From a quote in Deuteronomy, I believe the Bible can be interpreted as saying it (transgender) is wrong. 1 Corinthians 6:9 has some interesting parallel translations from nor effeminate to male prostitutes. The most widely accepted versions have male prostitutes, but not all. In practice, Ive noticed at churches and when I attended Trinity International in Deerfield for an MDiv, there does not appear to be any distinction between Gay and CD, TS, TG. This is in practice and application of accepted Christian behavior. If we look at this academically and not personally, I see the Bible lumping all of the above into one category, Sensual sin. For perspective, consider the Women in the Church thing. Here again the Bible is fairly clear. However, in practice the accurate goes out the window because in our culture this is very inconvenient. While the theologically inclined laypersons argued, most missed a fact. The majority of missionaries were women who were by default in leadership already. Ive been on the mission field, semantics aside the female missionaries, ordained or not, are leaders, period!
How does this apply to CD, TS, TG, plus gay Christians? Once again the Church is left playing catch-up. At its height the debate over women leaders was a non-issue in the world. The same is happening here. Already there are semantic games: love the homosexual, but hate homosexuality Because the transgendered in general are lumped in with gays this is by default likewise applied. I give it 20-25 years till the compromises used to justify women leaders today are applied to GLBTs It will start with fully transitioned MTF and FTMs, anatomy makes this easier. Then the long, long, debate over is it Biblical. We already has GLBTs in government so catch up it is.
The reality in the church has a percentage of those considered especially spiritual and conveniently compared Paul, that are GLBTs. THEY STILL MAY BE SPIRITUAL. Practical theology authors and instructors deal with this specific issue, though you will not find this topic openly advertised. I knew of many tortured souls who despised themselves for their sin and more so after the promise of being cured seems to happen only to disappear after a short time. David Brainerd, while having a relationship with Jonathan Edwardss daughter made curious reference to having an interest in her brother (?). He drove himself to death with obsession about something. Edwards even noted the guilt being excessive perhaps driving David to his extreme dedication in Gods work in unhealthy ways. In my mind, as a great fan of Edwards, I can see no way David could not have confessed his lack to Edwards. I further believe Edwards, the greatest native born thinker ever, could not have understanding, and compassion. Edwards thought of David as one of the best. However, David was a tortured soul in some way, and just maybe in the same ways of those Ive known.
Im transgendered, felt the cure go away, and faced the ever mounting guilt. I have a strong faith in God, but the church does not have much to offer me beyond giving me solid research into the theoretical and often grossly inaccurate why and how of what is. More helpful is we will pray for you. Prayer is powerful and answers are real. Im straight acting and prefer women only. Im very happily married and not to a Christian girl. The Christian girls I know were not very kind to boys issues let alone issues like mine. Their interest was in finding a spiritual husband. Somehow spiritual and hot looking are equated, dont ask me why. My wife is not at all like that and we are in love, period.
The church in general defines me as immoral and for many years I agreed. Ive been immoral since age 3. In church I had panic attacks when the subject got to freaks and perverts, and homos. I knew I was in that general group. I and my love of God are not confined to what the church defines as one who truly loves God. After accepting myself as not a pervert, but just a creation of my Lord and my God, I liked myself. I am a person with faults, but know this: I am transgendered and this is not a fault it is just who I am.
Kimberly Ellen Sedala
I too have had a sexual fascination with womens clothing since very early childhood. I was always ashamed of it (tried to keep it hidden) even before I knew any Bible teaching on the subject.
After a lifetime of struggle to understand this behavior, and to get free of it; I have finally gotten to a place where it is no longer a part of my life, and the guilt is gone. The guilt is gone because the practice of dressing as a woman for sexual arousal/role playing/masturbation etc. is over for me.
I see the causes for this behavior as follows.
1) General licence granted by God to perverse spirits to influence society in general (as a societal punishment if you will), because of modern society's general refusal of God. God "giving them over" to do such things that are "not convenient". See book of Romans for that.
2) Absent male role models in early childhood years.
3) Possible inappropriate sexual contact between mothers and sons in very early childhood years.
4) Excessive sexual stimuli in our modern culture.
5) Genetic predisposition of certain boys to passivity, fearing the male role.
6) Strong sexual interest trying to act itself out in a confused manner, mistaking the
clothing, for contact with women themselves.
For a young Christian boy fearing the sin of fornication with a female partner, and badly confused about what he finds so arousing about women and their clothing in the first place, this is bound to happen in many many instances. It is IMO a lesser evil than fornication with an unmarried partner. Such a young man should look to
marriage as the real answer to his problem.
In marriage however, the
crossdressing PROBLEM will have to become an unlearned behavior. That is the insidious curse of this secret sin. Best never to start down this road if it can be avoided at all.
I shall conclude with this. Some interpretations of the Corinthian passage cited earlier, raise some very grave questions about whether a "catamite" or as the KJV renders it "effeminate" will ever inherit the kingdom of God. This very real fear led me to pursue deliverance until God finally set me free. I advise all cross dressers to do the same. Never give up. Deliverance will be given in the end.
Here's the last piece of the puzzle that helped me get free. Cross dressing is best understood IMO as a twisted kind of whoredom. It is a sin where you act out both the role of harlot and whoremonger in one single confused identity destroying act, again and again and again. If harlots and whoremongers are welcome in heaven, then I can see no reason why crossdressers would not be accepted as well. There is room in heaven for harlots/whoremongers who repent. There is also room for cross dressers who repent.
1st Corinthians 6
9Know 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,
10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11And
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.
Love in Christ
Truthhound