, I am lesbian but always felt like I was straight. Connie you're right, either way i'm a sinner because even if I don't go through the transition i'm still sinning by being with the same sex. I strongly believe I was created to be a straight christian man. I will never go against what god says, I myself am a christian as well. Grew up in a christian home, beautiful family. There's questions I have that'll never be answered till the day I die and stand before god. For example, why did he create me this way? For people who say you're not born this way, god doesn't make mistakes? I don't understand how that's god making a mistake, scientifically things happen while you're in the womb and/or during pregnancy and please tell me how a little girl grows up being attracted to women, feeling alone because she never realized other people like her existed, realizing she was a female once she was old enough to understand, feeling disappointed because she knew her life was wrong, wanting to commit suicide because her family would disapprove? Throughout high school I dated boys because I knew that's what I was suppose to do not ever because I was happy with them or felt any emotional connection or attraction towards them. I just did it so I could be accepted by god and my family. Worst years of my life, not only did I hate myself for forcing something I didn't want to do but it pushed me to suicide which I tried but obviously I didn't succeed. Again, you're right it is a choice to pursue god or not. But don't act like what people say about us doesn't influence the situation. It hurts to not be accepted whether that's being gay or just being different. It's very easy for a heterosexual to tell us homosexuals how wrong it is because lucky for you, it's not something you've ever been through. It's not easy, the darkest times of my life was when I tried to live a lifestyle that fit my religious beliefs. I've watched christian homes fall apart because they tried to live a heterosexual lifestyle because of their beliefs, started a family. Together for 25 years just fall apart because that's something you can't escape. So basically what i'm trying to say is there is no cure for homsexuality/trans people. We either be with the opposite sex and force that relationship or be with the same sex and let it happen naturally. I would consider myself gay if I was attracted to a male. I'd feel gay for that matter. Being trans is very hard to explain or understand but the way you feel as a female is the same way I feel about being a male. Unfortunately, I physically don't match that. Sorry if what i'm saying is out of order or confusing i'm trying to make this short and simple because I could write a book about my life and my thoughts about the subject. I do believe god created us for a reason, god has a plan bigger than what people intend. I believe this world would be way more destructive and over populated if people like us didn't exist.
DeleteI have found god, I accepted him into my heart about 4 years ago and I have to say he's blessed me so much and i'm so grateful he saved me from depression. I can't say i'm fully happy because I still battle my faith every single day when it's confirmed i'm going to hell. I choose to pursue god because I have faith and I believe in him. As much as I want to give up by what people have to say I continue to fight through it. I think that says more about my faith than it does for someone who lives a heterosexual lifestyle who's not challenged spiritually the way I am. I go to church, I attend bible study, I love worship music. I love god, i love learning about him and his word. I love spreading it. Anyways, just a thought
DeletePlease don't say there is no cure. That isn't true. The cure is to put Christ above all of the desires that He has said are not correct. While your sin may be trans/homosexual, that doesn't mean that others of us, who do not struggle with that sin, are not struggling equally with sins of our own. Sin is sin. If you believe that your struggle is greater than anybody else's, it is not true. It is simply different. We have all been allowed to endure a thorn in the flesh, for the growth of our spirit. It is how we deal with that thorn that determines whether or not it will lessen, go away, or get stronger. Feeding any sin makes it stronger. Starving it makes it lessen. Whether or not it goes away is up to God and whether or not He thinks we have reached the point where we no longer need that thorn to conform us to His image. I have found that when I indulge in even mental fantasy about a sin, it feeds my desire to commit the sin. When I banish the thoughts when they enter my mind, it lessens my desire to commit it. I struggle daily to try to overcome the desire, and spend much time in repentance and prayer when I can't get the desire to go away. The one thing I try very hard to do is to not allow myself to be in a situation where the sin might be able to occur in more than my thoughts. We are to run from it, not to it.
DeleteGod does not create us with these problems. Sin has forced itself into the equation. I have come to the conclusion that in many cases, these ungodly feelings come because we have opened ourselves up (whether intentionally or have had it forced upon us, which I think the latter is actually often more the case) to demonic influence in that area in our lives. If you do not get rid of the demon, you will not get rid of the inclination. In talking with the lesbian in my family I found she had been sexually abused by her own brother when she was small. I know that changed her life. And I am pretty sure the brother was abused by a man of the cloth before he ever abused her. I truly believe that much of this problem is passed almost like a virus - a demonic virus, and it cannot be gotten rid of until the demon is banished.
I have seen both homosexuals and a transsexual (who had had reassignment surgery) come to the Lord and find the inclinations completely removed. Unfortunately for the transsexual, it required a repeat surgery to try to undo what had been done. It could never be like it was before surgery, as this was person born as a male, but at least it was cosmetically proper and the inclination was gone. So there is hope for a cure. With God all things are possible. But putting Christ first, acknowledging that it is a sin, and forsaking it is a necessary process to even hope of receiving the cure.
I've been putting christ first, i've been praying every day and every night. I admit my sins. But that's where it gets confusing because you say no sin is greater than another or less, did god say that? It's actually pretty interesting cause i just learned at my church this past weekend the myths christians tend to believe, that was one of them. This series we're learning "god never said that" another is god will never give you something you can't handle. Another myth? Did god say that? Like I said I love learning new things but at the same time it's frustrating that even christians don't have it all right and it is true. People do tend to interpret the bible in many different ways. The scriptures you read, i've heard christians speak differently about them. I've heard many different interpretations from the bible. Nothing in the bible states anything about transexuals the way it does homosexuality. I've accomplished a lot of things through christ through prayer and dedication for example. I started cutting at the age of 12, tried committing suicide at the age of 19. I abused alcohol, I cursed and surrounded myself with people who influenced my life in such a negative way. But when I asked god into my heart. He cleaned out my life, I went from blacking out every night to barely drinking two beers every once in a while. I cursed almost every other word and now I hardly ever do, my music choice has changed so much and the people I use to call my best friends are now strangers. God does wanders I do know that. He's brought me a long way but i'm sorry, nothing about my homosexuality/transgender has changed. I feel guilty, i'll always feel guilty. But I can't imagine living my entire life being unhappy settling with a male so I can be closer to heaven. It's very hard.
DeleteAs for the rough childhood you explained, I get that cause in some cases that's what happens. But in my case there's nothing tragic that has happened to me as a child. Like I said I grew up in church, in a christian home. Love both of my parents to death, I never woke up one day and thought about women. The moment I realized I was a female was the moment I realized I was a lesbian. Whatever age that might be where you start feeling any emotional or physical attraction to someone. I fit in with the males, always trying to impress the females. Sometimes I would forget I was a girl. I was embaressed my entire life ever dressing like one. Those are the questions that'll never be answered, is how that can happen when it's a "choice" but anyways like I said i'm just speaking my thoughts. I'm not saying god is wrong, I just know I never chose this for myself. I would never choose to commit suicide when all I have to do is simply be with a guy. Makes no sense
DeleteI agree that some things are assumed that God never said. He never said that He would not give us more than we could bear in the way of trials, but He did say this, 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
DeleteHe said that when we are tempted to sin, He will provide a way for us to walk away so that we aren't forced into sinning. When it comes to bearing trials, when they are too much for us to handle on our own, that is when we turn to Him and ask Him to help bear our load. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
As for no sin being greater than any other, the one sin that keeps a sinner from entering heaven is not accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. The other sins we commit determine either how much punishment a non-believer will get, for they are judged according to their works, or how much consequences you will receive in this life, for God let's us suffer the consequences of our choices. Sins against our bodies is going to bring on certain types of consequencea that could lead to death. Sins such as deceit and lying can lead to consequences such as loss of reputation, or jail. Is one sin worse than the other in God's eyes when it comes to just being a sin? God says, James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
If we were to look to the law for salvation, and broke just one commandment, we would be guilty of breaking them all, for breaking any one of them is sufficient to send a person to hell. There is no difference between sins in that respect. And that is what I meant when I said a sin is a sin. Any sin separates us from God in some way. For an unbeliever, it separates them from eternal salvation. For a believer it interferes with their relationship with God until repented.
As for your feelings, you say there was no traumatic encounter that could open demonic influence. It doesn't have to have been a traumatic encounter such as abuse. There are many subtle ways of opening the doors. Rock music is one of the greatest ways of Satan getting into a person's head and life. If you go to my archives and read the article on "Is It Really Christian Music?" you will see what I mean. And there are a multitude of other ways also. These days with the media saturation, the variety of electronic things that we engage in from video games to internet surfing, we have the potential of opening hundreds of doors to demonic influence every day. That is why I think this generation struggles so much in its walk with Christ. The evil spiritual influence surrounds us constantly and it is a continuous battle to go against it. I'm sorry you have these feelings for I know it is a terrible struggle for you. Just as it is a struggle for the person who struggles with porn or adultery or gambling or alcoholism or drugs to deal with their problems on a constant basis. I can only tell you to persevere for apparently if you have tried everything under the sun and you still deal with these feelings, this is the thorn in the flesh God is asking you to believe His grace is sufficient to help you deal with. Paul had to struggle with a thorn also, and I believe God gives all of us a thorn for our spiritual growth. I would ask you to leave no stone unturned though. Pray against any demonic influence just in case there is a demon that has put its claws into you to harass you. God bless.
Bless you Paul. This was so worth the effort you put into it. It is beautiful, beautiful story. What a testimony of what God can do in the life of someone who turns themselves over to Him. You are an inspiration to me to work harder on the battles against sin in my own life. You understood that Satan was behind your sin and are an overcomer. You are the evidence of the power of God and the fact that this is not how God wants anyone to be and that people are not born to be this way. It is sin reigning in our lives that causes these sins and perversions from God's perfect ways. You were so correct in understanding that experimentation opened the door to Satan to hold you in bondage. Thank the Lord He has set you free. Not from the struggle perhaps, but from the stain of sin. May God bless you and keep you.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteUnless someone has a valid intelligent debate to put forth, I will no longer leave up comments that are merely hateful.
ReplyDeleteConnie, i wont make this long i promise. I came upon your blogs by accident. I was watching quite a few videos by Mike Hoggard, and was having a lot of problems with them. So i googled his name and found a link to you. I read it and you confirmed what i was thinking. These are dangerous times. Anyway, i spent a lot of time reading through your blogs and i cant disagree with anything youve said. Namely because you quote from scripture. I felt like i should reply to this topic because as i read Ricks and Andreas replies, i couldnt help but notice that they were both mistakenly accusing you of judging. I just want to point out that at no point in the debate that i saw or felt that you were being judgmental. It was clear as day to me and to many others no doubt. I can appreciate Ricks arguements, trust me i know. However its clear that he is as confused as i was. Satan is a powerful force, and i believe his most dangerous weapon is the ability to distort and twist scripture in ones mind. Im not a chistian yet, and i dont know why im not. Im reading the bible now(KJV) and im struggling a little bit in understanding it. Iv always believed in god and iv always believed that Jesus died for us. However i still havnt made the full comitment to Jesus, and i dont understand why. Im very scared because i know the second coming is VERY close. You can almost feel it. Its in the air, and im very uneasy. Im thankful i found your blog Connie and i will continue to follow it. God bless you.
DeleteJay
Bless you Jay for seeing what I hoped others would see. I am not judging these people, but God has a truth that must be told. I sincerely care about these people who need the Lord so much, but they only see it as hate. Satan has a way of making people perceive what is being said in a completely different way from the way the person is intending it. I am very used to this happening to me. If people only understood how Satan is almost at full force in deceiving them. It only awaits a little while before he will be given full reign to do his worst. I will pray that you make that final commitment soon, for you are right. Time is getting very short and what lies ahead will test you to the utmost. Don't let Satan stop you. Rebuke him and do what you must. God is already beginning the sifting process with His church. If you are enjoying this blog, try my endtimesstudies.blogspot.com blog. (Watch the spelling) It is an eschatological study that begins in Genesis and goes through Revelation and then goes topical. God bless.
DeleteConnie
I feel very sorry for the both of you. Really and truly, I do.
ReplyDeleteI, really and truly, do feel sorry for you, for when it comes your time to stand before Christ, and He sends you to hell, then you will remember all of your words and how you didnt want to be anywhere there were christian people....Hell is real....and Satan is real....make no mistake about that...I am sorry to say, but when you get to Hell, its not going to be some huge party...as Satan would have a lot of people thinking
DeleteI want to start off by saying that I'm a Christian and as you can assume, no I don't support gay or lesbian couples. I also don't support transgender people either. It's not just because I'm a Christian and NO I don't hate gays or transgenders. I simply don't agree.
ReplyDeleteWell, to back up what I'm saying I'm going to use God's word.
Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you,'declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Psalm 139:13 "For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb."
So put the two together... God knows the plans he has for you so he made you the way you are to accomplish what you need to accomplish. God has HUGE plans for us. If we try to change who we are, we change who we can reach. God has made us a certain way to reach certain people who only we could reach.
I'm going to breakdown Psalm 139:13. First part, "For you created my inner most being" . What's your inner most being? Your personality!! God wouldn't make you a boy and then give you a girl's personality!!! He wouldn't put you through that!! He loves you!!!
Second part, "you knit me together in my mother's womb" He carefully created you. God doesn't make a mistake. Not in sin wise, not in creation wise. Look below for some encouragement.
John 3:16 "FOr God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son to die for us so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
My story:
So, guys have hurt me... Christian guys, non-christian guys, my dad, my step-dad, my brothers. I thought that no guy would EVER like me because all these other guys hurt me and obviously didn't like me. I hadn't been hurt very much by girls so I thought that only girls could love me. Even like that. I never because gay, lesbian, transgender or anything like that because I stood firm in my belief that I"M NOT A MISTAKE. I'M NOT THE PROBLEM, I'M THE ANSWER. God has kept me from alot of pain, alot of hurt but that doesn't mean that He will protect me from it all. I have freewill and make choices. Sometimes I have to fall flat on my face and decide if I'm going to get back up or stay down. God will help me up, but after and only after i make up my mind to get up and ASK him for help. God loves us. Simply put. If he seems far away, it's you who left him. He will never leave, NEVER. He's our father,the only one that will stay RIGHT THERE the WHOLE time.Trust me I've had a dad and a step-dad. Rely on God because he loves you and the bible says "He'll never leave you nor forsake you"
This is all coming from a person, not a PK (pastor's kid), not a celebrity or tabloid, it's coming from a sincere heart and a truthful person. Thanks for your time.
read 1john1,2,3,4,5 and remember 1cor10:12,13..God the Father is my standard, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Word, and His Holy Spirit teaches us all things...keep up the good fight connie..luv ya..
ReplyDeleteThanks Skip.
DeleteThis was an insightful blog. As a minister of 37 years this subject of Transgender and Transsexual belief and lifestyles is something that I have been recently confronted with. I understand what the Bible says homosexuality and over the years when I am approached by a person struggling in this area, I have shown them the scriptural mandate concerning their choices. But recently children as young as 6 and 7 years old are starting to define themselves as Transgender and tragically many of the parents are allowing them to do so. Hopefully with more good bloggers such as you shedding like on this deception that is trying to take over our society, it will help stop some man or woman from being ensnared by the enemy.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work!
Thank you. I'm glad you found it helpful and I hope those in confusion do also, but wide is the path that leads to destruction. I fear most will turn a deaf ear to the truth.
DeleteGod bless you Connie, you seem sincerely committed to the Lord and the Lord will continue to use you to shine light so always keep the faith..no matter what..for whoever endures to the end the same shall be SAVED!
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow believer I was moved by the Holy Spirit not only to find this article but also to respond in writing and prayer for you and anyone else reading this for encouragement and enlightenment through the WORD of GOD.
We all have struggles...but without God's help we are doomed in this world of sin. This ENTIRE world system we all currently live in is deceived by the devil...from music to movies to tv, radio, cartoons, video games, magazines...corporate america, even religion...Satan has deceived the entire world ...just like the bible tells us in Revelations 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out,THAT OLD SERPENT,called THE DEVIL and SATAN, which DECEIVETH THE WHOLE WORLD:he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
This would seem morbidly grim..and rightfully so...but God is greater than any problem...He being GOD had a plan to deal with sin...its creator and subsequent victims no matter what the sin would be..Deception, Rebellion, Murder, Theft, Idolatry,Adultery, Sexual Immorality..no matter what ....
Jesus Christ is the solution..the only WAY..so he chose the laying down of his Life "before the foundation of the world" , so that mankind could truly LIVE ....as God he knew that all beings He created would need him to live..since there can only ever be one GOD, everything would have to be obedient to God in order to live forever in harmony with GOD..since God is merciful, just, love, holy and righteous...He made provision for free-will to be in the design of all of his creatures...
So, here we are..how will we respond to GOD with his gifts that He gave us? Will we believe His Word by faith? or reject His Word and suffer needlessly??
ReplyDeleteGod gave us feelings, but he also gave "every man THE measure of faith" as well as minds so we could "reason together with GOD" and not join in rebellion against him... I read your entire blog and prayerfully you along with any others will consider more in depth what GOD wants ..."obedience instead of sacrifice" SO many people are hurting in the world and are looking in all the wrong places for validation instead of redemption...happiness instead of holiness...acceptance instead of repentance..lifestyles to live instead of eternal life to gain and experience true joy, peace and unity in Jesus Christ if one accepts the grace Almighty God extends to all of humanity in His one and only begotten Son...
The bible is GOD's WORD and not man's opinion. God is GOD and He proves who and what HE is by HIS WORDS.....the truth is that there is but one way to live, and this is to LOSE YOUR STANDARDS OF LIFE..meaning your lifestyle must change to GOD's standard in Jesus Christ ....how? by the power of HIS HOLY SPIRIT...there are two types of people...those who have faith in GOD through Jesus Christ and those who are rebellious to God and depend on the world for civil rights, instead of living in right covenant with GOD...but we know that the devil is a LIAR...Sadly, even in the church, we have been taught that Hell is the destination of the wicked and heaven for the believer..the full truth is solely not on mankind's feelings...dogmas, traditions or creeds...it has always and will be about GOD's WORDS...this is about LIFE or DEATH..Romans 6:23 "For the wages of SIN is DEATH, but the GIFT OF GOD is ETERNAL LIFE through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD."
The enemy is crafty and the only way to defeat him and his fallen angels are with the WORD OF GOD ..we must live it and believe it..even if like Apostle Peter said about Paul's writings "that they are difficult to understand"..the bible also tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths"...old english or not, we all can comprehend clearly what this means... warning people about burning forever will not change their heart..neither will promises of heaven..the simple truth is the devil is bound to destruction so his pride keeps him along with anyone else who listens to him, be it fallen angel or fallen man, on a one-way collision course with the final condemnation of being thrown into the Lake of FIRE & BRIMSTONE.. this is the SECOND DEATH...notice the bible is clear that this is DEATH..not LIFE...only Christ can offer eternal life..the devils original lie to Eve was about immortality, wisdom and pride...his first lie was and has been the most effective...Plato and Socrates taught the immortality of the soul..which crept into church doctrine...but let it be as clear to anyone that "God is not a man that he should lie"...these false traditions and lies will never remove the authority and truth of God's word....Matthew 24:35"heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." God bless you Connie and my prayers to all who are struggling with sin..call on Jesus Christ..surrender yourself to the Lord..He will give you eternal rest, joy and peace..He will give you LIFE
I would disagree with you on your interpretation of people's reaction. I recall one of my friend's parents rejecting transgenderism because of their Hinduism, and people were just as angry about that as they were when a student was pulled out of school by her Christian parents because she was a lesbian. Perhaps it seems that people are specifically targeting your religion because the Christian religion, as far as I can see, has a stronger message of propagation than other religions. This means that there are more major Christian organizations denouncing homosexuality and transgenderism as a sin than other religions. I think it's good that you're sticking to your beliefs and not letting people scare you into rescinding your spirituality, I also think it's good that you express your beliefs in a respectful, quiet manner, rather than trying to shove them down people's throats. However, I often question why people are so certain of how God defines gender and sex. The way I see it, God built us all in a certain way, and we are born in the image he chose for us. That means, if someone grows up feeling like they're a man, even if their physique says otherwise, God wanted them to be a man. Who says that God isn't creative enough to put the spirit of a man in the body of a woman? That sounds like the work of an artist, and I've always seen Him as such. I trust that if someone feels like their true love is of the same gender, that's because God put that person on earth specifically to form that perfect pair. I have faith that God knows what he's doing when He makes us, and he does it with love, creating beauty in each of the features that makes us special. If one of those features happens to be feeling like you belong to the opposite gender, I'm sure that God intended it to be so.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Galen. I appreciate that you could disagree with me without the hate and anger that has often accompanied comments here.
DeleteIt is true that Christianity is not the only religion that feels this is a sin, but it is also true that Christianity takes the most hate from the people from these groups. I believe the reason for this is because Satan knows that Christianity is the truth that leads people to God and so he targets it above any other religion, for no other religion is a threat to him. It is the only religion in which someone paid for our sins to bridge that gap between us and God and reconcile us to Him. No other religion offers that other than Christianity. Please understand when I say Christianity I am NOT referring to the organized church or churches that exist from Catholicism to Protestantism to all its offshoots. I am of the opinion that these organizations no longer offer the truth. I am referring to the relationship that exists between a person and God, when they accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and develop a relationship with the Father through Him, learning about Him and who He is through the Bible, not through the doctrines of some man-made institution known as the Christian church.
Why I can be so certain that God feels this way, is that I have spent my entire life learning who God is, not through the church, which not only did not give me a great deal of help in that way, but taught me many lies, but through an intense study of His Word, which, although transcribed by men, is truly His message directly to us from Him. God simply would not do what you suggest, because to Him it would be a blasphemy of His original creation and intentions. He made man and woman to be counterparts to each other, not incorporate one within the body of another. What has brought about some of the genetic errors in DNA with people having more than just XX or XY chromosomes is a result of sin and degradation entering into the world. He tells us that all creation groans and has been deteriorating because of that sin, which Jesus died to expiate. Unfortunately we suffer the results of that sin, which can often cause some very bad situations. These individual mutations in chromosomes are not really the subject of this article, as each one of these must go before God and ask Him what He would have them do. I do not stand in judgment of the choice they have to make.
(continued from above) This article is about people who are normal XX or XY and choose to alter their outer appearance to present themselves as someone of the opposite sex. God made it clear in the first book of the Bible that he created mankind to be male and female and that it was for the purpose of not only companionship but to procreate. Altering your genitalia generally means removing that ability to procreate. And presenting yourself of the opposite sex than God created you is a lie and deception, which is sin.
DeleteAs for loving someone of the same gender, I wrote an article on homosexuality that can be found in the archives. God states both in the Old and New Testament that He feels this is an abomination. He further states that people who unrepentantly partake of this sin will not be allowed in heaven. I am not the author of that idea, I am merely telling you that this is what He has said, and since heaven is His home, He does have the right to decide who He invites in, just as I decide who I let into my home. While it would be nice to think that God is all inclusive, He has some standards that He has set, and those who reject those standards, reject Him. As a result, they would not be happy with Him in His home for all eternity anyhow, so He provided a place where they could spend eternity where there will be no trace of His existence. Everyone is responsible for the choice they make as to where they will spend that eternity. I am just a voice in the wilderness warning people of the consequences of thumbing their noses at God, by telling them what He has said. To not choose God is by default to reject Him, so even if a person thinks that they aren't choosing, they are. No choice is a vote against God.
Thank you Connie, for answering my question about this issue. I am a believer and trust Bible 100% but never put together as you did about transgender. I know that God loves everyone no matter what but does consider homosexual life as a sin. Thank you again for your explanation. I am so sorry for aggressive comments.
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome. I am assuming you are the same person as Galen Moller, as those are the only recent comments made. I did not view them as aggressive, but simply stating your views. I don't mind that at all. I just don't like hate talk.
DeleteConnie, I came across your Blog posts as a result of research I was doing on the topic at hand. I recently thought I heard a nationally respected Christian Evangelist answer, in response to a question from a viewer about the reality of Transgender, that "some people are born into the wrong body" I thought that can't be right.
ReplyDeleteAs I had the opportunity to read through this extended conversation , I must tell you that I came away thinking that you have produced a fine apologetic on this issue. Thank you. I especially appreciated the way you steadfastly spoke God's truth in love, when all the world wants from Christians is love and acceptance not Biblical truth.
I also noted that after a trying battle, the Lord rewarded your efforts with support and encouragement from fellow believers. I pray as I am sure you do that some seeds of faith were planted in this community with your plain speaking.
Sophonia, thank you for your kind words and encouragement. It does sometimes get very wearing when one gets so much negative response. However we were told this would be the case and that we should persevere.
DeleteSad to say, just as prophesied by Paul, the Christian church has become very apostate and the leaders, especially those with national platforms, have compromised God's Word in return for praise from the crowds, who have itching ears. We do no good for the cause of Christ when we compromise His truth, we merely lead people to hell.
I do hope that some seeds were planted, but that is God's job to follow up on that. My instructions have been to speak His truth and let Him do the rest.
Connie, God bless you and keep you strong and unwavering for the rest of us. I too came across your blog after watching a Pastor Hobbard You-Tube video. I read the entire thread today and admire your spiritual strength and courage. I struggle daily because my youngest child (32 yoa) is a lesbian. Her partner is a wonderful young lady and person. I love them both dearly,but, fear for their spiritual future. On the other, my other daughter who heterosexual and has two children from two different men and currently not married. So she worries me as well because she has other issues. You fell into my lap at such a perfect time. I thank Jesus for you and your blog. God Bless You. Olga Guerra
ReplyDeleteOlga, I grieve with you for your daughters. I have a lesbian family member also, whom I love dearly and it is painful to know her spiritual destiny if things remain unchanged. In fact, most of my husband's family is unsaved and it is a sad thing to contemplate their fate. One can only pray and try to witness to them. I am so glad that you found strength in my writings. That is what we are to do, encourage each other. Your comment encourages me, for this topic in particular generates a lot of hate mail. Thank you.
DeleteI'm a transexual-intersexual-natal/cis gender woman, so if God don't make mistakes and he created me with a penis and a vagina and I decide to lay or have sexual intercourse in marriage with a man who has a penis like I do or if I decide to lay or have sexual intercourse with a woman who has a vagina like I do , I don't see how I would be wrong or sinning. Transsexuals are intersexual in mind. No Dr. can tell a person who they are, only that person knows who they are. So God clearly let mistakes happens.
ReplyDeleteSo if Im intersexual and have a penis and a vagina and I decide to have sex with a man in marriage or vise verse a woman who has a vagina like I do, call it homosexuality, freaks, etc. I dont care what anyone thinks especially intersexuals like myself. Many intersexuals are really ignorant, they're homosexual if you want to call it a woman who is xxy together with a womann who is xx is plain lesbianism.
ReplyDeleteIf you dress like a woman and are xxy, to be heterosexual you must feel attracted to man xy. And if you are an xxy and are attracted to women, then to be heterosexual you must dress like a man. This is what the Bible of inconsistency tells us.
ReplyDeleteIf you are an xxy woman who dresses like a woman, you need to be attracted to woman, and if you are an xxy man who dresses like a man, then you must be attracted to woman. This is the only way you will be heterosexual, prove yourself to yourself. It is what the Bible of inconsistancy teaches.
ReplyDeleteIf you are an xxy woman who dresses like a woman, you need to be attracted to men, and if you are an xxy woman who dresses like a man, then you must be attracted to woman. This is the only way you will be heterosexual, prove yourself to yourself. It is what the Bible of inconsistancy teaches
ReplyDeleteGod does not make mistakes. Sin has entered the world and corrupted all the good that God created. God, rather than destroy His entire creation decided to let sin run its course, but provided that humans can find redemption through Hi Son, and in the course of time the entire creation will be remade so that it is again perfect and without sin. In the meantime we are told that the whole creation, including us, groans under the weight of sin, which causes all sorts of terrible corruptions of its original creation.
DeleteFor those people with the extra chromosome, I did say that it is between them and God to sort this out, as only He can indicate what the person is to do. I would say that if a person feels inclined to be a man, they should take surgical steps to make that so, and if they feel inclined to be a woman they should do the same. Should their parents make the decision, then I would suggest they stay with that decision, as they have already lost the means of procreation of the opposite gender, so for them to procreate, which is the command God gives us, they should stay as they are.
God allowed His own chosen prophets to be made into eunuchs. Was this a mistake? No. It was a consequence of sin that they had to suffer. Namely, the sin of their own people, for had Israel remained faithful to God, they never would have been taken into captivity, and never made into eunuchs. God does not always protect us from the consequences of sin, even if it is not our own sin. Our only option is to do as Daniel and his three friends did, and accept our circumstances and turn them over to God to do His will in our lives.
The Bible is not inconsistent. People merely do not understand what it says, as they never bother studying it. They make assumptions. Erroneous assumptions. The attitude that God makes mistakes and the Bible is wrong merely comes from a rebellious heart full of anger that refuses to accept God and His love. Possible because they blame Him for their circumstances in life. He is not responsible for sin. We are.
For the person who is XXY, if they turn their lives over to God, they will find the path He has chosen for them, which will then show them how to live in a way that does not condemn them of sin. Again, I make no judgment on their choice, for it is between them and God. My article is about XX and XY people who deliberately choose to stick their finger in God's face and say that they refuse to accept themselves as He made them. They sin against God, themselves and others by living a lie and deception.
There has always been earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, battles, Wars, homosexuality, transexualism or eunuchs, liars, corruption, winners, losers, Kings, rulers, demons, angels, ufo's, rain, famines, rapes, etc- There is nothing new under the Sun. I don't know any intelligent righteous holy father that would throw his own image or child into a lake of fire, especially if he/she believes in him. God is merciful and great in love, compassionate and forgiving. I'm a transexual-intersexual-natal/cis gender woman, so if God don't make mistakes and he created me with a penis and a vagina and I decide to lay or have sexual intercourse in marriage with a man who has a penis like I do or if I decide to lay or have sexual intercourse with a woman who has a vagina like I do , I don't see how I would be wrong or sinning. Homosexuality is a man-made created human stupidity by stupid believers who use God's name to lie. The prophets in the Bible are
ReplyDeleteinconsistent with each other, and Paul the apostle inconsistent with himself. And an inconsistancy we all know is what, a big lie or cover up, don't believe me? Google "Inconsistancies of the Bible" (Here's an example: "Acts 9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man," And " Acts 22:9 "And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me.) Back then there was no plastic for douching, since it had not yet been created, according to today's Science, so anal sex was pure nasty. But we don't live in those days anymore. The church people are always talking about the rapture, wars, hate, survival in case of famines, etc. They seem to push these subjects loads on American people all the time hoping to increase the pace of ending this world by claiming that the world is coming to an end like people throughout the entire A.D. era has, and calling upon God to come get them like the Bible teaches them to for the world is evil; And I have to admit, that does sounds pretty crazy or suicidal in their artistic words. And please stop blaming the government for everything. Isn't it obvious that your government are Christian ruling believing leaders in Christ- many are if you ask them, and those that are' obviously believe the separation of church and state is plain bullshit in their eyes if they cant follow the rules and American laws. There is still an on going debate as to whether or not transsexuals are intersexuals in mind. There are many different types of intersexuals, some of which are transsexuals- I am a woman, just a different type of classy woman. And stop calling upon Jesus, there is no Jesus, because there was no such thing as the letter "J" till the 1500's. In whose name do you cast out demons now, even devils laugh at the name that has no power, "Jesus." It's clear you Christians like to change the truth into a lie.
Much of what you said I have addressed many times over in either my article, or my comments so am not going to debate this issue further. Read what I have written. As for the name Jesus, it is merely the Anglicization of the Greek word Iesous. If you understood languages and translations, you would get it, but apparently you don't. As for God not sending anyone who believes in Him to hell, the demons believe in Him and tremble, but they aren't going heaven. There is more involved than just a head belief. There is a heart acceptance, repentance, and obedience required also. There are no inconsistencies in the Bible, merely a lack of understanding on our part. For instance, how Judas died. One says by hanging, the other by falling and splattering all over. Check my article on how that is reconciled. It is because we often lack something that makes it understandable. As for homosexuality being man-made, you need to read your Bible. God clearly states it is an abomination to Him. Check my article on that topic. Your situation is between you and God, and He will judge you accordingly, not me. I am just telling you what He has said.
Deletehey missy? your 1st mistake was searching google and all these other websites....did you take the time to cross reference these websites with the bible? Im honestly going to take a guess of no...Connie is correct and as far as your statement of you being a transexual due to being born with both genitalia of the sexes? no, you are not a transexual, for your term is wrong...the proper term is hermorphodite but also, from what I can see, your picture is showing you to be more female, for your name as well as your pic shows you to be more female...the only thing is, you were born with a penis as well...and well, although the fact of you having both genitalia making really no difference, since you are mostly female, and you choose to lay with another female, that will make you guilty of having lesbian sex....sorry, but thats the truth in the matter....
Deleteso is transgender wrong because you didnt really answer the quastion and it seem like you was all on one side when you write this stuff you need to open to both sides and answer the quastion
ReplyDeleteWhat question do you think I did not answer. Is transgender wrong? I think I am pretty clear in the article and in answering comments that for a person of normal xy or xx chromosomes to alter their appearance surgically and cosmetically to appear as the opposite gender is wrong. Did you somehow miss understanding that? As for people with mutated chromosomal problems, I think that this is an individual problem that the parents and the person need to go to God for an answer. I believe from what I have understood that generally the person feels as if they are more one gender than the other. That may be the indicator God is giving them. I do not judge their decision for it is between them and God. But for the person of normal chromosomes, it is wrong. Yes, it is all on one side. God's opinion on the matter, for it is only God's opinion that does matter. He calls the shots and He is the judge. There is only one right. It is God's right. So I am not going to open the question to both sides, for there isn't two sides. There is only God's side.
DeleteConnie - know this: Whenever one takes a stand to profess the Word of God and attempt to open the eyes of others to its truth, there is going to be debate, backlash, criticism, and the like. You have shared scriptures and spoke your peace but it is never going to be satisfactory to those who choose to think and feel another way. For those who REALLY want answers the only way they are going to get the unadulterated truth is to open the Word of God and seek it for themselves. One must open it with a willing heart to receive what it says and God WILL provide answers and reveal to the heart and mind those things that are sought. Opening it up with a critical heart and agenda will only cause one to miss out on the very truth that it speaks. There may be things we like or agree with and things we don't when it comes to what the Bible says but one thing is clear from the beginning to the end, God is Love. When we seek answers and an understanding through His word, that Love will fill us and surround us.
ReplyDeleteDear God's Grace, When one takes a stand and preaches its truths, it will obviously create debate, backlash, criticism and the like, because the world basically rejects God's truth. I shared what God has to say on the subject. It was not "speaking my peace" as much as speaking what God has to say. I agree that people must open their Bibles, but they are not doing it and someone must speak out what God has to say about sin, for only preaching God's love will not bring people to repentance if they don't realize they have sins for which they need to repent. I have no agenda other than letting people know that God considers certain behaviors sins, and unless they repent those sins, they cannot have a relationship with God. My agenda is to open their eyes to the truth that sin separates us from God. My heart is not critical toward these people, it is against the sin that keeps them from God. God is love, but God is also just and wrathful. He has made it clear that some things are simply unacceptable to Him. Should we hide this from the people to whom He has spoken this? Is that really being loving? Should we just tell them God is love and let them think that they can live any way they want and God will accept them, only for them to get to judgment day and find out differently? Or is it more loving to tell them the truth and that they need to repent so that they have the chance to do so before it is too late?
ReplyDeleteTrust me, I agree with you but one can only feed an individual so much before he or she has to learn to feed himself/herself. You have done your part by sharing the Word and providing the scriptures to back it but even that will not make people believe. Jesus himself told his disciples to share the gospel to those who would listen and receive and to those households who didn't receive them to wipe the dust off of their feet. They did their part by planting the seed - what individuals do with the seed, the Word, is up to them. Even preaching about wrath and what's to come will not open the blinded eye if they choose to disregard it. My post was not to discourage or tell you to stop doing what you're doing but to let you know that ultimately everyone is responsible for himself/herself. God is a just and loving God that He will not allow anyone to perish without having the opportunity to know the Word. Whether or not they accept it is up to them. My comment that God is Love was not to refute the fact that sin exist and wrath is real but moreso to say that He is not a God that simply rebukes or convicts without Love. No one wants to believe that what they do, even sometimes with the best intentions, may go against what the Bible says. Again, the unadulterated truth comes from opening it up and gaining an understanding for self. If people choose not to do it, that is their prerogative. I'm sure you are not the first and will not be the last to share the Word and invite those to read it for themselves. There is a lot more to the Word than what is shared on various forums and until one opens the Word to get the understanding for himself/herself, he or she will continue to receive mixed messages that he or she denounces.
DeleteConnie your wrong....wrong....wrong. Only a fool speaks of that which he does not know. So if we are not to change what we were born with, What about the implants for the deaf? What about learning to speak, read, and write? Why did Jesus heal the little blind girl? Why did He call Lazarus from the tomb after he had died? Why did he cure leprosy? Why did he heal the boy who was born a cripple? one more question, why are some born with both gender sexual characteristics? Meaning both sets of reproductive organs.... I think you really need to get with God and have a some alone time, I know you are doing what you truly believe but there is so much yet for you to learn and know. I don't think your ready for this topic at this time.
ReplyDeleteGod's Word is pretty clear that He has made them male and female and we do not have the right to change that. As for healing the physical infirmities of the ill or disabled, God grants man the ability to do this through medicine at times, and Christ of course demonstrated His power as the incarnation of God when He healed people both physically and spiritually through repentance and belief in Him.He tells us that He did this so that people would also understand that He was God and had the power to forgive sins. There was a purpose in His miracles. And healing physical afflictions is not something God is against. He never however helped a person deceive the world about their God given identity by changing their sex. He does not approve of this deception as shown in His Word. As for those who are born with both characteristics, this aberration is the result of the degeneration of humanities DNA due to sin. As I have said in other places in the comment section, how to deal with this dilemma is strictly between the child and the parents. If they seek God about this, I am sure He will tell them what His solution is. Since He knows the future, He is best prepared to give the answer that is best for the child. I do get with God and have alone time. I know exactly what God says about this. I think perhaps you need to get a good KJV BIble out and read what it says too.
Deleteknow your theory is biased, because for example in my case I was born with xx chromosomes and phenotypically man .. for reasons I wanted to change the destination to be a woman but then if I had not wanted then I would be wrong because women liked them was male in every way. would be sinning but to have xx chromosomes. You have to know that the genre is simply the expression of multiple factors and micaso may have been an expression of my chromosomes knowing that I was born male not be closed in your thoughts please
ReplyDeleteIt is not my thoughts I am relating here. It is what God has to say about the matter. If you believe that is closed-minded, you will have to take it up with the one who has stated that He created them male and female. I didn't make the rules.
ReplyDeleteConnie, I just wanted to let you know that I have read each and every response that has been posted to your article here...it is truthful and straight to the point in regards to what God's word says on the issues of homosexuality and transgender issues...I can honestly say, I myself have replied several times to an article that they came out with a few months ago with the transgender law there in california...I have brought and put forth scripture after scripture as proof of what God says on the subjects...I have in turn been called everything but a white child of God....they have even brought forth the topic of an eunuch (just as rick did) and there was total lack of truth and twisting of the scripture on their part in order to make things fit as to their liking....all we can do is put the word out there....and let others know....I have been told the same things as you have by many others, telling me I am throwing stones and judging them....no, I dont judge...it isnt my place to judge....I have worked with many gay people and I even have a cousin that is gay, and is on his way to having his penis surgically removed....it is he that has to answer to God for his choices, not me....we all are sinners and come short of the glory of God...and I also agree with you, if we dont try to help others and put the warning out that a train going 300 MPH is about to hit them, then how would they know? it is their choice as to whether or not they wish to be saved from that speeding train
DeleteThank you for the support, Jill. I agree that we can't make them choose wisely, we can only warn them. The consequences will be their own.
DeleteOne question god made them male and female who made the ones with both gender or was that someone else we juge so easly sin will lead u in alot of ways but your right no one else can be so if one can be born with both genders why can one be born transgender but couse u think people r sick dosent mean they r becouse of wat they conceive to be wright use speak like u know the mind of god do u god desire mercy not sacrifice I thort god looked at the heart not wat they look like u juge and u dont have all the info to juge only god has the church is supposed to be the light in the world not by hate or the jugement of others but by love without love I am nothing so attacing how people r dose that show christ in your life no it dosent so tell people there going to hell course the way god made them its gods job to chage the heart not man u r supost to preach the love of goddid jesus come in peace or jugement did he eat and drink with sinners did he walk in and say use r all going to hell o did he teach the love of god jesus sead tell them wat god has done fore u not to pick on any mminority so I ges he didnt make those with both gender at birth the devil did it hay ow he destroy s not create I forgot so has a lot of people I ges I dont call my self a christian I follow the way which was the first name of the church god bless use all
DeleteDidn't Jesus have long hair?
ReplyDeleteNo, he did not. Don't get your ideas of what Jesus looked like from some modern artists rendition of what they thought He looked like. They never saw Him. He was completely sinless, which meant He was obedient to the Word of God. Men were not to grow their hair long. The only exception to this, and it was for a limited time only for everyone but Samson, was for the Nazarites. When they took a vow (which was supposed to only be for a limited time) they were not to drink alcohol or cut their hair. By this obvious difference of hair length, everyone would know they were a Nazarite and not offer them wine. As the most common way of making water potable in those days was to add a little wine, it was important that people realize a person had taken a vow and not give them something to drink which would break that vow. Samson was the only exception to this rule. He was a Nazarite for life. That was why he had long hair (until Delilah had it cut off). When a Nazarite finished the time of their vow, they cut their hair short again. Jesus was not a Nazarite, although He was called Jesus the Nazarene. He was called that because He lived in Nazareth. Had He been a Nazarite, He would have been called Jesus the Nazarite. This is actually one of the reasons that we know the Shroud of Turin is not of Jesus. It has long hair. There are other Scriptural reasons which disprove it, but if you want to know that you'll have to find my article in the archives on that subject.
DeleteIt has been proven tha transsexuals brains are physically the opposite of their birth sex. Its a problem with hormones while in the womb.
ReplyDeleteSo they end up with a body not matching their brain.
Chromozones are irrelevent because of this.
And, sex is not the same as gender. They are seperate things.
Transsexuals change their birth sex, not their gender.
Their gender is already the opposite if their birth sex. Thats why there are transgenders, and transsexuals.
So I think you need to do some more research before saying what you have
I don't think that God concerns Himself too much with man's opinions of what they think they know. He simply has His rules that we can either obey or disobey. What God made you is what you are. If you turn your life over to Him, He can either fix or help you live with your problems. And we all have problems we have to deal with. Some are simply more obvious than others. If you reject Him, then you are on your own to deal with your problems and will answer to Him in the end for rejecting Him. End of story.
DeleteIt is a proven fact though. With brain scans you can see that men's and women's brains have physical differences....and its like I said. I am also a Christian and use to think that it was a bunch of bull, but I will not ignore indesputable evidence.
DeleteAlthough mankind has a lot to learn and certainly doesn't know all, we have at least learned a few things. Like the atob bomb. Horrible example, wish it could be uninvented. But it was figured out and done.
Look at all the things mankind has accomplished. Its because God put SOME intelligence into our brains...some things mankind does know.
And how about intersex people? Are they male or female? They do exist.
Genetics, weird things happen sometimes in the womb. Some kids are born blind or are missing a limb. Or end up with other complications.
This can happen in perfectly healthy parents who dont smoke, drink or do drugs.
Part of God's plan? He plans for some kids to be born blind or deaf or both? I think not. It just happens.
So, I have accepted Him and am saved and am finally accepting wht I am: a born male with a female brain. I am going to bring that into alignment and stay single because homosexuality is a sin that leads to the second death, I want no part of that.
Its my body and I have known since I was 4 years old what I am.
End of story
Btw I've been a Christian since I was about 3 or 4, was raised in. Christian home and was baptized at age 11. I was nearly 29 before I lost my virginity to my wife (ex now) and have tried very hard to live a life acceptable to God.
DeleteHave failed at times, as you have also failed at times. We all do from time to time.
But I know I am a woman, not a man and my entire life I've known nothing but poverty, loneliness, rejection, anymosity from people and general misery.
Now that I am finally transitioning, everything is getting better.
He is healing me (our Lord) and blessing me and everytime a doubt comes to mind, He steers me further along my path towards womanhood and blesses me more. Other Christians are also accepting of my transition as they understand that not everything is always exactly as it seems.
We are Evangelical Christians, for the record.
Your choice is not a Scriptural one. If you read through my comments you will see that I do address the issue of choosing being a eunuch for the Lord. God accepts them. I realize that sin has created some genetic anomalies and errors, but we need to look at what God has said to do within them. In Christ's day He healed some people of their infirmities, but others had to simply live with the problem. If you are born blind, most people have to learn to live with it. Same with deafness. God gives us the grace to live with whatever problem He has allowed us to have.
DeleteIn your case, the problem has to do with sexuality and God has some very strict rules about that. It isn't like deafness or blindness or a missing limb. He never says that deceiving the world is acceptable. Whatever you think in your head, He gave you a male body and while you have His permission to make yourself a eunuch for His glory, you may not pass yourself off as a woman. I'm sorry but God has made that quite clear. He will give you the grace to deal with your problem, but transgressing His rules is not the answer.
I fear the blessings you think you are getting are not coming from the Lord, but from the enemy who by all means will encourage you to follow a path that is in opposition to what God's Word teaches. Don't confuse one with the other. Satan loves to make people think they are being blessed by God when he can get them to do something which God does not approve. I've heard many a "Christian" homosexual think that God is blessing their union/marriage, but God tells us something quite different in His Word. He says that when they choose to go down that path, He will turn them over to their sin and a reprobate mind, which then leads them even further from Him. (continued below)
I realize we all fail at times, which is why I tell homosexuals from whom God has not taken away the inclination to pick themselves up, repent, and try again to live a celibate life when they sin rather than giving up and going back into the lifestyle. God forgives our sins. We all have them, and we all struggle daily. But we need to strive to not give in to them and when we do, we need to repent and try harder. It sounds as if you are giving in to your wrong inclination rather than finding a way to live with it in a way that is acceptable to God.
DeleteIf they were to find that adulterers brains are slightly different than normal people would that excuse them being rampant adulterers in God's eyes? I don't think so, do you? They would have to struggle and strive to either be faithful to a spouse, or remain totally celibate. They say that murderers have different brains too. Should we not punish them for murdering then? Should not God hold them responsible? You are giving me basically the same excuse. To paraphrase what I read from you, I understand you to say, "My brain excuses my behavior, because God made it that way, so God can't judge me and I have a right to try to follow my sinful inclination." Yes, He can judge you and will. Sin made you that way, not God. He allowed you to be that way, as that is your cross to bear in life, as I have my own cross to bear. Or possibly from a young age you have been demonically oppressed and influenced due to someone introducing the demon into your life. Have you thought of that? Demonic interference will alter your brain function and waves. You need to fight against the sin. Using your faulty sinful body as an excuse to follow a path that is not acceptable to God is not going to pass the test with Him. He will say that you should have learned to live with your sinful "disability" as we all must.
Added to that you have forced your wife into the situation of being divorced, of which God does not approve unless it is because there has been adultery, or the spouse is not saved and wants out of the marriage. She now has to either live alone the rest of her life, or marry and being considered an adulteress by God, for He has rules about that too. Read my article about divorce and remarriage to see what God has to say.
I know I sound harsh, and unsympathetic. Believe me I am not. I struggle with a problem of my own that seems unbearable at times. I know that God says He will never give us more than we can handle, but at times I have doubted that and asked Him about it, because it almost seems like He does. I do feel your pain, for I know, although my situation is very different, how painful it is to struggle with something daily that just won't seem to go away. But struggle we must. And cry to Him we must. And I do mean literally cry at times. He never promised us a rose garden, as they say. He told us to take up our cross and follow Him, and sometimes what we are asked to bear seems as bad as being nailed to the cross. But giving in is never an option. Please reconsider what you are doing.
DeleteBTW Hailey, if you are so very sure this is right and the path God wants you to take, why were you looking online to see what God has to say on this issue. You obviously are not convinced in your heart that this is right or you never would have bothered checking out my blog post. That's the Holy Spirit convicting you that what you are doing is wrong. If you quench the Spirit's conviction, you can expect that things are not going to end up well in the end.
DeleteI am not passing myself off asa woman, I have been passing myself off asa man.I dont underatand men at all, they are like aliens. My sexuality is that I like women.
DeleteI am very happy and feel normal with my birth gender, which is feminine or female.
Only my sex is changing, my gender is not. Gender cannot be changed it is of one or the other at birth.
Btw, she divorced me. Not the other way around. I wanted to remain married and work things out. I was willing to stay living as a man, as hard as it is to pretend I am one. But she wouldnt listen.
I hear what you are saying, but I would want proof that directly says a person should not or can not change their sex. Or a verse or verses that say transsexuals aren't for real, it's all up in their heads. Anything concrete.
I believe the one where it says a man/woman shouldnt wear clothing of the opposite sex is talking about people such as crossdressers (transveatites). They do it as a fetish and get sexually aroused by it....ew, gross.
I get nothing from it at all like that. It feels normal to me. Wearing guys clothes makes me feel weird and uncomfortable, always has. Being addressed by male pronouns, same thing. All my life.
And my body feels all wrong, I am crawling in my skin everyday.
And when I was growing up, before I reached puberty I assumed I would grow breasts, get a female shape and other stuff. I was shocked when the opposite happened and i tried to kill myself when my voice deepened (have since fixed that problem, sound like a normal female now).
And, when I was less the 2 years old, sometime when I was a little baby, I had an operation on my gentials. I have no idea what it was, only that it happened. My parents refuse to talk about it to this day.
There have been thinga happen in my life that are mysterious and i dont have answers. And I'm not embarassed to say that my penis is only 1.5 inches long, has never really changed as far back as I can remember. Perhaps it has to do with the operation?
I had a very mild puberty. I am 5'0 tall, have wide hips, A cup breasts without hormones (estrogen), no hair grows on my body except for a little facial hair, little bit on my arms and leg. Very little, and nowhere else except scalp hair.
I have prayed to God many times about this, believe me.
And you will get no argument from me, the Devil is incredibly sneaky and deceptive. I have already pondered all that you have said about that stuff.
DeleteAs far as being possesed by a demon or whatever...if I werent a believer and truly saved, that could be possible. But it is not the case. I also believe that people like me, a true transsexual girl, are extremely rare. A lot of fakers out there and self diluted people.
Regardless of all I have said, I will still listen. But for me to change my course and livel unhappily as a man (which I am
not), I would need some very solid, Biblically based information. Scriptures. The kind that are black and white and can be taken liliterally, without need tointerpret. That deals specifically with this subject.
Then, I'd be willing to give it up and crawl in my skin everyday until I am dead
Okay now you've said something you didn't inform me of before. You said you had an operation at the age of two.Since your parents refuse to talk about it, I am guessing and this is just a guess that possibly you were born as a hermaphrodite and your parents chose your sexual physicality for you. Too bad they didn't have the brain scan to help them out back then. Do you know your chromosome makeup? You may have an extra one. As I have stated in my comments when questioned about the chromosome problem and hermaphrodite problem, this is something that a person and their parents should take up with God before making any decisions. Especially if they are not going to involve the child in the decision. And nobody should judge the decision they make. In these cases it is not so clear cut as it is with people who are definitely and unmistakeably one sexual gender or the other and simply want to change genders by surgical procedures. Your parents need to come clean with you. It was your body that something was done to. If you know the hospital where it took place, you should see if they have records if your parents won't deal with you about it. If you were born a hermaphrodite, then I apologize for taking you so to task, for indeed you may be inclined to be a woman and your parents made a terrible mistake. And your marriage would have been a more homosexual union given that situation, which you did need to get out of if this is the case. For normal male or females who seek to change their appearance and live as the opposite sex, the verse about not dressing or passing yourself off as the other gender is the only verse you need to state that it is a sin, for they are living a lie, regardless of what they feel inclined to be. For you, if you were born with both female and male genitalia, or a chromosome problem, then it is truly not so straightforward. You need to seek the truth of what was done, and that may give you the answer you need to live with your situation. I'll be praying for you.
DeleteAnd don't think that because you are a Christian that demons cannot affect you. They cannot possess you, but they can make you obsessed about things and influence you, especially if someone (including you) has opened a door to let them have that influence over you. It's much more pervasive than you might think.
I have no idea what my chromozones are and the operation could have been anything.
DeleteI'm just saying.
Also I do believe you are correct about demons having influence and all that.
I'm sorry too.
I am gonna find out from the hospital where I was born if they have records of what the operation was.
Thank you for praying for me.
If it's alright, would you keep in touch with me via email? My name is Hailey Matthews and I am 35 years old and need someone to talk with about things.
Kmm.hailey@gmail.com
I will let you know how things go and maybe we can figure out what has been going on in my life?
For me, transition iant a miracle cure that will solve all my problems. It will only make me more comfortable in my own skin.
But I have social anxiery disorder, am in debt, have no friends, no family except my mom. The rest have disowned me. Not that they were really in my life before starting transition.
Honestly, my life is a complete train wrek, I feel like such a failure and have no self esteem or confidence.
Inside I cry all the time and wish I was never born in the first place.
Please email me if you're willing to talk, and God bless you. All you are trying to do is spread the Word of God and let people know what's what according to scripture. I see that and that's great.
-Hailey
I believe a bit of what i have read dealing with true motives.. but all here, including me, have unclear ones. Jesus is the only one pure in heart.
ReplyDeleteJesus is the only one who was born and lived pure in heart, but those who love Him seek to spread His truth. I can't speak for others, but my motives are only to speak God's truth so that people will wake up before it is too late. God is not only a God of love. He is a God of wrath, vengeance, and justice and Jesus will be returning soon to judge the world. If we do not show people their sins, so that they can repent, and tell them that Christ is offering forgiveness, then what is our purpose? If God required people to be sin-free or completely pure of heart themselves before they could preach His Word, His Word would never get preached. We are all sinners. It is just that some of us have accepted the free gift of forgiveness and Christ's blood covering our sins. We urgently seek to make others aware that judgment awaits, so that they too can escape it by confessing their sins and accepting Christ's sacrifice. Christianity has quit preaching hell and has started preaching a fluffy teddy bear God. He is not coming back to die for our sins this time. He's coming back to judge and punish.
DeleteLaw kills...the gospel brings true healing. In my ministry with all people, i teach the distinction between the two. Nothing fluffy in the gospel...its bloody and violent, however, being the only means of grace, it is the only power able to change the human heart. The law merely reflects our miserable state. Perhaps a balance in your outeach between the two would be more effective.
DeleteThe law was given to show us our sin. Sin is sin, and sin separates us from God. The world and Christianity has gotten to the place where we no longer call sin a sin. God demands our holiness as well as our faith and love. Continued unrepentant sin is only going to condemn people, not save them, whether they have faith or not. Read Hebrews chapters 6 and 10.
DeleteMy blog is designed to answer people's questions, honestly, as to what God has to say about issues. I am not going to paint a dishonest picture and tell people that sin is okay with God, for it isn't. When people can acknowledge their sin, then they can be reached with the gospel, but until they will accept that they are sinning, and are sinners, the gospel is just a feel good concept. Only true repentance and belief saves a person. Not a fuzzy warm feeling of loving God.
Non-Christians coming here with the attitude that they have no intention of accepting God's truth on this matter are probably not going to choose to accept Christ anyhow. And Christians struggling with this problem need to realize that it is not acceptable to God to continue in the sin. They are the ones to which this article is really addressed. God's truth is a two-edged sword and we do people no benefit if we are only presenting God as this loving person who will tolerate everything. He won't. I have been called to warn people of their sins and the judgment that follows them. Not to make them feel good about them.
Looks like I'm going to hell
ReplyDeleteThat is entirely your choice, Nobody has to.
DeleteConnie, I am not a transgender. But I am having an issue related to transgender that I would like to seek for your advice. Can I contact you privately?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Contact me at victoriaphile@gmail.com.
DeleteI have a take on Deuteronomy 22:5, as well as 1 Corinthians 11. I think both do indeed prohibit crossdressing for us today , and I say that as a past crossdresser.
ReplyDeletehttp://healingcd.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/deuteronomy-225/
http://healingcd.wordpress.com/2014/09/23/1-corinthians-112-16/
I read your posts. While I agree with you that crossdressing is wrong because it breaks down the gender boundaries, I think deception is also a major part of the sin. If a person were to not be part of a culture, what he wore would be irrelevant, as styles are dictated by the culture. When one does it in a culture with established norms for men and women it then becomes a sin due to deception. So I think to leave that out of the equation is to miss part of the point.
DeleteLikewise, I do not agree that women not wearing headcoverings was an attempt at crossdressing by removing the headcovering. Wearing or not wearing a hat is not going to confuse that issue at all, which seems to be your major point. Paul is very clear that the issue under discussion is submission to the hierarchy of authority that God has set up. This was an issue for every church from then to now. And an external headcovering is exactly what is being spoken of in this passage. Sometimes to not just take a passage at its simplest literal meaning by trying to over-complicate it with all other kinds of input leads away from the point it is trying to make.
I would suggest that you read my take on that passage by going to an article in my archives on headcoverings for women. And as a woman who does wear a headcovering in church, and who knows others who have taken that stand, we have had a greater spiritual awakening to having made that decision. It does say that we also wear it for the sake of angels (to show them that we accept the hierarchy God has set up) and that has not changed with cultures or time. It is a timeless situation. Angels are always present with us in worship. Sometimes to try to relegate a truth to strictly the Biblical time or particular culture to which it was originally written is not a correct way to interpret Scripture.
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As Paul said, in the other churches there was no other custom. And that custom continued pretty much until the era of feminism in the 1960's when women not only burned their bras but quit wearing hats in church. Funny how the rise of feminism was the instigator of changing a church tradition (in a lot of Christian church cultures) of several millennia. And look at the state of the family these days. Woman no longer accept the authority of the husband, and the husbands no longer know their role in the relationship so most marriages end in divorce. It may sound silly, but for the want of a hat, the marriage was lost. And I would be remiss if I did not mention the reaction I get from men in church when I wear a hat. Most of them have a wonderful reaction to it. They somehow see me differently from other women. They treat me like a lady in ways they do not always treat others. They treat me as a godly woman. And what reaction do I get from the women? There are two. Either they like it (usually these are godly women who have godly marriages) or resentment and derogatory comments. The latter usually comes from women who have authority issues in their marriages and church. Hmm. Connection maybe?
I agree a women should follow the way set before them in the bible and probly should read proverbs 31 10 to the end of it the way a women should be we were made as a helper to man not to dominate. Them I women was made as a helper
DeleteGod sead to me once still trusting in man I trust god to lead me not man or the words of man I wont meat not milk which is tort in most churches I pray for a miracle every day use would probly say I wont get it becouse of who u think I am god is my juge not the world or the church or the devil use think im something im not and if I get frown in hell u can celebrate being right im filled with the spirit baptize and born agian I sleep with no one I dont lie steal covet I dont lust for others I dont comit acts of homosexual . Acts I honor my mother god dosent make mistakes so I am who he made me to be juge me all u wont im a girl not tranz thats a lable people put on me not god may the word of god fill u may his spirit lead you and the farther bless u all in our blessed lords name jesus amen
ReplyDeleteI'm not judging, that's not my place. I do warn people how God will judge them and what I have posted above is Scriptural. God created us male and female. He didn't create a male to decide to be a female or vice versa. That's not our choice, that's His. It goes against God's decision as to what to make a person when a person decides they are not happy with the way God made them. As for those with mutated chromosome situations, that is between them and God. I tend to think people with normal chromosomes who have this urge are being demonically influenced or controlled, through either some door they have opened to it, or a door that someone else opened and inflicted upon them.
ReplyDeleteThats cooo I am tranz u r asking me to hate god I love god how I am the person u wont me to be hates him he knows my heart and its to much to explain how I am so u still think some 1 created those with both gender didnt god create them we dont know all gods ways we know part everyone trys to tell me who they think I am I got baptism as me rahel yars my name I named mi self that couse yah is my farther as he is yours but use claim im a child of the devil which im not god uses the weakest things your r stong yet I am weak u tell me im wrong I sleep with no one im a women of peace but yous call me a man the hole world hates me do they hate u couse there supose to hate u if u follow him I do he loves me this I know I live in rockhampton we had a cat 5 cyclone it got realy bad I prayed for my nabours not my self that it would end he speared use but god dosent lisen to the unrighteous or dose he he has not faild me once and use belive im a chiled of the evil one I tell u this I perfer to be thourt as evil and be good then to be thourt as good and r evil I dont go to church becouse use make it hard for me god wont even tell the people in the church im tranz iv seen him do it he loves me for me and use can say wat use wont about me every one else has he sead he has a job for me to do he sead hed make me a battle ship u would not wont to live thru wat I do and I wouldent wish my parth on anyone so I take the jugement of others no one c me the evil one attacks me at every point god opened my eyes and filled my head with his word for the right time I eat sorrow for breakfast sorrow for lunch and lonlyness for didner iv be alone all mi life could not communicate with no one thru every part I woke up 2y when I whent on hormone therapy now I c how things r I see wats behind the behavior of man there all carnal most are and lead by it the world is so cold will he find faith yes couse I have faith for the in possible u mite think im deceived but im not to trust god when everyone try to tell u your something that your not and to trust god when the whole world is against u is faith so tell me what u think I am I trust my lord and belive him only and ii im wrong il glady go to hell couse I cant live as somthing im not im a girl not wat the world c me as
DeleteI decide nothing I have to take my medicine c alot of tranz are guys I would not argue with u there but I have no choice and its to hared to exsplain if u wont il go off it now and be the devils little helper and god lose a child if thats wat u wish iv been here before so I know who I am but no one belives me at thats ok so yes a lot of tranz are guys and il be the first to admit it but im not
DeleteU can tell me im deceived and thats your right but say im one of a kind im not like the rest y I dont sleep with anyone couse im as straight as u r and I dont belive in sex out of marrige sex is a gift for those who r married if I sleep with a guy im gay if I sleep with a woman im gay so I sleep with no one I will not commit a homosexual act I am 100% celebrate and I c what alot carnt some are made unique for the kingdom of heaven sake how do u know im not a unique u dont you dont know what hes doing with me only he dose an I will walk the path I have too even to mi hurt and realy I could never be a guy I never have been one I dont wont to know wat its like not to smile not to understand the things around me I like to feel as people do but if I follow what u say il never smile agian never feel things how u r supose to feel u wont me to become a zombie couse thats what I was good has showen me so much in the last 2 years and il trust him not man so I dont do what u say it dosent matter wat I say your right im wrong thats what use wont to hear but im not wrong nether r u
DeleteLast thing wish to say time is short start please by love lead give the hell fire a brake the storms speak now as we talk our lord will be here soon so fill your lamps take iol with u lead by love and peace guide with love god is love he want non to be lost the man of sin is almost here who will lead the world astray so please drop the tell people to loveing them thats how god wonts it done and by his grace he saves trust god to do the job witness his love not hell firer preaching teach peace be a vessel of peace if you r truly born 8f bod u will follow the way that he set b4 u trust him lean on him talk to him as a friend spend time with him . Search for him as gold make shoure your soul is right do wat is good couse no harm words have the power of life and death think wat your words r faith is hope dont take peoples hope guid with love and ask one thing to your self am I right with god its ok to come on here and say wat u wish but we r juged by every word out of our mouths couse what comes out of the mouths from the heart and the heart is what god juges be kind to each other and love they nabours as your self and love god with all your heart trust him to do the big things thats his job not ours
ReplyDeleteWarning people of the danger they are playing with is not unloving. Is it loving to let someone lie on a train track with a train coming because that's what they want to do, or is it more loving to tell them they are in danger and must get off of it? The church is spending all their time telling people that God loves them and accepts whatever they are or want to do. It's not the truth. If one loves God, He said you will prove it by being obedient to His Commandments and Word. If nobody preaches that there is hell fire, then people will live carnally without a care in the world. That will not only be bad for the person but also the one who should have warned him but didn't.
ReplyDeleteChrist said," Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
And as for not warning people, there are consequences for that too. Ezekiel 3:18-21 "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul."
We are called to not only present the gospel, but to warn of God's punishment and judgment as well, both to the unsaved and the saved. Christ did as much warning people as He did preaching salvation. Have you not noticed that? He said "Your sins are forgiven" but He also said, "go and sin no more." And He had a great deal to say to the Pharisees. "Woe unto you...."
I have not been called to be an evangelist to the unsaved as a rule. My calling has been to warn Christians of the terrible sins they are allowing themselves to commit in the name of God loving and accepting everybody, and believing all you need is love. You need obedience too. Jesus said that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. Pretending to be of the opposite gender (no matter how much cosmetic surgery and hormones you take) is a lie and God has said that even dressing as the opposite gender as what you were created is an abomination to Him. As to why people are born with mutations in their genes, it is due to original sin corrupting our bodies. That is why we must die, so that we can have a new perfect body. God may choose to allow these corruptions to take place in some cases, as He does not interfere with the normal flow of nature and man for the most part unless we ask Him to intervene or He needs to for His own purposes, but I can guarantee you that He is grieved by these departures from His original creation. Paul tells us we are to bring our bodies under subjection to the spirit, so we need to not give in to these urges which threaten to overtake us and pull us away from God's will for us. We all have sins that threaten to overtake us and we have to reject them so we can walk with the Lord in holiness. If this is yours then you need to control it and be the person God created you to be. He never promised us an easy life where we could do what we want to make ourselves happy. He promised us that life would contain tribulation and persecution and be difficult if we chose to follow Him. It is a life of sacrifice to God's will if you really want to walk with Him. It's not about making ourselves happy, it's about making Him happy. To not warn people of the consequences is the most unloving thing I could do. It's not about my judging, it's about God's judgment.
DeleteOk, I've gotta throw my two cents in here I guess. I'm transgendered FtM, with surgeries complete. I have known the LORD Jesus as my Savior since I was 6. I am not any kind of transgender advocate or anything of that manner, in fact the only experience I can speak to is my own. I understand where most conservative Chrstians are coming from in their condemnation of transgender issues/ activities. I also think it's unfortunate that so many people these days think that God is just some kind of genie in the sky who only wants them to be "happy', and I do inderstand that you are coming from a place of love, not judgement. Also, just on a side note, because I know that sometimes things don't come across in blogs as they are actually being said, because most of us are not professional writers, but I am not in the least bit angry and don't want you to think that anything I say is in any way an attack on you Connie.
ReplyDeleteNow to it. My earliest memory was wondering where my penis was, and I don't mean in the same way as little girls sometimes see their little brothers without clothes and wonder why they don't have " one of those". I mean I didn't just "feel" like a boy, it is the way I was wired. Do I think God makes mistakes? Absolutely not! But as has been previously stated several times sin damages and destroys everything it touches, hence many birth defects. Children are born daily with all manner of deformities, including chromosone abnormalities, as has also been previously stated, so it' not a stretch to think see this as one of them. I knew that I was missing a penis far, far before I had any concept of homosexuality or transgenderism, or any concept of sin. I could not change my innate inborn identity anymore than you could. If someone were to forcibly put you thru surgeries and hormone therepy to change your appearance to be male, would that make you a male? I can assure you as you well know, it would not. Just as being in a female body did not make me female, it just made me "look" female. As I said before I understand where conservative Christians are coming from on this issue, because all we as humans are capable of seeing is the outside, therefore the forgone conclusion is if it has a penis, must be a boy and if it has a vagina, must be a girl and any attempt to alter that must be sin. Sin does mess things up, children occasionally are born intersexed. no too may years ago doctors would just arbitrarily surgically alter the child at birth assuming that if the child was raised with female genetalia then the child would be female. After a number of these children started coming forward when they were grown recounting their psychological stuggles growing up looking and being treated as females when in fact they were not, doctors have now stopped doing the procedure, opting instead to wait until the child is old enough to tell them whether they are male or female and decide for themselves what kind, if any kind of surgery they want. My point is this, your genetalia does not decide your inborn identity. Therefore I disagree with your conclusion that changing the outside is nothing more than a lie and designed to decieve other people into thinking that you're something that you're not. For me the lie was continuing to live my life "looking" like a girl. Is there anyone who having a baby with a correctable or even partially corectable birth defect would say that because the baby was born that way, that's the way God wanted it and therefore we shouldn't change it? Would that be a sin? If it is then maybe I have.
I know what what I'm about to say is purely ancedotale and proves nothing, but in the subsequent years after my transition, my walk with the LORD and spritual growth has just taken off. I not only just read but study my Bible daily. The people I work with as well as other people in my life not only watched the physical changes, but also the other changes in my life and have taken notice. I am in a good church which I attend regularly. Do the people I fellowship with at church know about my transition? No, they don't. I would never lie if asked, but I don't feel the need to announce my personal business any more than I would except everyone to announce to me whether or not they had had a hysterectomy or vasectomy. I don't for a minute think I'm gonna change your mind, just wanted to give you a little something to chew on. I also know that you are doing what you're doing out of a love for people and not judgement. I think you're doing a great thing here, keep up,the good work and I'll leave you with this.
ReplyDeleteI Samuel 16:7
"But the LORD said unto Samuel, look not on his contenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearence, but the LORD looketh on the heart".
Jason, I appreciate the loving spirit in which you wrote, but I have to say that if God thinks that transvestitism is an abomination and sin, what do you think He thinks about what you are speaking? My son lives in fear that he would meet and get emotionally involved with a transgender woman (who was born a man) and find himself in what he considers a homosexual relationship, as most transgenders do not have chromosomal issues, they are xx or xy, they simply want to be the opposite sex. Is it not a lie to him to pretend to be a female when the person would have xy chromosomes just as he does? Have you considered how this problem might be more than just a matter of the corruption of sin, but demonically inspired? I believe a lot of problems these days stem from demonic influences over people. The doors are opened in so many ways to them these days from media to music to literature to all sorts of things. Little children are being influenced via cartoons. Many have "imaginary" friends which aren't so imaginary in reality. I know you may be happier with yourself like this, but the question is, is it scripturally acceptable. God allows people to be eunuchs for His sake, but eunuchs never pretended to be women. The problem is that God created you one way and your internal self is saying that is wrong. Well, people can't trust their feelings, they have to trust that God's way is right. If I were addicted to infidelity because I just was "born" to not be faithful, would that excuse it? Of course not. I am not your judge, God is, and it is He who will decide what He is going to do about you and your situation, but I do think that you might want to consider that He has never approved this sort of thing and God never changes. You are right, God does look on the heart. He not only looks for love and faith, but He looks for obedience. I was told the same thing about the code of dress being worn in churches these days. God looks on the heart not your appearance. Yes, and my answer to that is, your heart is saying that you don't care enough to put on clothing that would show respect. Something that you would wear to meet someone very important on an important occasion. Doesn't the King of Kings deserve that we come and present ourselves with not only our hearts right, but wearing the best we have, not leaving that in the closet while we dress for the picnic or beach or whatever that we are attending after church? What is in your heart is reflected on the outside. I know you won't be convinced, but I hope you see my point of view.
DeleteSay a do what use wish god is the jugen use use christ as a excuse for picking on people enjoy wat u so
ReplyDeleteI'm not using Christ as an excuse to pick on people. I'm warning them that if they continue in unrepentant sin, God is going to judge them, just as He does anyone who continues in unrepentant sin. If you aren't worried about it, then why keep coming here? Why are you seeking my approval? I'm not seeking yours. Do what you wish. Your blood is on your own head, not mine.
ReplyDeleteI was a dedicated christion now im not and since im a guy far as u bigets r gods female well u like to call people wat u wont I dont care anymore I will never help anyone agian beproud u lost a child of god couse of youe sick bbehavior u think your going to heaven im glad im going to hell who would wont to be there with juge mantle people like u do u even read your bible what 1 hour when u see god I hope hehas mercybon u and I hope your proud of the people u sent to hell by you jugening them ddenial is bliss I perfer to go to hell th3n be made to live as somthing im not u ignorent pigs I dont was my pearl before swine and use r wswine use dont even teach gods word in church u teach the ways of man keep drinking milk use r babys u dont even know what time it is cant wait for jugement then I dont have to put up with pigs like u id say god bless u but satans your god
ReplyDeleteIf you are trying to blame me for your situation I am afraid you are deceiving yourself. I am not responsible for your relationship with God. From the sounds of it you really didn't have a dedicated relationship with Him, but some sort of dedication to a religion of your own making with a God of your own making. Being a dedicated Christian means that you put your love of God above all else and do your best to be obedient to His rules and will, and repenting when you fall and sin, trying to not fall again. We all struggle with a sin of some sort. We wake up daily and set out to not commit that sin that day, and if we do, we need to get on our knees and ask forgiveness. It is best to stop the sin while it is in your mind and not let it proceed as far as actions, for sometimes those actions are irreversible. You take steps to avoid placing yourself in situations that would prompt you to want to commit that sin. That's what a dedicated Christian does. You want a God who allows you to do what you want to do in life. One made in your image. Well if that is what you want, you have the freedom to do that, but it is not the God of the Bible. As for do I read my Bible? I have studied it, not just read it, from cover to cover which is why I have learned what God does find acceptable and not acceptable. I might ask you the same thing, for it seems that you have missed a great many verses addressing issues of obedience and behavior. God is not going to lay your sin at my door, for I have warned you of it. A dedicated Christian would welcome the correction so that they can get their lives right with God. Since you can't have things your way, you have decided that you don't want God. Well that is your choice, but it is not my fault. Name calling is not acceptable, and if you write like this again I will delete anything you have written. And I have no power to send anybody to hell. Everyone that goes to hell sends themselves there, because they will not bow the knee to Jesus Christ.
DeleteI love your heart for God! Thanks for discussing his true desire in this issue! Thanks for blogging! I look forward to reading more of your posts. I'll pray that God blesses you with even more boldness and discernment. Wish we could talk face to face over God's word. I think our hearts are much alike. Thank you again!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. It is rare that I get a positive comment, especially on this article. i hope you find that the other articles bless you as well. I would love to have dialogue, for nothing gives me greater pleasure than discussing God's Word. Blessing.
DeleteI'm sorry, I am a Christian woman, I have accepted the lord as my savior and agree that yes Jesus died for ALL our sins... But my concerns are
ReplyDelete1. I like wearing men's shorts cause they don't hug my body like all women's clothes do. So does that mean I'm sinning even though I'm obviously a female?
2. If my friend is a FTM who loves a girl but is also a Christian who accepts God and Jesus as saviors are they still forsaken or do they still remain saved?
3. I don't understand how someone can say the bible says God loves us all and his loves is bigger than all our sins but then turn around and say that specific people are abominations. That doesn't sound loving or merciful. How does one explain the duplicity in that?
Hi Collette,
DeleteMy first question in answer to #1 is this, are you trying to emulate being a man or trying to deceive people into believe you are a man when you wear these shorts, or is it simply that they fit better. I think if you go back and read, you will see that the clothes themselves are not the issue. Shorts are pretty androgynous, after all. God does not want you desiring to be the opposite sex or pass yourself off as such. I don't think, from what you said that there is any issue here, so please don't make one where God does not.
As for #2, your friend is by God's standards what He made He made her to be at birth, a female. The only exception to this may be when there is a chromosomal mutation, in which case this is addressed in the above comments to this article. For a woman to love another woman, it is an abomination to God because it is a corruption of His perfect creation. God says that homosexuality is a depravity, not an inclination we are born with. It could also be a demonic control issue. Christians cannot be possessed, but they can have areas of their lives which are under the control of demons and they have to exorcise those areas by repenting and living according to God's ordinances. A Christian who is truly born again should not want to continue sinning against God. If they are (and your friend is sinning in two areas - transgenderism and homosexuality) and they continue to do so unrepentantly, then it is possible that they may lose their salvation. Read Hebrews chapters 6:4-6 and 11:26-31. If your friend is not a Christian yet and accepts the Lord, her heart should tell her that she needs to go back to what she originally was (a female) and turn from her lesbianism. This should be the natural inclination of her heart, to please God, if she truly is saved.
As for #3, God does love us, which is why He sent Christ to die a horrible death for our sins, so that our sins might be forgiven. But that does not mean that we can say we accept Him and continue to do those sins without a care. It is the sins that are an abomination to God. For they are the corruption of His perfect creation. Sin cannot exist in God's presence, so sin that is not forgiven, the person in whom that sin exists, cannot be in God's presence if they don't allow Christ to cover it for them. God does not condemn people. They condemn themselves by choosing sin over forgiveness and God's ways. There is no duplicity. What more love could God show than giving people a way out of the punishment for their sins by taking that punishment Himself. He gave us free will. How we use that is our responsibility, not His.
Thank you, I think I understand the answers to my questions.
DeleteI do have another though. I'm sorry if I am bother.
We as a world are experiencing an over population issue and many children with out homes. What is God's answer to this?
It is never a bother to answer questions about God's Word. Please don't think you are a bother.
DeleteGod's answer to this is the same no matter what the problem. If we were all to accept Christ and live as we should none of these things would be a problem. People would not be having children out of wedlock. Families would not be broken. People would not be out of jobs, or food, or anything for God would bless everyone with sufficient for their needs. The government would not be paying people to not grow crops, restaurants would not be throwing away perfectly good food due to government controls and laws, people who were in need would be helped by their local church (for everyone would be attending a local church), those who had abundance would give to those who had lack, so that everyone would have enough. This is how the Bible teaches us to live, so God's answer for this was to send His Son. He can't help it if we, in our free will, choose to do everything wrong and as a consequence, everyone suffers. He is not going to force us to love Him or His Son. Unfortunately we bring all this upon ourselves.
Ultimately His answer to this will be to send Christ back to wipe the planet clean of sin and start over with those who want to worship Him. He will set up His kingdom here on earth. Believe it or not, even with Christ ruling, by the time the millennium is over, the vast majority of people will rise up to try to get rid of Him, because the hearts of people are ultimately desperately wicked and they want to be their own gods, not submit to the God who loves us so. It's amazing that when you start living by God's rules that life works out so much better. It's not that life is a bowl of cherries, for we still live in a sinful world, and suffer the consequences of others sins as well as our own, but life tends to work out, even when bad things happen. As Paul said, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
I hope this helps you see things from God's perspective. This is not how He would have it, but He won't interfere with our free will. He grieves over how things are in this world, especially for children. They are very special to Him. People who hurt children are going to be punished much more severely than others.
I hope that helps you to see things from God's perspective so that you can understand why the world finds itself in the predicament it is. Christ will be coming back soon, so it won't be for much longer. I am guessing within the next two decades sometime.
Hello Connie. I wanted to write and thank you for all the valuable information and scriptural backup of the transgender issue. I am a public school teacher involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. One of our student leaders from last year returned to school this year now dressing as the opposite gender and requesting to be called a name of the opposite gender. This student has confessed Christ as Savior and for all better purposes up to this point has appeared to live an exemplary Christian lifestyle amidst the student body. Needless to say, I was blown away to find out about the change over the summer. Now this student is asking if it is still OK to be a student leader in the group. Things could get very interesting depending on the path that is chosen by us, the "Huddle Leaders" (teacher facilitators). All I can say is that I have known from beginning of this that I will be taking my stand in opposition to this student functioning as a student leader. However, one of the other facilitators has read some articles that show "biblical support" for homosexuality and is now reconsidering whether to limit this student's role in leadership. Of course they are concerned about possible litigation (which I doubt would happen) but then if the student is allowed to lead, what future precedents will this set? Nevertheless, I will not stand with or identify myself with any kind of group that supports this. I will step down from my role as Huddle Leader if need be. We are living in sad times and deception has taken a very strong hold in the hearts of so many people, the church included.
ReplyDeleteHi Musikfan. I sympathize with you and having to deal with this. It is bad enough when they are not Christians, but when they say they are, it is just too much. I don't know if you saw in the news, but Johns Hopkins just published a report saying that their research shows that there is no evidence that people are born either gay or transgenders. This is not the first time the medical community has published research saying this. Years ago they declared it a mental disorder, which it obviously is. It is also a spiritual disorder. I hope you can talk to this student and show them why this is not Scriptural. I also have an article on homosexuality and why it is not Scriptural in my archives on 8/25/11. Your other teacher facilitator needs to study his Bible.
DeleteThe Church is in great apostasy, just as the Bible prophesied. That is why God warned us that judgment will start with the House of God. We need a good purging to bring us back to truth. I'll pray for you.
Connie, Thanks for your feedback and comments. I appreciate your prayers. To date, I am not aware of what the final decision was regarding this particular student, but I will find out this coming Tuesday when we have our first meeting. Yes, I have heard about the research that you mentioned. We know that this is a spiritual/mental issue that must be dealt with through the power of Christ. I can testify to this because I personally struggled with same-sex feelings when I was a young teenager. However, I always knew it was wrong and by God's grace I never acted out on it because of my biblical understanding that it was sinful and wrong. When I was older, I was blessed to get some counseling through a local chapter of Exodus ministries. The Lord used this to help me work through the issues in my childhood that caused me to lean in that direction. When I finally understood the causes behind it, I discovered that my problem was totally a heart issue which was easily remedied with a proper perspective on how a man of God should approach healthy same-sex relationships- something which I never had but my heart was craving for many years. The Lord helped me to see that my REAL problem was that I simply needed friends who were guys and ones who would accept me for who I was and my own unique gifts (which were not in sports!). But the messages got mixed up in the sinfulness of my heart and I needed to realize that my covetousness for male affirmation got skewed and became something sexual in my heart. Thank God for His mercy and protection. Once I better understood the real problem, the Lord gave me the tools and the right men in my life to help me form those healthy relationships. I am a happily married man to my dear wife now for almost 24 years with four beautiful children. I am living proof that God is in the business of conforming us to His pattern of relationships if we allow Him to work in our lives. He provided me with the outlet and the tools to get well and be free from those desires that I had years back. I suppose this is why my heart goes out to kids in these situations. They are so confused and don't realize that what hey are truly looking for is not a homosexual relationship but rather Godly healthy friendships that meet the true need which is for simple acceptance and affirmation. But this only comes through Christ and our understanding of who we are in Him.
DeleteWhat a testimony you have to give for people suffering from the sin that their life problems have brought on. Truly Christ is the answer, but convincing people of that is so hard. I have a lesbian relative and we have talked about the fact that she was sexually abused by her brothers (who I think were sexually abused by a priest(s)) She wasn't always a lesbian, but as men treated her worse and worse in the occupation she was in, she turned to women. Presently she has sworn off both sexes, but she has no use for Christianity for herself, although she "tolerates" it in me. I pray that God uses you to help these young people in these confused states.
DeleteUpdate for you: The state leaders of FCA have communicated with us and told us that the student will not be allowed to function in a leadership position. I am so grateful that they are standing for clear biblical principles in this. It will truly set a precedent that will send a clear message about what we stand for as a Christian organization. I was so very happy (and relieved to find this out). Thank you for your prayers and encouragment, Connie. God bless.....
DeleteI take issue with this, primarily because of your use of old testament. If you use this as such you must also look at the story of Samson (one who's strength was in not cutting one's hair. Though it is not for argument since Jesus created a new covenant with the New Testament voiding the Old.
ReplyDeleteIn the same way Jesus was God reborn as man living without sin. Jesus's hair was long thus it must not be an abomination. Paul, was not an apostle nor did he meet with Jesus.
Paul preached control and if you were to actually read your Bible you would see how much Corinthians sticks out of the framework of the New Testament and feels foreign. Not surprising from a man who spent his life attempting to subvert and destroy Christians and Christianity.
You speak on a pedestal that is not for you but God. You judge others acting as a false idol probably because you can not handle the weight of your own sin so you cast stones at others. Worry more about you and your sin and being right with God for I guarantee he will be far kinder with a transsexual who lives through Christ than a blogger who judges others using Christ as a thin veil to their prejudiced. John 8:7 (to use a real apostle's words)
The Old Testament is as much God's Word as the new. If you were to study them both, you would see the connection between the two.
DeleteIf you knew the rules of being a Nazarite,(Old or New Testament) you would know that they were to not cut their hair while they took the vow, as it was a sign to others, but when the time was complete, they would cut it, for long hair was a shame otherwise. Samson was chosen by God to be a Nazarite from birth for his whole life, which is why he was to always have long hair. When his hair was cut, God removed his strength as punishment for breaking his vow. Jesus hair was short, not long, as long hair would have been against God's rules (this is also reiterated in the N.T.)and He obeyed God. He never took a Nazarite vow, so he would have never had long hair. He was called the Nazarene because He was from Nazareth. Don't believe everything Hollywood or artists portray about Him with the long hair. They obviously never read the Bible. Read your Bible instead and learn the truth. And by the way, that has nothing to do with transgenderism.
Jesus did not void the Old Testament laws. He fulfilled them. We are still under the condemnation of the Ten Commandments and the MORAL laws (although not under the civil, ecclesiastical, or other laws that were strictly for the running of a political nation). They show us our sin which is what they always were meant to do. Salvation has always been by grace through faith. We are no longer under the penalty of death though, even though we are to keep the commandments, for Jesus took that penalty upon Himself for us, so that when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we no longer have that penalty hanging over our head. We can have forgiveness instead.
Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus. Try reading Acts and you might learn about it. Death did not stop Christ from meeting people. He was resurrected and met quite a few after His death, even after His ascension, Paul being one of them. Paul was an apostle of Christ because He was personally called by Christ and sent out by Christ to bring the gospel to the world. That's the definition of an apostle.
Corinthians I & II are not out of the framework of the rest of the Bible at all. Apparently you need to study the rest of the Bible further to see that. He did not try to destroy or subvert Christians or Christianity, but by taking this stand against God's Word, you are doing thus yourself.
I do not speak on a pedestal for myself. I present God's Word. Most people are so unfamiliar with it, as you seem to be, that they don't know what it says. I am not the judge of others, God's Word is the judge, I just present what He says.
(cont. below)
My sins are forgiven, so they do not weigh on my heart or soul, as you are trying to accuse me of. Insulting me will not change God's Word. It existed long before I came along and will stand long after I am gone and still judge sinners. I constantly work at being right with God by keeping His commandments as Christ told us to do and repenting when I sin. God's Word is not a "thin veil" for me to be prejudiced. I have no stake in what you or others choose when it comes to salvation. My only reason for blogging it to try to warn people what awaits them if they choose to turn from God's Word and try to justify their sins. T
DeleteAnd lastly, an unrepentant transsexual cannot live in Christ while they are in such blatant sin, as can any other sinner who refuses to acknowledge and repent of their sin. Try reading Matt. 7:21-23, Eph. 5:5-6, Gal. 5:19-21, 1 Cor. 6:9-10 (see how Cor. says the same thing as the other passages and fits right into the same framework), Rev.22:14-15. Clearly God has His standards.
I am not prejudiced in presenting God's Word, unless you also consider God prejudiced, for it is His Word and rules that I am presenting. I am simply warning those who think they can sin against God with impunity that He says He will judge them according to His Word. Telling you the speed limit to try to warn you that if you break it you will get a ticket is not prejudice, it is trying to be loving and kind. Same thing with telling people that God will not turn a blind eye to sin.
You can accept that or reject it. Your choice.
ReplyDeleteIt's different from other blogs.I really liked reading your blog really well. Thanks
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