It's Not Transformation Unless You Agree With Me

by Bob Thune

Ryan was back in town over the holidays. Two years ago, Ryan was a God-hating, cross-dressing trans-sexual. Now he loves Jesus and is living a sexually pure lifestyle. The story of his transformation is a long and joyful one, fraught with the grace of God and the brokenness of humanity and the feeble but prayerful efforts of some godly friends. I've written about Ryan before; in fact, my friendship with him was the framework of an entire book chapter. If you have any doubt that the grace of God changes even the hardest hearts, one conversation with Ryan would change your mind. He is in every way a different person than he was when we first met.

This past weekend, I saw him serve others instead of demanding his rights. I saw him dance with girls instead of dressing like one. I saw him at peace and content with himself instead of brimming with anxiety and self-hatred. There are quite a few people in our faith community who knew the "old Ryan." One of them told me today, "He looked like a totally different person." And that is as it should be: "Behold, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Cor 5:17). He still has a lot of spiritual growth ahead of him, but even the dullest observer can recognize the change of allegiance in his soul.

Ryan's not so sure, though. He told me over lunch that he wasn't sure if he could be a 'real Christian,' because he still had lots of doubts about some things. "Like what?" I asked.

"Well, I just can't believe right now that the earth is only 4,000 years old."

"Who told you you had to believe that?" I asked. "Well, some Christians I know told me that was a pretty big thing. And I was looking at some Christian websites, and they seemed to agree."

Evangelicalism, how I love you. Only in the matrix of American Christianity could a bitter transsexual become a tender Christ-follower, experience the profound lifestyle change that proves the reality of his conversion... and then be told that it's all for naught unless he's a young-earth creationist. So much for majoring on the majors.

Jesus said one time: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves." I sure am glad he wasn't talking about American evangelicals.

Comments

[Pimple]

The change of allegiance in our souls. I like that.

[nick]

Hi,
i'm a drummer who is fascinated by the power of the subconcious mind.I have read some self help books onthe subject by such authors as dr. Maxwell Maltz(psychocybernetics) and Tony Robbins (unlimited power) and I find it difficult to believe that these people are doing the devil's work. I'm interested in using the subconcious powers for consistent performance and accelerated learning. Are these methods (meditation,self-hypnosis,subliminal suggestion) anti-christian? Didn't God give us these gifts so we could live more abundantly? Or is it like the tree of knowledge? Even though we possess the power we really aren't allowed to use it lest we suffer the consequences? I know the saying " God helps those who help themselves" is NOT in the Bible but wouldn't a loving father want his children to be more self sufficient in this world, even if Satan does have dominion over it. I'm interested in your feedback.
Thanks,
Nick
Bermuda Drum Institute

[Patrick]

Hey Nick, I am not sure if you were looking just for the author's thoughts on the blog or not, but here's my two cents.

Personally, I think that the last thing a loving God wants for us is to be self-sufficient. And I think I am okay with that because, quite frankly, I suck. On of Christ's most famous quotes goes as follows. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." I would agree that meditation is good, but tricking myself into believing that God is real and magnificent (through self-hypnosis or subliminal suggestion) doesn't do it for me, for a couple of different reasons. But my arguements are weak, so I will just stick to one reason.

God calls us to a relationship He calls us to Love him with "all our heart soul mind and strength." You can't trick yourself into loving someone because when you do, it's fake. Just about every girl I have dated, I have done so because I tricked myself into liking, because I thought she liked me. This has always caused bitterness and unsatisfaction in my relationships with them. I want someone who I can't resist, who I don't have to trick myself into loving.

[Ben]

I don't mean to be nasty, but I'm beginning to think that you are a bigot (a prejudiced person extremely intolerant of others and irrespective of reasoning).

"This past weekend, I saw him serve others instead of demanding his rights." Sounds like a Southern plantation owner in the 1800's.

I'm glad to hear that Ryan is happy and sexually pure. Is he no longer transgendered? Has Jesus changed that?

[Bob]

Ben,

I don't see the connection you're trying to make here. I mean, I see the connection you're TRYING to make, but it's not working. Perhaps you misunderstood what I was saying when I wrote that "I saw him serve others instead of demanding his rights." Whereas before Ryan was an angry, demanding person, he is now a loving, serving person.

And yes, Jesus has changed Ryan's gender identity. As I wrote, he still has a lot of spiritual growth ahead of him. But he is changed.

I sense that perhaps you may try to write him off as having been "not really transgendered," because some people have a bias that Jesus can't actually change something like sexual identity. Fortunately, Jesus doesn't play to our biases. "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation" - 2 Cor 5:17.

I am grieved by your attacks and hope you will come to realize Jesus as your all-satisfying Source of happiness.

[Ben]

Please take the time to watch this video:

http://www.soulforce.org/article/dear-dr-dobson-video

[Ben Buras]

Did anyone watch all of the video? What do you think?

[mar]

re: the video....interesting that anything said against the gender-dysphoric lobbyists is hateful. Apparently, love and respect mean total agreement??

If a doctor had tests that showed you had a disease, would you want him to pretend that everything is OK?? If a person believes what the Bible says, then isn't that person being responsible AND loving to point out where sin is happening....especially when part of the Bible that person believes to be God's inspired Word says, "The wages of sin is death but.....the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ...."??

In some countries, gender dysphoria is the ONLY disease that a person can self-diagnose and demand treatment.....what about the "other point of view"....? Can a counsellor help such a confused person live with their birth gender?

Gender-dysphoria issues are just one small segment of behaviours that are not what God intended for us. One sin is NOT bigger or smaller than another. I know that and it keeps me on my knees.

I do not see Dr. Dobson as either hateful or disrespectful. I believe he speaks the truth from his heart. Just because someone who worked closely with him decides he now thinks differently does not make Dr. Dobson any less of a person. I respect his forthrightness on this issue.

[Ben]

Dear Mar,

You said, "...interesting that anything said against the gender-dysphoric lobbyists is hateful."

None of the guys in the video were gender-dysphoric; they were gay men.

You said, "apparently, love and respect mean total agreement??"

Love and respect mean speaking the truth and doing what is morally right.

You said, "If a doctor had tests that showed you had a disease, would you want him to pretend that everything is OK??"

This point is moot; being transgendered is not a disease.

You said, "If a person believes what the Bible says, then isn't that person being responsible AND loving to point out where sin is happening."

In fact the Bible does not talk about gender identity.

You said, "In some countries, gender dysphoria is the ONLY disease that a person can self-diagnose and demand treatment."

First of all, "gender dysphoria" is not a disease, it's a condition resulting from being transgendered. Secondly your statement makes no sense; I can think of a lot of diseases that someone could self-diagnose and demand treatment for.

You asked, "Can a counsellor help such a confused person live with their birth gender?"

First of all, transgendered people are not confused, they are transgendered, and to answer your question, NO. Your trivialization of this matter is deplorable!

You said, "Gender-dysphoria issues are just one small segment of behaviours that are not what God intended for us."

Again the Bible does not discuss gender identity.

You said, "I know that and it keeps me on my knees."

It sounds like you have some sort of disease. You should probably get that checked out.

You said, "I do not see Dr. Dobson as either hateful or disrespectful."

Well, you are wrong; Dr. Dobson is extremely hateful, and he is very disrespectful of the GLBT community.

You said, "I believe he speaks the truth from his heart."

Yeah, from his cold, cold, hardened heart.

[Margo]

I wouldn't give you 2 cents for Dr. Dobson and everything he's ever offered an opinion on concerning GID issues. I may want to be a guitar instructor some day.. but I realize that I will need to know how to play the darn thing myself before teaching and guiding others.

He's a total quack.