[Biblemat] The Transgender Thing (Bob W. Lovelace)

[Bob Lovelace]

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

Website Address ~ <http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com>


The Transgender Thing


    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.

By Bob Lovelace

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