Christian Group to Pay for Transgender Surgeries

This new campaign, started by the group Faithfully LBGTQ, which seeks to “share the stories of LBGTQ people of faith,” is designed to, they claim, “help alleviate the discrimination trans people have faced in the Christian community.” Their website says:

Christians have disparaged the bodies of trans people which has contributed to a culture of violence against them. . . . From promoting anti-trans bathroom legislation to theology that has lead [sic] to suicides and homelessness. For those Christians who have seen this violence and have been horrified by it, it’s time to put your tithe money where your beliefs are.

“Faithful Are the Wounds of a Friend”

Now, what does this group mean by “a culture of violence” against transgender people that Christians have supposedly contributed to? Very, very few Christians argue for violence against transgender people (or anyone for that matter). We love them, as we love all people, and want to see them come to repentance and put their faith and trust in Christ as we have and accept God’s created order for human life, for he created male and female (Genesis 1:27).

They are probably referencing Christians who refuse to disregard or twist biblical truth to embrace a sinful ideology. But this is not “violence” against anyone—this is obeying our Lord’s command to make disciples (Matthew 28:19) and offering gospel hope to those who desperately need it. There’s nothing violent about telling someone they are a sinner in need of a Savior. This is biblical truth (Romans 3:23), and it is dishonest not to proclaim this vital truth. In fact, as Christians, if we truly love transgender people, we will warn them about what God has stated clearly concerning sin.

Now, have some professing Christians been unnecessarily harsh and condemning, failing to obey God’s commands to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15)? Certainly. And they will stand before God and give an account of the words they’ve spoken (Matthew 12:36). But such people are a small minority within the church community. There will always be those who do not obey God’s Word as they should in behavior.

Is it tragic that homelessness and suicide are disproportionately high among the trans community? Yes, it is. But these precious people, made in the image of God, don’t need Christians to surround them and praise their sinful decisions. They need people who love them enough to gently speak the truth and point them toward the only One who gives true freedom from all sin: Jesus Christ.

As the book of Proverbs puts it:

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
     profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:6)

Does Love Mean to Ignore Sin?

A quick look at the comments under the article regarding the Tithe Trans Campaign reveals a common misconception many people today have. One commenter writes:

This is what Christianity should be about. Love, kindness, and helping those who need our help. That’s what God wants.

Another says:

Seriously though, this is an exemplary case of true unconditional Love. Christians should learn from this example.

Many Christians today have fallen into the trap of thinking God approves of almost everything (except maybe the really bad things like murder—unless it’s an unborn baby, and then many are not so sure)—and to be loving means to simply embrace people “where they are,” accept them for “who they are,” and not share what God’s plan is for them. But is this really loving, kind, and what God wants us to do?

Certainly Christians are to be characterized by love and kindness—both are fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). But we’re also supposed to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). And we need to remember the following:

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19)

I would encourage Christians, who are quick to ignore or reinterpret God’s Word to accept the latest fashionable way of thinking, to honestly and soberly consider the Apostle James’ warning to us:

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

Embracing, ignoring, or celebrating sin is not loving or kind. It is dangerous. What these Christians are doing is redefining “love” and “kindness” to mean accepting everything and not calling people to repent of their sin and trust in Christ. To argue that God is all love and not also a just God who hates sin is to create a god in your own image, something that is forbidden (Exodus 20:4).

Christians need to genuinely love those who struggle with gender dysphoria. But we need to love them enough to do the hard thing—call them to repent and put their faith and trust in Christ. It’s easy to stay silent or celebrate transgender ideology. It’s hard to speak up and proclaim biblical truth. But these people need biblical truth—they are real people who are really hurting. Gender reassignment surgery won’t offer them freedom because it won’t fix their biggest problem—that they, like everyone else, are sinners in need of a Savior. And we need to help them understand that truth.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

I encourage you to read this article, “Transgender Identity—Wishing Away God’s Design,” for more answers on how you can share gospel truth in a confused world.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.