A model of Christian courage in the face of trans madness

[Michie]

Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash

Too often Christians make compromises with the world, despite John’s warning to “not love the world or the things in the world” (1 John 2:15).

Compromising has always been a temptation for Christians, but it has become especially easy in the face of today’s overwhelming assault by LGBT and gender ideologies. How many times have Christians given in and used someone’s “preferred pronouns” because someone insisted they have to? The justification is usually something along the lines of, “Well, I don’t want to lose my job over such a small thing” or “I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.”

In this context, the example of Enoch Burke should inspire all believers.

Continued below.

A Model of Christian Courage in the Face of Trans Madness

For refusing to compromise on biblical beliefs or abandon his mission as a teacher, Enoch Burke has lost his job and is now sitting in an Irish jail. Christians should take note: This is what it looks like to truly stand firm for your faith. Too often Christians make compromises with the world...

www.standingforfreedom.com

 

[PloverWing]

Here's a fact check from Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/irish-teacher-jailed-third-time-breaching-court-order-2024-09-16/ . According to Reuters, Burke is in jail because "Enoch Burke was arrested for contempt of court for visiting Wilson’s Hospital School despite a permanent High Court injunction requiring him to stay away from the premises."

This is one of those cases that I wish could be de-escalated. To Teacher Burke: Does your religious faith truly demand being rude to people? To the school administration: Is there any way you can accommodate Teacher Burke's beliefs that doesn't involve jail?

I see from their website that Wilson's Hospital School is affiliated with the Church of Ireland, which means that this is a case of fighting between Christians. I would really like to see Christians being able to work out their differences without resorting to the secular courts, if at all possible.

 

[Michie]

Here's a fact check from Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/irish-teacher-jailed-third-time-breaching-court-order-2024-09-16/ . According to Reuters, Burke is in jail because "Enoch Burke was arrested for contempt of court for visiting Wilson’s Hospital School despite a permanent High Court injunction requiring him to stay away from the premises."

This is one of those cases that I wish could be de-escalated. To Teacher Burke: Does your religious faith truly demand being rude to people? To the school administration: Is there any way you can accommodate Teacher Burke's beliefs that doesn't involve jail?

I see from their website that Wilson's Hospital School is affiliated with the Church of Ireland, which means that this is a case of fighting between Christians. I would really like to see Christians being able to work out their differences without resorting to the secular courts, if at all possible.

Yes and that is Scriptural as well. We are supposed to try to resolve things before going to court.

 

[All Becomes New]

I find this relevant to a certain experience I had.

I read this article by Dr. Michael Brown.

Is It a Sin for a Christian to Use Transgender Pronouns? | Articles | AskDrBrown

It’s one thing for us to recognize that it is impossible for a man to become a woman or vice versa. But is it ever right to call a trans-identified person by their preferred gender pronouns (PGPs)? Could this be the compassionate, Christlike approach? And what happens when you’re required to...

thelineoffire.org

I was then convicted about calling a certain "Trans" identified male (by birth) by their preferred pronoun. I went to them privately and said this:



What I was met with is that this person who had about 12K followers on X at the time said I was stalking them.

These people are extremely unreasonable. They will do the most vile things imaginable to perpetuate their delusions.

 

[FaithT]

The pronouns ”they/them” dont make sense for 2 reasons. First of all it’s going along with the individuals delusion which just makes it worse and 2) they/them is plural.

 

[PloverWing]

I went to them privately and said this:

So...

It makes perfect sense to me that the person replied "Please never DM me again."

Your paragraph includes the words "apologize" and "sorry", but it's not actually an apology, in the sense of trying to make amends to a person you have hurt. What the other person will have heard, I think, is the message "I regret having been polite to you; I'm going to make up for that oversight by trying to hurt you now."

If this was someone who was a friend or family member in real life, you might have the option of getting to know them well, establishing mutual respect, and then explaining that you can't use their pronouns any more because you feel the rules of your religion forbid it. That could be the place to say sorry, something like "I'm sorry, but I can't keep using she/her or they/them pronouns for you, because I don't think it's right." (That's still not exactly an apology, but it least shows an awareness of the other person's feelings.) But for a random person on the Internet, that kind of closeness may not be possible.

One possibility is to avoid using pronouns altogether when you speak about this person. That option means that you don't have to violate your beliefs that body shape fully determines a person's gender, but you also wouldn't be calling a person by pronouns they don't like. Is this an option for you?

And, obviously, obey the person's request that you not DM them again. I don't agree that a single DM constitutes "stalking", but multiple DMs after the person tells you "no" is a form of stalking.

 

[All Becomes New]

So...

It makes perfect sense to me that the person replied "Please never DM me again."

Your paragraph includes the words "apologize" and "sorry", but it's not actually an apology, in the sense of trying to make amends to a person you have hurt. What the other person will have heard, I think, is the message "I regret having been polite to you; I'm going to make up for that oversight by trying to hurt you now."

If this was someone who was a friend or family member in real life, you might have the option of getting to know them well, establishing mutual respect, and then explaining that you can't use their pronouns any more because you feel the rules of your religion forbid it. That could be the place to say sorry, something like "I'm sorry, but I can't keep using she/her or they/them pronouns for you, because I don't think it's right." (That's still not exactly an apology, but it least shows an awareness of the other person's feelings.) But for a random person on the Internet, that kind of closeness may not be possible.

One possibility is to avoid using pronouns altogether when you speak about this person. That option means that you don't have to violate your beliefs that body shape fully determines a person's gender, but you also wouldn't be calling a person by pronouns they don't like. Is this an option for you?

And, obviously, obey the person's request that you not DM them again. I don't agree that a single DM constitutes "stalking", but multiple DMs after the person tells you "no" is a form of stalking.

It's bizarre that you are blaming me here when the person explicitly lied about me and said I was stalking them. I had to block them after that because I had people coming after me.

 

[bèlla]

I was then convicted about calling a certain "Trans" identified male (by birth) by their preferred pronoun. I went to them privately and said this:

Aren't you the same person complaining elsewhere on the site about a trans nurse? For someone so uncomfortable with their sexuality why are you bothering them on the internet? Leave them alone.

What I was met with is that this person who had about 12K followers on X at the time said I was stalking them.

They aren't required to accept your apology or engage. Nor did you have to say anything at all. You chose to do so.

~bella

 

[All Becomes New]

They aren't required to accept your apology or engage. Nor did you have to say anything at all. You chose to do so.

Because it was the right thing to do.

 

[bèlla]

Because it was the right thing to do.

Then accept the consequences and stop pretending to be a victim. When you get in people's business you should expect a retort. Especially a stranger.

~bella

 

[All Becomes New]

Then accept the consequences and stop pretending to be a victim. When you get in people's business you should expect a retort. Especially a stranger.

~bella

Where have I said I was a victim? The subject came up. I commented on it. Why do you feel sorry for someone who was bearing false witness against me and is deluded to think they are a woman when they are actually a man?

This type of mentality is literally the devouring mother: feeling sorry for the perpetrator as some sort of misguided sense of justice.

 

[bèlla]

Where have I said I was a victim? The subject came up. I commented on it. Why do you feel sorry for someone who was bearing false witness against me and is deluded to think they are a woman when they are actually a man?

You messaged a stranger and shared an opinion that was rebuffed. When they didn't react as you expected you called them unreasonable.

This type of mentality is literally the devouring mother: feeling sorry for the perpetrator as some sort of misguided sense of justice.

I don't feel sorry for you at all. This wasn't a random incident. You initiated contact and by doing so you opened yourself up for the rest. You should expect to be insulted and maligned when you step in their business. You don't know them personally.

~bella

 

[NBB]

Forced language shouldn't exist. This stuff is crazy, nobody needs to compel people to say things against their will.

 

[All Becomes New]

You messaged a stranger and shared an opinion that was rebuffed. When they didn't react as you expected you called them unreasonable.



I don't feel sorry for you at all. This wasn't a random incident. You initiated contact and by doing so you opened yourself up for the rest. You should expect to be insulted and maligned when you step in their business. You don't know them personally.

~bella

You should read the article that made me draw the conclusion I did. It does not help anyone to lie to them.

 

[FireDragon76]

The pronouns ”they/them” dont make sense for 2 reasons. First of all it’s going along with the individuals delusion which just makes it worse and 2) they/them is plural.

They was used at least as far back as Shakespeare as a gender neutral pronoun.

 

[FaithT]

They was used at least as far back as Shakespeare as a gender neutral pronoun.

I think it’s silly.