No. Our brothers and sisters are those who rest in the finished of Christ alone (Luke 8:21). They may include those who were once transgendered, and those who struggle with transgender temptations. Those who define themselves as those who embrace a transgender identity, however, are in open rebellion against the living God, with no repentance.
That said, when President Biden issued his proclamation (and yes, I’m aware the “holiday” has been celebrated since 2009 on March 31, and that this year March 31 is where Resurrection Sunday fell) he, in his tweet announcing the proclamation, rightly affirmed that the transgendered bear the image of God. They, even in their sin, as believers are, even in our sin, are fellow image bearers. The image of God has been marred, disfigured, cracked, deformed, but not erased.
The distinction, between sharing the image of God with unbelievers but not sharing the fatherhood of God is vital. God’s grace is universal in bestowing on all people His image. It is universal in demanding that all humans be treated with dignity. It is not, however, universal with respect to the forgiveness of sins and adoption as His children.
Once it was theological liberals who confused these two, teaching what they called “the universal brotherhood of man and the universal fatherhood of God.” Now the same nonsense comes to us from those who describe themselves as “progressives.” That is, those who are progressing away from Christianity and progressing toward liberalism.
What drives that “progress” is the foolish confusion of these two kinds of grace. Believers have an obligation to see unbelievers as God sees them. He has a love for them out of which His common grace flows, and that is grounded in His own image. And so should we. What we don’t have is a love that approves of the sin. Transgenderism, along with homosexuality, is called by God an abomination (see Lev. 18:22, 20:13 and Romans 1: 26-28). Such it is. To approve of it is to call evil good and good evil.
The demand that we consider unrepentant sinners, even though such once were we, as brothers and sisters, apart from faith in Christ, is an even worse abomination. It is a temptation to the believer because it comes to us from the left gift-wrapped in the language of grace. And failure to do so comes to us gift-wrapped as hatred, hypocrisy and pride. Sadly, too often we hunger for the approval of man and are ready to throw overboard the plain teaching of God’s Word.
Our Father who became such through our Redeemer, calls us to think His thoughts after Him, to speak what He has told us, to teach the nations whatsoever Christ has commanded. Our refusal to call evil good now earns us the hatred of the world. For this Jesus says we are blessed (Matt. 5:10). We don’t try to nuance it away, negotiate it away or nice it away. We wear it with both humility and honor, knowing our “Visibility Day” will come when He comes to judge both the living and the dead. And all will see.
Thank you for a clear and concise biblical understanding on this issue. Unfortunately the world sees us haters and bigots, but so be it. The scriptures are clear on this and as followers of Christ our loyalty is with Him, not the world. Living the Gospel in this convoluted world is never easy but the choice is clear, either we follow Jesus and live or follow the world and die in our sins. God bless you brother.
Thank you John. These are dark days, but our Lord reigns.