How Does a Christian Love a Transgender Person?

Abstract

"How does a Christian love a transgender person? This is a challenge many Christians may face, but this thesis seeks to equip Christians with the basic framework and understanding necessary to reach transgender people with both the truth of God’s word and Christian love. Before offering a response to this question, the terms “truth” and “love” will be clarified. Next, this thesis will look to James 1:19, which calls believers to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Following the listening posture of James 1:19, this thesis first surveys the lived experience of transgender individuals: their terminology, their desire for belonging, their experiences of rejection, and the medical and psychological landscape of gender dysphoria. Both affirming and confirming approaches to treatment are examined. The paper then turns to Scripture, considering what God's word says about sin, creation, and the redemption available in Christ for all people—including transgender people. With careful listening complete, the paper addresses how a Christian can speak to the transgender moment. Two equal and opposite errors are identified: the Truth-Loving Christian, who clobbers with the Law but neglects the Gospel, and the Just-Loving Christian, who affirms sin in the name of love. The paper argues that faithful Christian engagement requires both truth and love held together. To achieve this goal, Christians will need to carefully consider how best to reach this community through building relationships. (Abstract prepared with the assistance of Claude AI (Sonnet 4.6))"