Carolyn

I am really touched by your story. While I am a Christian, I have been severely hurt by other “Christians.” I am a transsexual myself, but not fully in the process. It is a dark - very dark - world that we live in. We hate and despise ourselves. We need someone to lean against who we know will love us. That is the kindest thing you could have done for your friend. I urge you, oh do I urge you, to watch your friend as she transitions back. Make sure that is the choice she is REALLY wanting to make. Also, if at all possible, watch her mental health. The suicide rate among transitioning transsexuals is just too high.

As for me… I pray and pray and pray, but I feel as if I get the same answer from God. “Do as you must to serve me best.” Maybe that means I would serve him better if I transition. Maybe that means he wants me to transition, and the transition back and provide help making the decision for others. I do believe He would rather me live my life as the opposite gender and not bring death to myself. And I highly fear I will if I don’t do this. However, I also believe that us humans can never go against His ultimate will. Never. What is his ultimate will? Depends on how we translate what the Bible says. And we are humans translating holy word… I don’t think we will ever get it with out human flaw being in our interpretations.

But I do believe that this is true: unconditional love. Thank God you have it, Bobby.

Thanks for visiting our blog. I think if you carefully read the post and the comments I’ve made…you’ll be able to see that what you are suggesting is simply not the case. I’ve never attempted to persuade my friend to change back to a man.

You used your friend’s vulnerable situation of having been rejected by so many people - and your own status as being one of few people who hadn’t *completely* rejected her — to convince her to going back to living in a role that she *stopped* living in because she couldn’t fit into that role!

If you let her go ahead with this de-transition, she will find out that she is just as unable to live in the male role now as she was then - and when her second transition isn’t as successful as the first time, guess who she’ll have to blame? That’s right. You.

I’m certainly not looking for pats on the back. I wish I could say that the way I responded to my friend has always been the norm for me, but I can’t. My praise goes to God for how He can work in all of our imperfections (mine and my friend’s). I shared my experience because I know that the Church (particularly in America) seems to also struggle with how to respond appropriately to people like my friend. It should not be that way…you are absolutely right.

I think many of the responses indicate that people are feeling the same conviction that I did through this experience. I see the “pats on the back” as simple expressions of agreement or encouragement more than praise. I don’t mind the contrast of opinions/perspective from some of the responses…contrast tends to help people see things more clearly - at least that is how it works in the settings on my tv :)

I pray that God might use the post to help people see and do just what you have suggested and treat all people in a Christ-like manner.