Speaking of which...TRANSGENDERED?

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by chosenbyone

I know it must be very difficult for many to understand how a person becomes so confused with their gender that they would take steps to alter their physical bodies to resemble the opposite sex.

I've met many transgendered people both female to male and male to female and I can't feel anything but sympathy for them. The utter torment that they must experience and the darkest of all deceptions that rule their lives should make us all pray for these individuals.

Do you know that the male to female transgendered people have the highest rate of HIV? That fact is greatly unreported due to the stigma not only from heterosexuals but even gays and lesbians. The possibility of gaining employment becomes difficult and many that would want to work a legitimate job resort to prostitution to survive.

There life span has become even shorter than a male homosexual and the thought of these tortured souls having to spend eternity in hell after experiencing hell on earth is so tragic. I know that Jesus loves these people and I hope that we could see beyond what we can't comprehend and love them as he does.

Many years ago, a friend was giving a male to female transgendered person a bible study and that person was so moved by the message of salvation and Christ's love for "her". That person wept and was ready to be baptized, but didn't go because she realized that she would have to lose this person she became and except the male person that she was born.

Such a sad story for you see she had gone so far in her transformation that even my friend stated that it would be very difficult for her to be excepted in our churches.

Satan is a liar and we must demonstrate that God's grace and mercy isn't exclusive of any segment of our society. The more we state that there is no hope for people that are different (transgendered, lesbian, gay) the more we are guilty of contributing to their fate.

Many blessings to you.

Dear Chosenbyone,

All of us caught in the lies of satan are tormented. Whether they be adulterers, fornicators, pedophiles, homosexuals, transgendered, those caught in the spirt that promotes being a peeping Tom, lust, pornography, addictions of any kind; alcoholism, substance abuse, gambling, sexual addictions, ect...

When struggling with any of these or similar sins/addictions we are confused, wonder what is really us...the us of what others have told us we are, the us of what we think we are, or the us of who satan tells us we are, or the truth in who Jesus says we are!

I do think we need to show mercy, grace, and compassion, but we also need to be truthful to people...they can be free from the lies satan tells them. They do not have to be bound by the addictions they have acquired whether from their own poor choices, the abuse done to them by others, or the transgenerational sins of the family.

Calling sin to be sin is not judgemental, but saying there is no hope and condemning people to a life without Christ and his transforming power is. I am so glad that the things that have happened to others, such as; physical, mental, or sexual abuse did not happen to me...not that I haven't had my own issues and demons to torment me.

The example you gave about a transgendered person afraid to be baptized because they would lose themselves is just what we all do when we are baptized...we die to ourselves, our will, and agree to give our life over to Christ and His will. It does take a sensitive and compassionate person to address this in a way that the person struggling will understand that we all struggle with the same things, only others to a greater extent.

I fight constantly with the side of myself that is strong and independent and have to force myself to submit to God's will. Not because I don't want it but because I hate to feel helpless or out of control or like I am giving up my identity. Trust is difficult for me...I have been hurt, had to survive against all odds, and to just fall into anyone's hands, and yes...sometimes I don't even realize how arrogant I am to think I can control things better than Christ can do for myself. When I have to wait, trust without questioning, not knowing where my next footstep will be placed...I am scared...you might say terrified and sometimes find it easier to go back to what I know and even the bondage I have been delivered from because it is comfortable..a.t least I know what to expect.

The transgendered, the homosexual, and those bound by other confusing and hell-driven addictions are not any more confused or scared than the rest of us. Instead of looking at what we perceive to be vast differences between us...we need to look at the truth of the commonalities we all face. Christ came to break the curse...we either believe it and give our lives to accepting and "Letting" God change us or we fight inwardly as well as outwardly our whole lives not really believing in anything...hopeless if you would.

In summary, we all struggle with different variences of the same issues...and we either believe Christ and his transforming power and 'let' it happen with us, or we don't believe, and die a most miserable death as we have lived in life. This is the saddest condition of all.

In God's Grip [most of the time],
Rhoni