The Truth In Print Vol 14 Issue 7, Aug. 2008
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)

The Transgender Thing

 

By Bob Lovelace

    

    The bible contains an abundance of information applicable to the direction that our society is going as regards sexual immoralities or perversion. One immorality perhaps considered less publicized than others is the “transgender” thing. Perhaps I should be more specific and say “transsexual” thing, i.e. the desire to live and be accepted as a member of the sex opposite to that of their own birth. Such often alter their bodies and physical appearance in order to present themselves according to this desire.

 

   In the New Testament alone there are several lists of the works of the flesh that will keep one out of the kingdom of Christ.  You may read a few of them in this brief article.

Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

     When Paul said at the end of the list that those who do “such things” or “such like” one understands the enormity of a complete list of the works of the flesh, and that other lists are indeed helpful as well in knowing what is sinful and must not be practiced. For example in Romans chapter one you have many verses that describe those God gave up because of their refusal of His knowledge and will. And again, Paul gave I Cor. 6:9-18 that lists several immoralities and admonishes towards proper use of one’s body.

   Those involved in the transgender thing often consider themselves grouped with homosexuals, transsexuals, bisexuals, gay and lesbians, etc. They see themselves united in a common cause of enlightening society, seeking social justice, fighting hatred against themselves and pushing for acceptance i.e. being considered descent and normal.

 

   At times, and increasingly so, such are pushing for religious acceptance with churches. Some denominational churches in communities are accepting those in perverted relationships and this is wrong.

 

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (KJV)
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 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.  

 

   If you are a member of the church and you think that some of our churches haven’t had to deal with some of these you are wrong. From time to time you will even find some who desire to practice perversions pushing for acceptance in the church of Christ.

 

   The question of accepting a transsexual has even presented itself at times. Should someone have completed the so called transition process then they would have to repent (cf. I Cor. 6:11, Rev. 16:9). If not completed then repentance requires that one reverse the process as far as is possible.

 

    Some of these perversions contain the desire to act and dress “effeminate”. Read I Cor. 6:9 above to identify such as not acceptable to local church fellowship. The Gospel gives a local church the right to disfellowship or not accept anyone who continues in sin (I Cor. 5:1-13). When I read definitions of the word for some reason I think of Liberache and the ways he used to dress and present himself. To me, though young then, there was always something degenerate there. Today transvestites are often trying to win beauty contests. Do they somehow think they are going to be as popular as Liberache? The parading they do in public is disgusting and they aren’t the beauties they think they are!

 

    Being effeminate is nothing new, it is just that they have available today science that can assist and take it to a further extent than in the past centuries. Such things have had their issues in days gone by (cf. De. 22:5). This kind of thing was viewed as effeminacy in man and impudence in woman. Women today who try to look and dress like men are most often lesbians (cf. Rom. 1:24-27).

 

  In talking to other Christians about such degeneracy some points of wisdom worth sharing have been gleaned:

 

1. If married imagine what one puts their mate through unless their mate is just as degenerate as they are.

2. Consider the conjugal obligation in I Cor. 7:1-3 for the married. One does not have the right to take away their ability to perform!

3. A little sarcasm might help: This is not what Jesus meant when he said there are some who make themselves eunuchs for the kingdom’s sake.

4. It’s been said this is not like losing one’s hair. Losing your hair is quite a contrast to butchering the human body to get a cheap imitation or look alike of the other sex.

5. How much more perverted can one get than to push their mate into being attracted to effeminacy? 

6. In Jeremiah 44:19 women were proud they followed their husbands in immoralities. If the mate is not bothered by it then they too are perverted!

7. Some wives might not know where to go, or what they’d do, thus rather than stopping it they go along out of fear of being set out on the street with no income (cf. Matt. 6:33).

8. Beware! What they will do is go and be with those “others” they are wanting to be like (cf. Rom. 13:14).

9. Don’t be shy about telling one you know who is seeking perversion that you will withdraw from them (cf. 2 Th. 3:14; Eph. 5:11).

10. Isn’t it interesting that in Eph. 5:29 just before the man’s “headship” (Eph. 5:30) the matter of proper conduct involves caring for one’s physical body?

11. In marriage a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife (Matt. 19:3). Who gave him a right to change that thus forcing his wife to cleave to one who thinks he’s a she? Or reverse this — so that now he can cleave to one who thinks she’s a he? God forbid.

 

 

 

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