Should Christians Make an Effort to Use the Preferred Pronouns of Transgender People?
The bulky person doesn’t have any standout clothing.
Besides his feet, that is.
The dude is stumbling about in open-toed black heels that are about as high as the ones I have myself (four inches).
You might make the case that nothing about him is remarkable if we were back in his hometown of liberal Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, almost anything goes.
But we meet again in Texas, this time during a religious convention.
That’s why you’re having these two ideas right now.
For starters, he has an abundance of bravery. My guess is that you won’t find another crossdresser at this gathering.
And secondly, he must have a strong desire for Jesus, just like the rest of us here at the conference. From 8:30 in the morning until 9 or 10 at night, guests of the weeklong Christian conference will be kept busy with a total of seven services each day (including prayer sessions).
If he weren’t desperate for the Lord, he probably wouldn’t have turned up to a meeting like this.
Are transgender people something you’ve come across? Possible biological girl who has decided to become recognized as a man by growing a beard and developing muscle mass. Or someone who doesn’t clearly identify as either gender. Or, as I saw at a professional development workshop, a biological guy donning perfect makeup and, yes, even curled eyelashes.
The events in their respective accounts are different. A man who was formerly known as Alex but has gone through the necessary legal and medical processes to change his name to Lexie. Perhaps another guy, also named Andrew, has chosen the androgynous An because he is not yet ready to have surgery to make him seem totally feminine.
One of the psychiatrists who taught us said he liked the use of both male and female pronouns, and he also revealed that he was a gay biological guy. He/she/her.
A guy who insists on being addressed as a female. A female voice saying the contrary.
For followers of Jesus, what should they say?
This inquiry pertains to individuals who have made it known they want to be addressed in a certain manner. Problems multiply when minors are involved. One young person identified as transgender was adamant on having both breasts surgically removed. The alternative was suicide, so her parents gave in.
Chloe Cole has been living as a girl again since she now deeply regrets the decision to have the procedure done.
God’s kindness, wisdom, and mercy must continually pour into the hearts of parents of children who struggle with gender identity conflict. There will be actual fighting.
Even though they may be older, those who suffer with gender identity issues still face a tough uphill battle. However, unlike minors, adults benefit from having fully formed frontal lobes, giving them a greater ability to comprehend the dangers and repercussions associated with hormone treatment, surgical removal of their anatomy, and the total abandonment of their former gender identity.
Adults are in a better position to provide informed consent than youngsters.
To sum up, I will use the preferred pronouns of the person concerned even if this does not match their biological sex if they so want.
I’m aware that some Christians will disagree with me. Some have said that they will not adjust their values to accommodate transgender people. Some people attempt to sidestep the problem by just using generic terms. “Just use their given name,” they suggest.
I can use the pronouns of transgender people with no shame in my heart because of the following reasons:
- Maintains a Flow of Traffic
Intentionally using a different name for the person might cause them to avoid any future interactions with me.
Who, therefore, will assist the transgender individual in weighing the significant dangers, consequences, and spiritual implications of this controversial matter?
One detransitioner (she had breasts removed, took testosterone, discovered Jesus, and then restored her female identity) discusses the pressure she felt to accept transitioning as the panacea for her gender dysphoria, particularly from online communities. Sophia had no notion that going through with her medical treatments may put her at risk for serious complications like ovarian cancer.
Professionals, including therapists, hurried Abel to transition to a woman under the pretense of “gender-affirming treatment,” and now he is back to life as a male he was before he had the implants.
In light of their experiences, it’s clear how important it is to be able to develop meaningful connections with transgender individuals. Counting on the Abels and Sophias of the world to hear the truth from other Christians is a risk I can’t take. Like Isaiah, who responded positively to God’s summons (Isaiah 6:8), I want to be a good representative of God, not just by loving trans people but also by telling the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
If using their chosen pronouns is the price of opening the door, then so be it.
- Several lives are at risk
The transgender community is diverse and complex.
Many people stand in support of a transgender person. Consider Tracy as an example. She had a divorce after her spouse came out as transgender and later moved in with another lady who was biologically a guy but identified as such. Unfortunately, Tracy’s three children suffered abuse at the hands of her new spouse.
Later, these children made six separate suicide attempts.
Tracy argued that her children would be better off with their father there.
Supposing I had known Tracy’s transsexual spouse. Let’s pretend I decided I didn’t want to use this person’s chosen pronouns. Perhaps it would have meant destroying whatever hope I had of changing his mind or the minds of his little children.
- Willpower
For the sake of becoming Jake, Laura had to have her ovaries and uterus surgically removed. But before she could marry a male, she detransitioned back to life as a woman.
God confronted her with a profound question while she was still posing as Jake. If you were to appear before Me tonight, what would I call your name?
The Christian faith teaches that God gave people the ability to choose their own paths in life. He Himself accords our will the greatest deference. For instance, God never forces anybody to accept His Son in order to achieve redemption, even though He does not want that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).
God will never use coercion to get his way with us.
I believe it is right to ask transgender people what name or pronouns they prefer, as God instructs me to do (Ephesians 5:1).
Divine Mercy and Unadulterated Truth
Do you recall the Texas man who wore heels to a Christian gathering? Because of him, I’m constantly reminded that the transgender people also need Jesus.
No matter how unaware they may be.
Using preferred pronouns is the first step in my plan for expressing God’s love with people, but it’s not the only one.
The Bible, I overheard a priest remark once, “never needs updating.” This suggests that the formula did not alter when God created male and female humans (Genesis 5:2, Mark 10:6).
But which is more likely to be heard: a pleasant sharing of this truth when, say, a transgender friend confides in you about feeling lost, or an angry yelling of these lines at a stiletto-clad gentleman who is cursing at you?
Perhaps this is why the Bible places such tremendous emphasis on the incarnation of Jesus Christ, who was utterly full of mercy and truth (John 1:17). (John 1:14). Grace and truth, not vice versa, is a significant order for the terms to be in.
The audience may or may not pay attention to what you have to say if grace is following after your presentation of the facts. Theodore Roosevelt stated, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
But if you lead with dignity, you prepare the way for the truth to be heard. In other words, when you use your chosen pronouns, you make room for the truth.
I’d love to hear what you think. Even if you disagree with it.
But in the meanwhile, would you pray with me that the approximately one million transgender people in the United States might have an experience with Jesus similar to the one Saul of Tarsus had (Acts 9:1-19)?
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