Today is called the Trans Day of Visibility. I didn’t know this until this morning when I saw it on my Yahoo homepage.
Along with this, or more accurately as a result of this, there were many stories regarding the “T” in LGBTQ+. A couple of the stories were of those who identify as Trans and how freeing it was to finally be “honest” about who they are. They went on to describe how they live lives that are similar if not exactly like the rest of society, but for the fact that they identify as Trans. A couple other stories where about laws in several states that have passed or are attempting to be passed that are identified by the LGBTQ+ community as being harmful to particularly Trans people. Most of those bills (I haven’t read them all) speak to what is being called Gender affirming care. In real terms this is the chemically and ultimately surgically, physically altering the outward appearance of a young person to the gender that they choose to identify with.
We should all be against this kind of child abuse. However, the Christian should not, cannot be in favor of any kind of discrimination or abusive behavior toward those who identify as LGBTQ+. These folks, like all humans, are created in the image of God. Sadly, they have succumbed to the “wisdom” of the world, which is and always has been contrary to natural law, God’s law. They are not to be harassed or abused in any way, especially by the Christian community. They are lost. They should be loved. Love involves telling the truth, gently and respectfully.
One of the articles was written by Ben Huelskamp, a pastor, is the Executive Director of LOVEboldly, an Ohio nonprofit working to create spaces where LGBTQIA+ people can flourish in Christianity. Among other statements, Ben says this; “There are even people who argue that trans women are really just men. Let’s be clear, transgender women are women and transgender men are men.”
When we read things like this many are triggered, outraged, angry, frustrated. Why? Partially, because of our own sinful natures. But, even more because of our ignorance of Scripture. So many go with how this makes them feel, rather than responding in a way that is guided by Scripture. Scripture reminds us, instructs us, of the behavior of the world in every facet of every subject.
There are two Scriptures that, those who know me have heard me reference time and time again. There are even times I sound like a broken record myself. Yet, Scripture is always applicable to our and our culture’s lives.
So, I will reference them again here.
I Peter 3:15 instructs us 3 ways. First, what is our life to look like. “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts”. This is to be the priority of all Christians before speaking to or about anyone or anything. Secondly, what is our mindset. “Always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.” Third, how we to speak to (particularly) the world. “Yet, with gentleness and reverence.” There is no room for or appropriate time that the Christian should be harsh or condemning when speaking to those who are lost. While everyone likes to quote John 3:16, it would be good, as we consider the subject at hand that we read and remind ourselves of the content of John 3:17.
The next Scripture that I am reminded of over and over again as I read the headlines and in the discussions I have with those who against the things of God, is Romans 1. This Scripture has been helpful to me to keep in mind what I/we are dealing with in the world we live. Romans 1:18-31 paints a vivid picture of our world.
If we pay close attention to what is written there, we should have a greater understanding of why things are as they are and have greater compassion for those who are lost. The following are excerpts for those verses.
“people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”
“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened.”
“For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood.”
“God gave them up to a depraved mind.”
Again, with John 3:17 in mind, we must be careful as we read this Romans passage. It is easy to appease of own pride with the saying, “They made their bed, let them lie in it”. Which of us has not made a similar “bed”?
It is never ours to judge. Speak the truth in love, by all means. But to judge is God’s and God’s alone to do. We follow Jesus, who came not to judge, but to save. It would behoove us to remind ourselves of that daily. For me, as I am faced with the things of this world that mock God, hear the words daily, hourly, sometimes by the minute… They are lost! They are lost! They are lost!
One last thought. Behaviors are symptoms. I’m reminded of something I read by Rosaria Butterfield, a former tenured professor of English and women’s studies at Syracuse University, advised the LGBT student group, wrote their policy for same-sex couples, and actively lobbied for LGBT aims alongside her lesbian partner. In her book, Love Your Neighbor Enough to Speak Truth, she said; “To be clear, I was not converted out of homosexuality. I was converted out of unbelief. I didn’t swap out a lifestyle. I died to a life I loved. Conversion to Christ made me face the question squarely: did my lesbianism reflect who I am (which is what I believed in 1999), or did my lesbianism distort who I am through the fall of Adam? I learned through conversion that when something feels right and good and real and necessary—but stands against God’s Word—this reveals the particular way Adam’s sin marks my life. Our sin natures deceive us. Sin’s deception isn’t just “out there”; it’s also deep in the caverns of our hearts.”
Love your neighbor.