All sorts of people came to talk to Jesus. He loved them all and made time for them even though He didn't always agree with them.
Matthew 12:20 says that a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench.
Jesus is tender towards those who are fragile. Life with Jesus is described as rest (Matthew 11:28-30).
We can never forget that Jesus loved people. This book is really about people, not a debate as the title might suggest. People are precious images of God. There are people who are hurting, confused, angry and scared. These people may have been unwelcomed by their families and accepted by society when it comes to gender identity. Other people are concerned with how society has shifted in this area. How would Jesus engage these people? He would listen and love and even disagree out of compassion, never in oppression. He wouldn't sneer or mock.
People who experience distress about gender identity are living in times where it's easier to talk openly about these feelings without everyone thinking they are a freak. Society attempts to help these people and does not marginalize them. How will Christians and churches respond? Will they respond like Jesus or simply offer knee-jerk reactions and resort to name-calling and shaming? Will we listen and love so that we can help them come to know Christ as Savior? God's voice must be heard in this debate/conversation. God has made us and knows how to shepherd us (Psalm 100:3).
This book will examine what God says about humanity and gender. It will also cover what it means for those who wish to love transgender neighbors. We'll also learn what Jesus says to those who experience and embrace gender dysphoria or who identify as transgender. We'll see how Jesus challenges churches to show compassion to people that God sends our way. And we'll also see how parents can speak to their children about gender identity.
As the church, we don't want to always be playing catchup on cultural issue. The church lagged behind on its grace-truth response to homosexuality. Some forgot the truth. A lot forgot about grace.
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
The God who speaks to us in the Bible is the same God who took on flesh, lived, died and rose again to strengthen bruised reeds and to flan flickering flames.
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