Absolute Truth

October 24, 2019October 25, 2019
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

A few weeks ago a man in my church preached about “absolute truth”. He’s not a pastor at my church, he’s a psychologist who serves at times and is consulted when needed. He started out by talking about what a wacky world we live in. I (along with everyone else) agreed yes, we’ live in wacky times.

But then he used the example of the local school district’s plan to teach to young elementary students that boys can be girls and vice versa. Well, I’m AGAINST that being taught to young six year olds. Those children are too young to understand the concept (unless they are transgender – but I’ll get to that).

I’ve heard him speak about the trans “issue” in the past, and I was so tempted as the audio broadcast engineer to just turn off his microphone, but I didn’t. First because it wouldn’t have been the “Christian thing to do”, second because I believe everyone should be able to say what they think, and third because it’s easy to cut someone off the moment they say something you disagree with, without letting them finish what they are saying denying yourself the opportunity to learn more about the person (good or bad) as they speak.

As it turns out he did give the caveat that gender dysphoria is a real thing, and he left it there while continuing with his message that wasn’t related to being transgender.

Truth.

When it comes to being transgender, the church REALLY can’t agree.

We all seem to know in part what IS truth.

As Christians, we all seem to agree on “truth”, until that truth doesn’t agree with us.

The “essentials” that all Christians seem to agree on are (the shorter the list, the better)…

Jesus was God incarnate, the Son of God. Born of the virgin Mary.
Jesus lived a sinless life, died and rose on the third day.
One day we’ll rise again and live with Him through eternity.

STOP!!! WE CAN’T SEEM TO AGREE beyond this!

Beyond that third point, we as Christians just seem to disagree, and we let that drive our opposition to the positions of others who also claim Christ as their Savior. If we think it’s minor, we may laugh, but if it really rubs us the wrong way, we’ll start a fight.

It used to seem simple to me, but we seem to be going more into an us vs. them mentality, as if we’ve cornered the “correct” theological position on any subject thrown at us.

I live in a duplex. My church had what must have been thousands of pumpkins out in front this last Sunday, and I brought one home. Not for me, but to give to my neighbors who are full into the “fall spirit” even though we were still dealing with ninety degree temperatures in Texas. When I knocked on my neighbor’s door and gave them the pumpkin I told them I got it from my church. He asked where I went to church and I told him. His wife was expecting within a week or so and he asked if we baptized children. I had to tell him no, that we do a child dedication, pray over the child and the parents, but not what would be considered a baptism. He said “oh, my wife was raised Catholic and she wants a formal baptism” for their soon to be son. See? We can’t agree.

We as Christians have to get past the “but…”

When it comes to being transgender, the church REALLY can’t agree.

Recently a pastor in Missouri gave a message about gender. The message series was about the book of Genesis, but he took the opportunity of Genesis 1:27 to make an entire message about how “we” (as Christians) need to “love” people dealing with gender dysphoria, but we need to pray for them. How we should show them the love of Christ and welcome them, but… You see? That’s the problem, there’s always a “but”.

We as Christians have to get past the “but…”.

The “but” is what we don’t like regardless of someone’s profession of faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Yeah, they’re “probably” Christians, BUT they baptize infants rather than adults. Yeah, they’re probably Christians, BUT they don’t think nor vote like the political party that I do. Yeah, they’re probably Christians, BUT these verses tell me that what they do or who they are is wrong.

I’m not going to go on and on and on at this point. There are THOUSANDS of Christians, people who believe just as you do in the authority of the Bible, put their faith in Jesus, yet are transgender. So may Christians see being transgender as a “sin”, rather than just another aberration that has found its way into the human species, just like being born deaf, being born without limbs, being born “not as smart” as others.

Folks, it’s time the Church of Jesus Christ stops calling people born different than the rest sinners. The Church used to call left-handed people sinners (and amazingly to this day a few still do), but it’s time to realize that just because some people are born DIFFERENT, that it doesn’t make them a sinner any more than you are a sinner. If you’re okay with a left-handed person being a Christian, it’s time for you to be okay with a transgender person being a Christian.

Stop thinking YOUR “absolute truth” is in fact THE “absolute truth”—life and GOD’S TRUTH isn’t as simple as you think. At the very least, be okay with Christians who may not be like you or believe like you, yet claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It’s not yours to ultimately decide who God will welcome into His kingdom. Let that be God’s job and do your job to love other people. It makes your job so much easier!

-Blessings

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