How to approach a transgender (or one living not as a human being) situation in the church
What to do if you see someone in church who is a trans, furry, trans species or has had facial body modifications opposite of God's human design.
Q: I saw someone in church who is a man, broad shouldered with a beard, dressed as a woman. He was wearing a dress and had a blonde wig on. Sitting in church during worship. We have a semi larger church, so it is not like someone would notice right off. Not sure what the church would do once service started already. The ushers didnt seem to see the guy or werent at the door when he came in.
We had another person tell me someone who has come several Sundays appears to be a transgender. Some are hard to detect. Others are clearly trans. How do we know what they really are?
This is new stuff we've never had to deal with in America before. But now it's everywhere, and working its way into churches. What should we do??
A: We are aware of people in the West who have a mental and spiritual condition that only Jesus can resolve. We know what Scripture says about those who live in sin and die in their sins. We know since 2013 people living that lifestyle have been coming out into the open and also creating & joined false churches centered on those lgbt lifestyles. Those leading true Churches need to address this and create a policy about it for when they encounter it.
We do need to ensure the Church is a place for believers. We do need to protect the members and the children there. Here are ways to address each situation. 1. You could go ask a decon/bring it to their attention, to be handled. 2. go directly to the person in private and ask about hearing rumors. Note you dont want to listen to gossip but rather hear from the person. This should still be done by leasership tbh. They can ask what the persons birth gender was. If theyre intersexed or have a medical condition from birth defect it can be counseled on, if trans theyll be offended cuz they dont want to be associated with who they really are. Possible theyre offended either way, but the way we approach and speak will possibly not cause offense, or lesser offense to them.
The person is still made in God's image so,
we are to care about them as a fellow image bearer of God and as a lost sinner, (just as we were approached before we were born again by God). Remember it is only by His grace that we were saved. So speak with that in mind, be patient, gentle, not quarrelsome, not rude nor as self righteous. Speak kindly and out of love, with prayerful hope they can be won to Christ some day.
Regardless the church needs to be aware. If leadership knows they need to address it immediately. If they came to hear the truth and Gospel and talk to a pastor, maybe the decons need to pull them aside to request a change (1), and direct them to an elder for counsel afger service. If the church hasnt addressed it and the person has been attending, short (or there long) term... the church leaders need to deal with it. If the person has been counseled, is being counseled there, perhaps a church wide letter needs to go out about it and for prayer, and so parents can address it with their kids. If the person has gone that far and still trying to present as what they aren't, a form of church policy/ discipline procedures need to begin, immediately. Maybe even both towards leadership and the person attending, maybe even replacunv the leadership if they persist in not dealinv with thd isdue or embracr them. *We need to vo go alongside and counsel them with truth and let the person know they cant attend here while dressed opposite their gender & to guide them in counsel towards salvation. They should be welcomed to attend, but only as the above.
However if your in a wishy washy church then leadership will likely ignore it, as they have so far. Go talk privately with the leadership team about this and they ignore it... Find a new church and leave.
*When interviewing potential new churches to join... always get the Pastor and decons views and policy on addressing these lgbt+ related issues, before visiting. Even ask scenarios. Pass on ones not shepherding biblically and ones who avoid this issue & church discipline.
Scripture on pastoral accountability:
These Shepherd leaders are to rightly teach the Word. And they will give an account to God for that they do and fail to do. See Hebrews 13:17 also James 3:1 warns "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." This verse shows they are held to a higher standard of accountability by God.
Matthew 18:15-20: Discusses the process of addressing sin within the church, which includes the role of church leaders.
1 Corinthians 5:1-13: Provides guidance on dealing with immorality within the church.
Pastoral Qualifications:
1 Timothy 3:1-7: Outlines the qualifications for elders (pastors).
Titus 1:5-9: Similar to 1 Timothy 3, but with a different focus on character qualities.
Outside this they disqualify themselves.
Pastoral Conduct:
1 Peter 5:1-4: Encourages elders (pastors) to lead by example and with humility.
Ezekiel 33:6-9: Speaks of the watchman's responsibility. Pastors are often seen as watchmen over the flock, with a heavy responsibility to warn and guide.
2 Timothy 2:15
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
A strong passage addressing the issue about avoiding those who progess Christ but live as unsaved do. If pastors arent addressing sin in the church this applies! Flee if they dont repent...as you are under their leadership and authority if you stay.
"I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But instead, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or [living sinfully] Do not even eat with such people. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
How can you take action?
1. Find out from leadership if this issue is known, if they've addressed it with the person, what the situation is as of now, and where they plan to go to with it next.
If theyre rightly addressing it, ask if it's ok if some church folk offer a course on introducing Christian essentials to them and a mini course on the Bible & lgbt as a food & fellowship type inviting offer, to help plant seeds. That way leadership and the congregation is showing love towards the person, with the hope of them coming to Christ, sanity and living holy.
- You can show the materials to leadership to get their ok for what you're going to teach.
2. If you sit near that person in worship, or near at the back of the church, or have been made aware by the letter, feel free to gather a couple godly, mature in the faith people (of that person's true gender) and invite them either to a mini potluck after church there, for fellowship and food. If they agree then use the time to get to know the person (meaningful purposefully ways and info) and answer their Christian and Bible questions, but also have someone present the clear Gospel. Ask if they'd like to go through a course about Christianity, and ask if they'd also like to go through a short course on the churches view of lgbt+ in a way that is loving, and open to their questions. If you can rally with the church to reach folk who come in the doors, you can plant seeds towards salvation. Present the material in these courses well. You can do it at someone's home, for more comfortable setting or meet at church.
If you're in a church that's leaning towards not addressing this issue or has started embracing it, do move the meet up to a home. Focus on their need for truth and salvation vs the church leadership views, cuz a soul is at stake here. Yall can leave to another church with that person if it comes to it, if they get saved.
Here's resources you can use for the Faith, food and fellowship meeting on
Show these videos across a couple Sunday afternoons
Skeptic Answers to help with questions
More Resources
Footnote
(1) Just as with women wearing immodest clothing in church, at the attempt to dnter the church sanctuary, the decons would reroute them to a clothing room to give them something to cover them up like an oversized black dress to wear over their clothes during worship, and can let it go home with them.
Likewise, someone dressed not as a human, would be redirected to the clothes room, and told they'll need to change into appropriate clothing to enter the sanctuary if they would like to come to worship God here. Otherwise security will escorts them off the premises and be told they'll not be allowed back if they're not properly dressed.
This is the Lord's House. And we need to hold high standards here. The church can have a dress code policy for visitors and members, which is the same expectation on this issue, as with other policies it would have [no interruptions during service, etc]. Likewise for fellowships, events and home meet ups and outside gatherings, they cant attend if they're dressed wrongly. So if anyone invites an unsaved to an event or meet up that will address a topic and Gospel, they must be told the dress policy. Just like at other event gatherings in the world, that have dress codes.
