Comments on: Joan or John? My Answer: Part One http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/ By Russell D. Moore. Russell D. Moore serves as the teaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. In addition, Dr. Moore is the Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice President for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find sermons and other resources to help Christians engage the culture from a biblical worldview at www.russellmoore.com. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:46:31 +0000 By: Joan or John? How Do You Minister the Gospel to the “Transgendered”? « Waukee Community Church Blog http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/#comment-1611 Joan or John? How Do You Minister the Gospel to the “Transgendered”? « Waukee Community Church Blog Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:56:11 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=3512#comment-1611 [...] Part 1 [...] [...] Part 1 [...]

]]> By: Transgendered Converts: How Should We Respond? « Theosophical Ruminations http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/#comment-1539 Transgendered Converts: How Should We Respond? « Theosophical Ruminations Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:55:46 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=3512#comment-1539 [...] Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 [...] [...] Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 [...]

]]> By: Josh http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/#comment-1512 Josh Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:57:21 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=3512#comment-1512 @Sarah, Certainly, God doesn't make mistakes. However, the world is fallen, and it is not God's sovereign will that children are born with deformities. These naturally occuring deformities, however, extend beyond the physical to our very hearts and natures. That is the depth of the corruption of the world. Our hearts exemplify this sin and darkness; we are to "put off" our old selves and former ways of life to embrace "the truth that is in Jesus" (Eph. 4;17-32). The matter isn't an issue of targeting transexuality; its an issue of knowing that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Before salvation, we all lived for desires and passions that were not of Christ and were enslaved by them. In coming to Him, we find freedom from those desires, and we are given new desires and hearts that seek after him (1 Pt. 1:13-15, Col 3). When we seek after Jesus, we will inevitably begin the change from our old selves and "set our minds on things above", as our desires and hearts are now changed and no longer want those past chains. Just as you wouldn't encourage the naturally depressive to embrace that negative mental tendency, or for a heterosexual person to encourage his lust through pornography and sexual sin, or for an addictive person to continue in whatever it is that traps him, so you wouldn't encourage a transsexual to continue on the path laid by their "old self". All of these behaviors are natural tendencies, but they are all destructive. Again, God's will and the evil in the world are in direct conflict. He is the one who rescues us from our naturally fallen old selves and renews us in Christ. It is true, how you deal with the situation is a test. In this case, it appears that the pastor would be tested with a situation that is very different from his past experience, which should draw him closer to God for guidance and direction in the matter. @Sarah, Certainly, God doesn’t make mistakes. However, the world is fallen, and it is not God’s sovereign will that children are born with deformities. These naturally occuring deformities, however, extend beyond the physical to our very hearts and natures. That is the depth of the corruption of the world. Our hearts exemplify this sin and darkness; we are to “put off” our old selves and former ways of life to embrace “the truth that is in Jesus” (Eph. 4;17-32).

The matter isn’t an issue of targeting transexuality; its an issue of knowing that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Before salvation, we all lived for desires and passions that were not of Christ and were enslaved by them. In coming to Him, we find freedom from those desires, and we are given new desires and hearts that seek after him (1 Pt. 1:13-15, Col 3). When we seek after Jesus, we will inevitably begin the change from our old selves and “set our minds on things above”, as our desires and hearts are now changed and no longer want those past chains.

Just as you wouldn’t encourage the naturally depressive to embrace that negative mental tendency, or for a heterosexual person to encourage his lust through pornography and sexual sin, or for an addictive person to continue in whatever it is that traps him, so you wouldn’t encourage a transsexual to continue on the path laid by their “old self”. All of these behaviors are natural tendencies, but they are all destructive. Again, God’s will and the evil in the world are in direct conflict. He is the one who rescues us from our naturally fallen old selves and renews us in Christ.

It is true, how you deal with the situation is a test. In this case, it appears that the pastor would be tested with a situation that is very different from his past experience, which should draw him closer to God for guidance and direction in the matter.

]]> By: Gospel to the “Transgendered” « RockStar PeterSon http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/#comment-1510 Gospel to the “Transgendered” « RockStar PeterSon Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:47:23 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=3512#comment-1510 [...] Part 1 [...] [...] Part 1 [...]

]]> By: How would you counsel John? « Ponder anew what the Almighty can do if with his love He befriend thee http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/#comment-1485 How would you counsel John? « Ponder anew what the Almighty can do if with his love He befriend thee Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:31:30 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=3512#comment-1485 [...] has begun his answer.  You can find his counsel in these three posts: the question, answer 1, answer [...] [...] has begun his answer.  You can find his counsel in these three posts: the question, answer 1, answer [...]

]]> By: Kiwi and an Emu. http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/#comment-1467 Kiwi and an Emu. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:54:17 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=3512#comment-1467 [...] John or Joan? My Answer: Part 1. [...] [...] John or Joan? My Answer: Part 1. [...]

]]> By: Moore to the Point by Russell D. Moore http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/#comment-1441 Moore to the Point by Russell D. Moore Sat, 30 May 2009 21:18:29 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=3512#comment-1441 [...] seminary students in a Christian ethics class. Read the question here, and the previous four posts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part [...] [...] seminary students in a Christian ethics class. Read the question here, and the previous four posts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part [...]

]]> By: Moore to the Point by Russell D. Moore http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/#comment-1440 Moore to the Point by Russell D. Moore Sat, 30 May 2009 21:17:28 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=3512#comment-1440 [...] just joining this discussion, read the question I’m answering, and the previous three posts (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) before you dive in [...] [...] just joining this discussion, read the question I’m answering, and the previous three posts (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) before you dive in [...]

]]> By: Sarah http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/#comment-1438 Sarah Sat, 30 May 2009 19:42:10 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=3512#comment-1438 I have to write a reply here too. God doesn't make mistakes, but children all over the world are born with deformities, with holes in the heart, with physical problems, mental problems, these things happen, and we don't say God made a mistake, we say that God has a plan. Who are we to say that God doesn't want some people to be transsexual? Who is God testing in this situation? To quote you, it's about how you deal with the situation, not the end outcome of the situation. I have to write a reply here too. God doesn’t make mistakes, but children all over the world are born with deformities, with holes in the heart, with physical problems, mental problems, these things happen, and we don’t say God made a mistake, we say that God has a plan.

Who are we to say that God doesn’t want some people to be transsexual?

Who is God testing in this situation? To quote you, it’s about how you deal with the situation, not the end outcome of the situation.

]]> By: SharperIron » Joan or John? http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/25/joan-or-john-my-answer-part-one/#comment-1387 SharperIron » Joan or John? Wed, 27 May 2009 13:21:58 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=3512#comment-1387 [...] Part One [...] [...] Part One [...]

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