Is it a sin to be a transgender person? [closed]

Question

I have never seen anything in the Bible that mentions that being transgender is a sin, but people tell me all the time that I am an abomination. I'm still a good person and always try to do the right thing, but I don't understand how this one thing makes me bad. I know that the Bible says "A man must not dress as a woman." or something like that. But the thing is, I do consider myself a woman, as do my loved ones and most everyone I come in contact with. I have never seen anything in the Bible that says that just because I have an X and a Y chromosome then I am a male. Another argument that I hear is "God looks down on all forms of homosexuality", but transgenderism is not a form of homosexuality. In fact, it's arguably unrelated. So given that the Bible doesn't strictly define what "gender" is, what does the Bible say about transgenderism?

Answer 1

The Bible indicates that not only are transgender people not good people, but neither is anyone else.

as it is writen: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:10-12, 23 ESV

It is commendable that you try to do the right thing all the time. Yet, the Bible is clear that our good works do not justify us before God.

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 ESV

So, the fact that you are apparently a good law-abiding citizen who is kind to your neighbor is great for our society. Yet, even a non-transgender person who is celibate is not righteous before God based on his or her works.

Christianity teaches that God's holiness is so great that even the smallest sin will separate us from Him. Yet, the Love of God is so great that even the greatest sin can be forgiven.

For you, what is in the past is really irrelevant. Perhaps it was a sin, perhaps it wasn't. It does seem that God designed you a certain way, so it could be argued that one does not have the authority to change what God has done. Yet again, that is in the past, so it really doesn't matter.

All sins can be forgiven, but no amount of good works can earn favor with God. So, we must all come to God through faith in Jesus Christ to receive forgiveness for all our sins and to be made holy in His sight.

Conclusion

So, what does God think about a transgender person? I am convinced that God loves that person, just as He loves every person. In fact, Jesus indicates that the love that exists within the Trinity is the same love with which God loves every person in the world.

Even though God loves that person, He requires that person to not attempt to be righteous on his/her own, but to accept His plan of salvation through faith in Jesus to receive forgiveness and life.

References

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. John 15:9 ESV

I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. John 17:23 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24 ESV

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit 1 Peter 3:18 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

Answer 2

You are sinning by virtue of being a human being. As it says in Romans 3:10

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

In other words, we're all sinners. The good news is that God loves you anyway! He desires you to be his child and that he could be your God. He will save you if you cry out to Him.

End of story.

Answer 3

There's an old phrase, "if you have to ask, you already know" - and to get to the core of your question, if you're asking to get a community's approval for what you are doing, it's a dishonest question (and overlaps into pastoral counsel - a realm of questions out-of-scope for this site), and should be closed.

That being said, transgender operations were not possible in Jesus' day (or before), so the Bible does not directly address the topic - just as the Bible does not directly address watching horror movies: a Biblical approach and set of principles/doctrines need to be built on clearer passages.

In the case raised in this question, being "transgendered" is no worse a sin than is lying, stealing, lust, putting-up idols, etc. Certainly someone who is transgendered (ie, has had the medical procedures needed to switch genitalia, etc) can be saved:

realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

and

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Likewise, a Christian could sin in any area and yet still be forgiven - if he confesses and repents.

However, a mere mental assent to the principles of the Bible, Christianity, belief in the existence of Jesus, God, etc is NOT enough:

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Satan knows who God is (and even has to get His permission to operate):

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the Lord and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."

The act of transgendering is [most likely] a sin*, as it is a rebellion against the way God made you - just as acting as a homosexual, or having extra-/pre-marital sex, or lying is a sin against the way God made you and against His perfect order in the world.

So, if, knowing about God, His plan for creation, the path of salvation, etc you then become transgendered, it's a sin. Likewise, if you transgender before knowing about God and Christ, it is a sin.

Such a choice (as with any sin) can be forgiven, and you can be saved ex post facto. I could see how such an action after being saved (or, more accurately, after thinking you are saved) could be the "unforgiveable sin" - blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

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^{*_{I am NOT saying that the surgery is inherently wrong, nor would corrective surgery and actions taken to repair imperfections/allow normal functions to work, etc are good - and bring the body back to line with what God intended (eg correcting misaligned testes, opening a vaginal tract, etc)}}