Seth Freeman Supporter

Dictionary: 
trans·gen·der
[trans-jen-der, tranz‐] 

noun 
1. 
a person appearing or attempting to be a member of the opposite sex, as a transsexual or habitual cross-dresser. 

Wikipedia:
Transgender is the state of one's gender identity (self-identification as woman, man, neither or both) or gender expression not matching one's assigned sex (identification by others as male, female or intersex based on physical/genetic sex).[1] Transgender is independent of sexual orientation; transgender people may identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, or asexual; some may consider conventional sexual orientation labels inadequate or inapplicable to them. The precise definition for transgender is changing...

I think what you'll find is that even though a person may call themselves "Transgender" they were actually still born either male or female.

February 14 2014 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

T. Johnson Supporter Seminary Student discerning a call to ministry

I have spent some considerable time reflecting and researching this question and find that the Bible does not say much, if anything about it.

The reference in Deuteronomy regarding crossdressing, like many of the other laws in Leviticus and Deut. Relates to ritual purity and distinguishing the people of Isreael from the other nations and as a holy people.

In the New Testament the closest that I have found is Galatians 3:28, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (New Revised Standard Version)

Often people point to Genesis 1:27 which is often translated to English as "So God created humankind[e] in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (NRSV) This is problematic in its translation from the Hebrew. Many scholars argue that this is a merism in Hebrew, a form that is all encompassing. This form is found in the other parts of the Genesis 1 creation narrative. A better translation would be, "God created human kind male and female and every combination in between." 

There is also the tale of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:28-40. By the law of the Torah the eunuch was forbidden to participate in Temple ritual and was seen as unclean. This is not so for Phillip who teaches the eunuch about the meaning of Isaiah, of Jesus Christ, and then baptises eunuch. The eunuch receives the Grace of salvation through baptism even though an outcast under the old law.

My conclusion is that the Bible does not condemn transgender people. Transgender people have been part of humanity for all of history. God made humanity in his/her image, an image that, as Gregory of Nyssa wrote, transcends gender and sex.

February 14 2014 • 5 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

I think the way modernism would have to view Genesis 1:27 is this:	

"So God created people ['those assigned male at birth' (AMAB) and 'those assigned female at birth' (AFAB)] in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them." 

And so I believe people should be happy with the way God created them and not try to change that, no matter how they feel.

June 12 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Caleb Brooks Supporter

I believe that 

A. All people are born either male or female.

B. The Fall has made it so that our brains do not work the way that they did before the Fall. Some examples of this are dissociation, anxiety, and, most relevant to this, gender dysphoria.

C. Each and every one of us is perfect in God's design despite the fall. God's plan allows for all things and is even able to use sin or other imperfections to his advantage.

D. Rejecting the identity that God has given you is a sin; however feelings of gender dysphoria are not. 

E. This should be viewed as a struggle with something that is part of our sinful nature, and that it should be treated as something that you struggle with, such as "I am a boy, but I struggle with gender dysphoria."

F. It is up to each individual person to decide for themselves what action they should take on their dysphoria. Lots of people might come to decisions that I don't agree with; however, it is my job to counsel them and give them my advice, but ultimately accept their decision. I would like to clarify the difference between acceptance and support. Acceptance is to acknowledge their decision and respect their wishes; support is to say that you agree with the decision.

Ultimately, it is the job of every Christian to do their best to honor God. One thing the bible leaves NO wiggle room on and that we should all agree on is that we should show respect to people who are transgender or identify as something other than their gender assigned at birth, and we should treat them with respect, kindness and dignity, just like we would any other sinner, because after all, we are ALL sinners. Someone being transgender shouldn't be a reason not to invite them to church or over to your house. I personally, out of respect, use people's preferred pronouns because I think the Bible class is to respect people's decisions even if we do not agree with them. However, it is up to each individual Christian to decide what pronouns to use.

11 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report