#8 - Affirming the Trans

Lauren Wingert
Mar 14
5 min read

Updated: Apr 12

The medical community will affirm the transgender as a medical condition, a dysphoria, a sadness and feeling of discomfort with our gender or physical body. There is no sin or sense of wrong associated with transitioning to the opposite sex or gender. LGBTQ+ says the same thing, and that you should not be ashamed, and you should even be proud of it. The feeling is that it is so important to be yourself that transition should begin young, and gender ideas can be shared at a young age.

What about Christianity? Can Christians agree and should we be affirming the trans?

The Bible has many verses that elevate the spirit over the flesh. Here is an example:

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord told Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see. [a] Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart.”

I believe trans can be saved and be Christian. There is an example of a castrated eunuch in the Bible that is saved. The condition of his genitalia did not prevent him from believing in Christ and being baptized.

Acts 8:34

34The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] c 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

There are also verses that point the other way and warn of a focus on the flesh. The Bible talks a lot about fleshly desires and passions of our physical body:

Galatians 5:24

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Romans 7:18

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Romans 8:5

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

The Bible says there is essentially nothing good about the flesh or setting your mind on things of the flesh (Maybe, like changing gender?). And there are other warnings in the New Testament.

1 Corinthians 6:9–10

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind"

Isn't that a good description of trans, "effeminate" ? (a feminized male?) Or a male taking the lesser female role? That verse has me shaking in my high heels!

Should we pick and choose only our favorite verses? Aren't cherry picking verses, to show trans is ok, or not so bad, self-justification and self-affirmation? We feel we need to transition. Is it simply becoming who we are or who we were meant to be? These are lovely sounding ideas!

Luke 16:15, Jesus says,

"You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God."

1 John 1:10

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

I, as a trans, like to say God doesn't care about my flesh and ‘the flesh is unimportant'. Yet to me personally my flesh is extremely important, enough to undertake hormones and surgery and the trouble of a gender change. It seems a little backwards, like maybe I am focusing on something that God isn't concerned with, an act of passionate affirmation of my fleshly need. Isn't that setting my mind on fleshly things over the heavenly?

The problem with trying to affirm the trans is that the scripture points in two different directions.

If I am 100% honest, I cannot reconcile my trans-nature with Christianity either. That is backwards reasoning. God reconciles us to him through Christ.

We all have sins - trans and non-trans - just the same. We all have coveting and lust and fleshly desires. Even if you feel trans is not sinful in itself, we all have plenty of other sins. We all need Christ to forgive us and save us.

Romans 5:10

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

2 Corinthians 5: 18-21

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

I am trans. I feel for the trans. I know the pain and confusion of gender dysphoria. Obviously, I totally understand the trans. Yet, I cannot personally affirm anyone's transition. I cannot affirm whether it is ok for anyone to transition.

Is it my job to find scriptures to comfort myself and affirm my transition, or to tell myself or others that trans is, ok? No one will be saved by what I think or how I feel! Affirming others may gain me a friend but that is all.

Jesus does the reconciling. His love for us, his death on the cross, his resurrection, his dying for our sins brings salvation to us all. All the affirmation, feeling better about us, focusing on verses that elevate spirit over the flesh, and all the comfort in the world won’t get you into heaven.

God loves you and sent his only son to die for you. He has kindness for you and offers you heaven, eternal life, and forgiveness through grace. God’s Holy Spirit is your comforter if you accept Jesus!

When you are saved, the great amazing comfort is this:

Psalms 103:12

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

There is a great peace that comes from knowing that God loves you, and has forgiven you, you are a child of God, and you have eternal life! Praise God!

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The Sinner's Prayer

“Oh, God, I know I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins, and I want to turn from them. I trust Christ alone as my Savior, and I confess Him as my Lord. From this moment on, I want to serve Him and follow Him in the fellowship of His church. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

―Billy Graham