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If I was traveling and wanted to go to a Traditional Adventist Church would I cause a problem? What about on a second or third visit? Just so you know I am transgender and would be going as a female. I do want to point out also, I wouldn't use a restroom or force myself into any gender specific activities. I also wouldn't have a problem with being called brother or male pronouns.
My first thought would be why would you want to attend a SDA church? Is it because you are searching for biblical truth and help from God to change and you believe the SDA church is the place to find restoration and truth or would your motives be more on the taunting side?
If your motives are pure then I would say that you would be welcomed.
God loves everyone and there is not one person who does not struggle with something. Unfortunately some struggles are more visible than others and some are more excepted than others but both carry the same need for change and restoration.
If I was traveling and wanted to go to a Traditional Adventist Church would I cause a problem? What about on a second or third visit? Just so you know I am transgender and would be going as a female. I do want to point out also, I wouldn't use a restroom or force myself into any gender specific activities. I also wouldn't have a problem with being called brother or male pronouns.
GenetoJean,
Hi. I am a long standing SDA and am puzzled by part of your question. You notice there are two SDA sites on this forum - moderate/progressive and traditional. Do you have a way of assessing which camp a congregation would fall in?
Near me there are 5 congregations. I would say they are all in or toward the conservative/traditional wing. Here is what I would expect: One would pounce on you. Two wouldn't know what to do with you and you would not likely be comfortable them or they with you. In one you have a fair chance of being received as a child of God and respected. The remaining one, the home church in which I am involved, would likely receive you well. In any case you can expect an expectation that as God works in you and through you you will come to accept your male design and identity. This would be a new situation for most of us and it would be all but inevitable that there will be some relational mistakes made that would range from opps to hurt and disgust. From your post I gather you would have at least some risk tolerance toward such events.
Would you be tolerated? What would "toleration" look like to you? What I am saying is: you will take chances on members being Christlike about it. If you expect your transgender status to be accepted in the long term - not likely. Jesus "tolerated" sinners well and they sought and appreciated His presence. He also expected them at some point to "go and sin no more" though for some folks that might take some time to attain.
I hope this is not harsh but helpful to you.
Hello and welcome! I thought the first reply to your post was well-put. The truth is, I struggle with my own sins...and other people have their own battles, as well. I'd say the church is a hospital for the sick, not a house where righteous people come together to talk about how they are now superior to others.
But, with that said, all sin will kill the soul. Mine. Yours. My neighbor's. The homeless guy in the park. Your concerns are sincere, and I'm going to give you a sincere answer. Whatever your issues are in life, come to the cross as you are. Once the Holy Spirit begins to work within you, you will adopt a new mind, as do we all - and that mind is Christ's. After that, the progressive change begins, as long as you call all sin by it's name, and pray fervently to have it removed. If you want any error in life gone, genuinely...it will be taken away. The key is to have a perfect hatred for the sin itself.
God bless, and I'll pray for you. Keep us in the loop on your experiences!
Thank you. For me however this never worked. I came to the cross and begged for this to be lifted from me. I begged to be shown how to be a boy and later man. It never happened. Well I explained the conclusion I have come to in my last post.
While I don't mind discussing me story and will continue to do so. I mainly started this thread to find about y'all's beliefs.
Very true. Sin gives us many tendencies, whether we take it to Christ to help us overcome them is the question that we all must face..God has set the standard for life and godliness. When we find something in our lives that is ungodly we are to change. No one said it would be easy and we all have our good days and bad days. We all can have lust in our hearts for inappropriate sexual relations but we are not to pursue and practice them not matter how much we want to. You may have the desire to dress like a woman but that does not mean you have to dress like a woman. I may want to have sex with the pretty lady sitting next to me in church but that does not mean I should go out and have sex with her.
Having these tendencies is part of the old sinful nature but how we practice them reveals our new nature. Tendencies do not determine who we are, behavior does.
Your head is in the right place here. Keep in mind that "hearing the Word of The Lord" carries the idea of both listening AND following through to do, to carry out. It may not be easy. It may be strange. You may have to work through some logistics.My goal would be hearing the Word of The Lord.
Your sense of hopefulness is noted and to be commended.If all of the churches would ask me to leave then there would be no point in going.
Is God a fraud? Is He a god that demands the impossible? In a sense He does - IF we try to do it on our own. Excuse me for getting a little windy with this. Still, I will be laying aside a lot of history and background.Do y'all believe that just because something is in the Bible a person should be able to resist that sin?
I am sorry something in your background failed you so deeply. When you ask a man about being a man very few men have even considered what that means - they just are. To be able to explain it is something that never crossed their mind. Some of it can't really be explained it has to be seen and experienced - discipleship. Few people today understand personal mentoring and fewer are willing to expend the time and personal exposure to do so. But still (and good for you) you have the desire and hold out hope that you can learn.I have sought help in churches and other than pointing to Bible passages they never helped me be a man.
Sometimes we list the options we see and God says: "none of the above." He designed you a male. He didn't make a mistake. Others may have let you down but He didn't make a mistake. It is also quite apparent your heart isn't hardened or you wouldn't care - to say nothing of taking risk exposing your bewilderment and desires for others to see, even crying out in hopes of hope and assistance. I can't imagine what it would be like to not understand the way I am made but then to try to live in a role that my design doesn't support... It is my hope that you, God, and some chosen man can help you work through your identity definition and implementation.So now I think either think The Lord is ok with my transitioning or I am one of those who The Lord has hardened their hearts to never believe. Since I am crying just thinking that I will keep trying.
From personal experience, we as Christians struggle with sin all our lives, until we take it to God. It doesn't happen overnight, its not snap, crackle, pop! and we are changed. But as He wills, God puts us through the cleansing fire and we are transformed and sanctified.Thank you for the advice. I am trying to think how to say this without sounding unappreciative. It is the same advice I have been getting for over 30 years while I have struggled with this. It has never worked for me.
Thank you for the advice. I am trying to think how to say this without sounding unappreciative. It is the same advice I have been getting for over 30 years while I have struggled with this. It has never worked for me.
To me, transgender is not the end all of sin. You're married and your wife has no problem with it so if God chooses not to delivered you from it like He did with Paul and the thorn he had in his side saying, "My grace is sufficient for you" then just continue seeking God and maybe some day or even in the kingdom you will be delivered along with the rest of us.
... along with the rest of us sinners....To me, transgender is not the end all of sin. You're married and your wife has no problem with it so if God chooses not to delivered you from it like He did with Paul and the thorn he had in his side saying, "My grace is sufficient for you" then just continue seeking God and maybe some day or even in the kingdom you will be delivered along with the rest of us.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," even so was "the Son of man lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" John 3:14, 15. If you are conscious of your sins, do not devote all your powers to mourning over them, but look and live. Jesus is our only Saviour; and although millions who need to be healed will reject His offered mercy, not one who trusts in His merits will be left to perish. While we realize our helpless condition without Christ, we must not be discouraged; we must rely upon a crucified and risen Saviour. Poor, sin-sick, discouraged soul, look and live. Jesus has pledged His word; He will save all who come unto Him. {CCh 48.3}If I was traveling and wanted to go to a Traditional Adventist Church would I cause a problem? What about on a second or third visit? Just so you know I am transgender and would be going as a female. I do want to point out also, I wouldn't use a restroom or force myself into any gender specific activities. I also wouldn't have a problem with being called brother or male pronouns.
I never experienced that I guess. Do you know what it is like to be a 10, 11, 12 year old child and knowing you were going to Hell? I continued to live that way. I attempted to claim I was an atheist and later agnostice but that didnt work. I just cant live that way any longer.
The 4 stroke cycle thing is one thing I am trying to work on. Fellowships specifically. I have never felt welcomed anywhere just tolerated. Once men know I have no interest in sports, hunting or cars they have no use for me. I am a man so no women want to be friends.
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