Comments on: Joan or John? My Answer: Part Four

By: Delphi S. Lomeli

Delphi S. Lomeli — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:23:32 +0000

One day the world will hear God’s message of redemption to all, not some, who have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory from my pulpit. This I can assure you. I will be living testimony of the power of God, who possesses both male and female traits, to transform not only the physical body but, the soul as well. The transformation is of course, with the grace of salvation through our savior Jesus Christ and coupled with salvation from doomed sinner to a saved saint. This is my calling. For you see, God is incapable, being a perfect God, of creating imperfect creatures, humans included. By definition, God created two, and only two perfect humans—our first ancestors. After sin entered God’s creation, perfect man became imperfect man. He populated the earth with imperfect, defective descendants born with, physical and other birth defects including the birth defect of gender incongruency. Spiritually, none of us are in possession of race, gender, or other superficial earthly attributes. God’s perception of his creation is not from human eyes limited by earthly illusion, but from a divine perspective whereby he perceives only good and evil. Both males and females were created in the image of God. Conclusion: God, that is the family of God, consists of both male and female traits. Both males and females are in need of salvation. Conclusion: being neither male nor female in and of itself is a characteristic of good nor evil. Therefore, the attribute of gender, and the physical correction thereof, serves neither to save nor condemn—shame on you for even perpetuating this logical fallacy. If I, you, or any other living person, sinners in the eyes of God, were ourselves created by God rather than products of human reproduction, then there would be no need for the savior. Descendants of reproduction that we are, we are tainted images of God. God has given us the wisdom to correct physical maladies including gender abonormalities borne as a product of sin. I have promised God, as thanks for correcting my gender malady, to serve him in the ministry proclaiming the Good News to all disenfranchised from churches such as yours that have strayed from God’s divine truth. God clearly specifies that which is sin—-being transgendered is not one of them.

By: Transgendered Converts: How Should We Respond? « Theosophical Ruminations

Transgendered Converts: How Should We Respond? « Theosophical Ruminations — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:56:02 +0000

[...] 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part [...]

By: Rachael Starke

Rachael Starke — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:55:27 +0000

Pastor Moore,

This series, and this post in particular, is one of the single-best things I’ve read on the transforming power of the Gospel in a long time. If this is what the young pastors in your care are being taught, then perhaps all is not lost for the church in America.

In a short time you would persuade me to act like a Southern Baptist. :)

God bless you.

By: Gospel to the “Transgendered” « RockStar PeterSon

Gospel to the “Transgendered” « RockStar PeterSon — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:47:38 +0000

[...] Part 4 [...]

By: Blog Patrol (June 2, 2009) « Wayne’s Random Thoughts

Blog Patrol (June 2, 2009) « Wayne’s Random Thoughts — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:12:44 +0000

[...] Joan or John? My Answer: Part Four [...]

By: ND

ND — Sat, 30 May 2009 15:31:53 +0000

Have we considered the role of the State in this scenario? Do we know whether or not periodical check ups are done by a state agency? How would they react to such a thing? Would they intervene to take the child from this man? Would a friend or relative that is upset over this decision turn them in to child protective services? The daughter may very well be ripped away from this home. Would you still attempt to minister to this child if they’re placed with a different family that may not want you around them? This could become quite complex.

By: The Walters 5 » One tough pastoral situation

The Walters 5 » One tough pastoral situation — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:58:01 +0000

[...] here. He responded to the situation in a series of 5 blog entries: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5. Posted in Uncategorized [...]

By: Stephen Burnette

Stephen Burnette — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:05:41 +0000

Let’s follow the thread where Joan senses no desire to become John, but has made a genuine profession of faith in Christ, following a legitimate confession of sin and recognition of brokenness. In other words, “this is my sin, so what’s your’s.”

In the OT, God disapproves divorce, but allowed it because of the “hardness of men’s hearts”, per Jesus. The Gospels Jesus, says, “no divorce”, then there are allowances for “adultery”, then with Paul, “let the unbeliever go”, you are no longer bound.

In a tribe that practiced polygamy… the chief has multiple wives (against biblical teaching), but becomes a Christian. Should he “put away” all but one wife, exposing them to rejection, shame and poverty along with the children? Or keep the wives, preserving their lives and children’s legitimacy, being clear that this is not God’s ideal, but the wives did not sign up for divorce?

In the same way, once John physically became Joan, and chooses to stay that way, living a life of character in every other way, could the church embrace her, love her and her child, helping the child grow. Mom would stay Mom, preserving chaos and confusion from overwhelming the child.

There is no longer a “best” answer to make everything all right. There is only owning the decisions and sin and moving forward with a decision that John/Joan can best live a life of integrity. You admitted that likely John would struggle the rest of his life with gender identity.

This would likely be the case with either direction… Sometimes because of the “hardness of our heart” or “brokenness” , is there possibly a a time to draw a double line and begin again?

By: Charles Halton

Charles Halton — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:35:21 +0000

This has been a fantastic series–looking forward to the concluding comments.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:14:28 +0000

This is the best post on the subject yet because we suddenly realize the immediate practicality of it all. Whether or not John spoken of here is a member of our church, there are plenty of other men and women in our churches who have been saved from sin and who are in need of the same love, fellowship, and discipleship. The church must act in this way every day, not only when a situation such as this comes to light.