This week, the Southern Baptist Convention may formally consider a resolution mandating discrimination and ostracism toward transgender people.
The resolution was drafted by Denny Burk, an associate professor of biblical studies at Boyce College, the undergraduate arm of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
The resolution:
- condemns anyone who identifies as transgender, whatever their biological sex or circumstances might be;
- cites three butchered Bible verses (Gen. 1:27; Matt. 19:4; Mk. 10:6) as sufficient cause to deny the proven existence of many people who have genes and bodily organs of both men and women;
- misdefines “transgender” as a noun referring solely to people whose gender identity does not match one’s biological sex — ignoring a range of other people including intersex persons;
- vows to “pray for and support” discrimination and ostracism against LGBT people, regardless of their religious affiliation;
- contends that businesses which claim religious motives should be entitled to disregard non-discrimination law;
- implies that freedom of opinion (“disapproval of transgender behavior”) trumps the constitutional right to equal protection, and laws enforcing that right;
- opposes “all efforts by any court or state legislature to validate transgender identity as morally praiseworthy,” and cites an irrelevant Bible verse (Isa. 5:20) as justification;
- calls upon “all judges and public officials” to deny transgender persons equal protection under the law;
- falsely contends that the Bible offers one solitary “message about manhood and womanhood”; and
- calls on fellow Southern Baptists to “guard our religious liberty” by possibly violating the religious liberty of transgender persons.
The hardline ex-gay Restored Hope Network promptly weighed in via Facebook, calling the resolution “beautifully worded.”
Meanwhile a Christian transgender writer, Meggan Sommerville, observed:
Not only does this resolution ignore common sense and ignore an established medical diagnosis, it cuts on a much deeper level. It ignores that we as Christians are not called to condemn. The act of condemning the trans community is an act of arrogance and judgment. We are called to humble ourselves and love our neighbor as God has loved us. When we start putting conditions on the love we show, as written in the resolution, “That we love our transgender neighbors, seek their good always, welcome them into our congregations as they repent and believe in Christ”, we move further away from the love God has bestowed on us. God’s love comes to us without conditions and without reservation.
Beck, in his failed humanity, has forgotten what Paul told the Church in Rome. “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person alone it is unclean.” Romans 14:13-14
If the SBC does pass this resolution, it will be another brick added to the wall it has already created between itself and a community that needs God as much as any community I know. This resolution is not just a doctrinal stance for the church but it is an act of spelling out discrimination and prejudice in the name of God and it pains me as a Christian.
Homosexuality in the bible no where condemns homosexuality as we know it today…that ancient Jewish religion was tolerant of a wide range of sexual practices
prior to 1100’s homosexuality was acceptable especially Richard the lion Hearted and Paul of France . In contrast century later Edward II of England was assassinated for hips gay relationship with Hugh depenser. In 1179 Lateran III became the first ecumenical church council to require punishment for homosexual act. There is no convincing evidence that sexual orientation can be changed, and there is no evidence whatsoever that homosexuality in any way pathological
Specifically in Biblical times there was no elaborate understanding of homosexuality. The ancient Israelite did not even think about sex in these terms. There was only a general awareness of same-sex contacts or same-sex acts what can be called homogrniality and homogential acts. Is about Our question spontaneous affective for people of the same-sex and about ethical possibility of expressing that affection in sexual relationships. Because this was not the question in the bible authors, we cannot expect the bible to give us an answer.Abomination is they refer to idolatry not sex acts to Israeli infidelity with God and child sacrifice
So the holiness code was to keep the Jews pure not the Gentiles. Leviticus 18:29 prohibits same sex for religious reasons but nor for pleasure. Same sex is considered unclean and holiness Abomination Leviticus 20:20-26 You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean and between the unclean bird and clean you shall not bring abomination on yourselves by animal or by bird or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean. You shall be holy to me; for I the lord am holy and have separated from you from the peoples to be mine. Abomination means unclean and is a violation of purity standard. he bible speaks of only about religious taboos in ancient Israel. What felt uncomfortable was taken to be wrong. Social taboo was turned into law.The bible does not address these questions. It speaks only about religious taboo of ancient Israel. But just because it’s dirty just because people find it disgusting does not it is wrong.
It’s hard to believe that these people went to seminary school!!! The scripture that quoted states that God made them male and female; what do you think a Trans woman is? Trans women are women and Trans men are men, the only difference if one of the Trans people happen to be intersex or a Hermaphrodite which then they are neither male or female unless they actually identify as one of the gender’s. There is one verse that talks about Trans people but we were called Eunuchs in the Bible times and that is what God has called us!
Matthew 19:12
New King James Version (NKJV)
12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”
According to the doctors I was born with DSD disorder of sexual development, I prefer the term intersex. My fetal testis never completely matured and one of them was a ovotestis. From a very young age I knew that I was more women than male but at the sametime I fell in love with my wife and we have been married for fourty one years. Does this make me a sinner for falling in love? Was I punished for being intersex when my ovotestis became malignant with Ovarian cancer? Of course not it would be rediculus to think that a child born with gender nonconforming gonads could be a sin. Approximently 2% of all live births are intersex.
As far as I’m concerd transgender is nothing more than another intersex condition.
I think that it’s an amazing idea. If this is adopted, it would put a domestic Christian organization directly into the slights of Homeland Security and the FBI as domestic terrorists.
Yes, overtly putting pressure on sworn public officials to violate their oaths of office clearly makes them a threat.
It’s time to remove Christianity as a license to hate and put the full force of the Constitution against these flagrant scofflaws.
It is time to solidly build a wall between religion and hate.
I believe that all should be free to believe as and what they will. They are free to share their beliefs with any and all who might listen. They are not free to judge, condemn, or discriminate against any who might disagree.
I have deliberately not used religious arguments, as they would be ignored in all cases. If we are to remain a Nation of Laws that protects us all, we are lost and any argument of faith is over before it begins.