Video není dostupné.
Omlouváme se.
Mark Yarhouse: Gender Identity & Christian Faith [Biola University Chapel]
Vložit
- čas přidán 14. 08. 2024
- Mark Yarhouse speaks in a four-part series about sexual identity and Christian faith. View the other parts of this series at the links below.
Part 1: • Mark Yarhouse: Listeni...
Part 2: • Mark Yarhouse: Navigat...
Part 3: • Mark Yarhouse: Gender ...
Part 4: • Mark Yarhouse: Gender ...
Chapels are a regular part of student life at Biola University. Learn more about what it’s like to be a Biola student at www.biola.edu/...
I am a MTF transgender woman. My faith didn't truly begin until I left my old body at the cross and allowed myself to be resurrected in His image. It has taken me a long time, but nothing can shake my identity in Christ. The body, the material world, is not sacred for its own sake, the only thing sacred is God. To idolize the biological body is to hold biology sacred, and to idolize the concepts of "male" and "female" is to hold humanity sacred. We are only sanctified through Christ, and only through Christ can I exist. God told Jonah to go to Ninevah, God told Christ to become human, God told me to be a woman.
Very well said!
The Bible can be used 2 ways:
1. Find reasons to love and accept everyone for who they are.
2. Find reasons to exclude and demand change.
But God made our bodies to be sacred temples of the holy spirit. We're supposed to use our bodies in a holy way. God created them male and female. No one is worshipping gender, they're just pointing out how God made humanity.
What's sacred is God's intended use for gender. To tamper with that is to profane God's temple
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this!! I was born female and have been on male hormones for almost 15 years, have had my breasts removed, and have legally changed my name. I was raised in the church but majorly rebelled in my late teens. I truly found the Lord Jesus Christ about 6 years ago. I repented in my heart and believe that I am forgiven. However, what I have done to my body is permanent. At this point to return to my biological gender does not seem like a possibility. I would actually look transgender, whereas right now, you cannot tell. I pass as male 100 percent. My heart breaks as it is so hard to be active in church ministry. Because I know where the church stands on the issue, I feel deceitful partaking in the mens ministry. Any time I am truthful with a pastor, I become an agenda and its as if they just want to force me to return to being a woman....but God already sees me as one and knows that I am...He created me. But how to live as a woman with a five o clock shadow, hairy chest, deep voice and no breasts? Ugh I lament over what I have done to Gods creation. I try to just live the best I can, being upfront with The Lord, and looking forward to my glorified body in eternity some day, when all of this will be cancelled and made right. I am married to a woman, Ive been with for over 10 years. Doesnt this make me a homosexual? And homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of Heaven. My heart is so heavy as I try to figure out what to do next. Thank you for this video and honest discussion. If you read this, please pray for me.
I will pray God speaks to your heart. I have many of the same questions that you do. Nobody has EVER answered them without making highly opinionated and subjective responses. So how can they speak for God when they have no idea what my perspective is? It's like they stand on a small rock from miles away staring at me. All they see is me straddling a crack in the ground. They think that I should just take a step back and all will be fine. They can't see that the crack is a chasm leading to hell. They don't see it growing wider and pulling me apart. They cannot see the wall that is slowly pushing me into the darkness below.
So it's easy for them to judge based on their own experience. But their experience doesn't apply and so they judge incorrectly and unjustly.
What I have learned is that the Bible isn't unilateral. It doesn't speak in 1 voice with only 1 interpretation. The truth of the Bible is how we apply it to our own lives.
And in the end all that matters is:
1. Did you love God with all you are?
2. Did you love your neighbors (friends and enemies) as you love yourself?
One last point: if you don't love yourself, how can you love others?
All of us are broken. None of us are what God created us to be. All of us are carrying luggage from past decisions. I killed my own child in a decision with my ex to abort. I can't fix that. The child is gone, and I paid to have it done. God gives me the ability to carry that truth and also have joy. He forgives me. God loves you, and will not cast you out because of things that are beyond your control and that you are doing your best to be obedient about. I pray you find a faithful Christian friend who will love you unconditionally and speak encouraging truth to you. I pray that God pours out peace on you like healing oil over your head. You are adopted by him forever.
@@EmWarEl We need more Christians like you: no judgement, no denials or alterations of another person's reality, just a true desire for peace and acceptance.
THANK YOU.
@@r-platt You are very welcome. I am just trying to be submitted to God.and his Word.
Hi ❤️ I want to say my heart is overcome with love for you reading this. I love that you said "but God already sees me as one and knows that I am...He created me" that stands so true. And i think because of that, because He knows you and see's you as the beautiful woman He created not just outwardly but inwardly. I believe and want to confirm that He will not honor or legitimise your marriage commitment even though your intensions were sincere. I will pray for you ❤️ and i'm so blessed to hear your hearts expression.
I appreciate the respect and compassion you have, and that you are encouraging discussion, that is great. I do disagree with you in a few places however.
the problem with the disability vs diversity lens talking point is that they aren't as cut and dry by a long shot. People say transgender isn't a disorder in the sense that it doesn't "cripple them" and that they aren't "less than most people" for being trans, rather its accepted as a condition that people have where the best treatment is transitioning, and are willing to respect their condition. In this vein the diversity people don't view it all as "go be special and unique" or "choose your identity on a whim" (though some are like that), instead they are usually just accepting of these different people and the fact that they exist, and generally try to accommodate them (sometimes irrationally, but usually not). There aren't quite the same extremes that you're portraying.
People often are under the impression that trans people either "believe they are the opposite sex" or "are just trying to be special". In actuality most simply view transitioning as the best way to help themselves, and that they are adjusting their lives to be more in line with how they feel.
Very importantly, I see no reason that God would be against such a transition. We shouldn't let our own prejudice prevent others from following God's plan. I am interested in how you got to your conclusion but I don't really agree right now.
Excellent
The image of God is testosterone and estrogen. To have more or less of the image of God is not a sin. Humans often limit God and what his creations can look like.
Our own perceptions and conjecture are what preclude us to ever seek the knowledge which will enable our minds to understand. The Bible says ask and you shall receive. But yet most can’t ask a simple question. When we shed this body away and leave this earth what do we become? Is not the soul the most important aspect of this beautiful life? To be able to put down the old and pick up the new? To be able to walk through this world with kindness, compassion and empathy?
I wish only one thing only.
That the people that claim to love me also be willing to sit down and ask the questions so they might find understanding and acceptance.
I was a MTF transgender person. I took female hormones for a year and a half. I was still depressed and it fixed nothing. I had to get to the lowest point in my life and finally cry out to God!! Ultimately I was delivered from all gender dysphoria/deception. It’s not of God folks. I see too many Christians trying to justify being transgender. God loves every single transgender person, but it’s not his will for them to live that way. I strongly encourage any transgender person to seek deliverance from a Spirit filled church that believes and practices deliverance. You can be delivered from this deception from the enemy! I believed I should of been a woman from a super young age and how I’m totally free and living as a male as God intended. People can change by the power of God :)
Dear Adam,
I will not be speaking about how detransitioning is not debunking transitioning, I will tell you a little of my experience. I had “questioning” my gender identity (tbh never the identity, but why are the expectations are the other way than I feel). I adopted what was expected for me, I felt the same way. I was never looking for answers online, I asked questions form my religious relatives, friends and people I knew at the time. I did not get any answer. When I was at highschool in my before sleep prayers I always asked God to take away my suffering, nothing happened. Nearly the end of highschool I went to speak with one of teology teachers, who had the most knowledge of teology, and ethic I have ever seen, but also was the most kind, thoughtful preacher at the same time. I went to him time and time and try to explain my problem asking what is going on with me and how to ask for help, or what am I doing wrong, what should I do. He was trying hardly, he thought about everything intended to help me with the bottom of his heart. I learned a lot from him, with his help, but my suffering did not go away. Sometimes after that I was asking God if he can provide me what I felt I should have. Nothing. For that time I tryed out hundreds and thousands of things including conversion therapy on myself, and I was badly hurt all by myself at the same time I was still clearly having the feeling. I asked God to help me understand what is happening to me. Next days I tryed to explain one of my friends how I feel, and she just said the word transgender, that maybe that is the word I am looking for, till I were eighteen year old, I never knew that this world and its meaning were existing. I looked up medical portals that what is this, and I just saw it. That what I was supressing... what it really was. After that I went to confession at my church and the priest said that God does not want anyone to be shamed of themselves, and I never telled him my feelings, I was only confessing my sins what were really sins, they were knowhere near saying I am trans. I have never ever heard any one prieching anything that defined that gender dysphoria is in any way a temptation and I never ever felt like that it was a desire, I never wished that I wanted to be the other gender I only whised that my suffering would go away or end by something solving it. There are things that can cause gender dysphorialike thoughts, as I saw it can be taken on because of things, but for me it was never put on by some one or something, I never even had the chance I was always pushed in the other way and I always tryed to go the other way and kind of like I never failed in going that way, it was not perfect but really close and my dysphoria got worse. My life just got better after that prayer, even if it is not good even now, but it is way more lifelike and bearable.
Akicat1_Art thank you so much for sharing your story. I know how hard it is to have those feelings. I know what it’s like to pray and pray and the feelings not go away. The Bible says God will not put us through anything we can’t handle so I believe He knows you are a very strong person. Friend I encourage you to find a Spirit filled church to get plugged into. Assemblies of God or a form of Pentecostal church that believes in healing and deliverance. The truth is that the Holy Spirit is still for today. Many of these major Christian religions are missing it. That may sound harsh, but I have experienced healing and deliverance myself by the power of the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to find a church that believes in the baptism of the Holy Spirit! It’s truly for all Christians and will totally transform your life!
@@PA52862 I wish that worked for me. I've been transformed. My heart was once very secular. Now it only desires Jesus. Jesus even came to me in a vision and hugged me. Let me tell you I've never experienced such overwhelming love and warmth that lasted for years!
For me VdC (Via de Christo) was the true beginning of my walk with God. The love they show, the devotion they provide and the lessons they teach really transformed me.
But even after all that God did not touch my gender dysphoria, not even remotely. Still, I did what everyone said I should do: I pretended to be a man. I acted as if my body defined me as a person at great personal cost.
But the conflict inside me that defines gender dysphoria slowly and steadily rotted away my insides. My work performance went from back to worse. The pain I felt spilled onto my family doing great harm.
And when there was nothing left me of but a shell as thin as an egg, 1 small comment shattered my life. The mountain of chaos I had been trying to hold back for years crushed my mind into a pinpoint of white-hot pain. I fell through hell and discovered there's something far worse: oblivion. It's a chaos of such terror and destruction that it shattered my mind. I went insane.
THEN God pulled me out. He scooped me up and poured me back into this body leaving me severely fragmented and broken. Thoughts, emotions, time, sensations - everything was like looking through a shattered mirror. Each shard showed a slightly different picture. Slowly the insanity cleared. No sooner could I think and see clearly than I became aware that ALL my coping mechanisms were missing. I was laid bare before my tormentor and told I had 6 weeks to live. I could transition or I could go insane and stay insane.
What would you do? My wife has health issues and can't work. My son was 10... without me they are homeless and destitute.
Before transitioning my heart was always covered and held away from myself and from God because it's not allowed.
When I started my transition it felt like my heart was uncovered and I could feel and _hear_ God more clearly than ever before. And that's what people say goes against God will.
You are such a powerful example of purity of heart, and seeker of truth no matter the cost, within a difficult age. I have so much respect for you, Adam. Thank you for inspiring me to live my life for God.
🙄 give me a break. “Deception?” “Not what God intended?” When did you become God’s mouthpiece on earth?
Part of the shepherding movement?
If we would let people be people and not try and coach them into checking a box in order for us to understand them easier, there would be no dysphoria... Dysphoria is put in place when we as a society decide to dictate what gender roles are appropriate with whichever sex that is in question. At least as far as the social construct of gender is concerned. Now body disphoria comes from what we were taught growing up. We've seen the physical differences in male and female but when someone realizes that they relate more to the one that they were not born as, its to fit the image they relate to more. Its to become more masculine or feminine based on masculinity or femininity as we know it to be. Thats why some people are more comfortable just being tomboy or feminine male rather than full transition. Its honestly about how much acceptance is in play mixed with what we have been taught to believe it is that makes up the socially constructed physical essence of male or female.
I'd like to apologize ahead of time bcz I'm not at all trying to hurt anyone. I'm a Christian and I believe that bcz God created (2) separate biological ppl then he must have the answer for this. There are never multiple answers with GOD and ppl who have been "born again" do not see obedience to God as checking a box. We see it as a JOY to finally experience "TRUE LOVE, GODS HOLY LOVE". I don't have the answer yet but as this is being brought to the surface in the Earth I think it's the Duty of GODS CHILDREN TO FIND THE ANSWER! There's never multiple answers with GOD, just as there are not multiple ways to GOD. JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY. THERES ONLY ONE GOD. I'm saying that bcz I know that there is a real enemy (Satan) who perverts Truth just enough to cause doubt! GOD IS NOT DIVIDED, JESUS WAS ONE MAN, THERES ONLY ONE CROSS & there's ONE answer for transgender.
Gender dysphoria is entirely a personal issue. Society becomes a problem when they dictate what is best for us.
@@jamiefoskett9221 You've got a few definitions incorrect...
*Gender* is a generic term usually applied to abstract concepts like identity.
*Identity* is a collection of traits (physical and mental) that uniquely identify a person: name, profession, sex, gender, handedness, etc.
*Gender dysphoria* - previously "gender identity disorder" - is a conflict between a person's sex and their experienced gender.
*Body dysmorphia* is the sense that a body part does not belong to that person.
*Transgender* is an umbrella term that includes transsexuals and non-binary. Most non-binary people don't suffer from gender dysphoria.
When I say "transgender" I'm usually referring to transsexuals because that's who I am.
Not the worst Christian perspective I have heard but I would leave gender dysphoria to the medical professionals. Unless you have personal experience with this as a parent or transgender person you really have nothing to offer them as far as a solution or treatment. But I applaud you for being respectful. Trans people yet very rare are in need of three things. Love, respect and acceptance. Whatever their journey if they decide to fully transition or partially or simply change name and pronouns. It is their life and none of anyone else's business. You would not question a person who was born intersex about their body or gender preference and you shouldn't with trans people either. Just respect them for who they are. God made them different yes but diversity doesn't have to be a bad thing.
The speaker is a doctor of Clinical psychology who specializes in gender identity. He literally is a medical expert on this topic with many years and great experience with people who struggle with gender identity. He has also written several books on the topic. I have personal experience with this and I can say he’s spot on.
@@-justin-4077 That may well be, but I still don't agree with everything the man says on the issue. From what I know as someone with several trans loved ones, with about 15 years of experience, it's more of a medical issue than a psychological one. And trans people should never feel that being who they were born as is in any way shameful, sinful or any sort of mental disorder. And they shouldn't be made feel guilty for transitioning if that's what makes their lives happier and more aligned with their gender identities.
@@lamcalli7349 I’m not sure what you mean by “medical” professional then. Psychiatrist? Surgeon? Maybe you missed the part about the brain/sex model. There is little evidence to support gender dysphoria is caused by a distinct brain problem. There may be some correlation there for some people but by no means definitive. I agree it should not be about shame. I too suffer from gender dysphoria and know full well shame only perpetuates the suffering I’ve experienced. I would not be ashamed if my problem was merely psychological. Psychological issues are a reality in this fallen world and not a result of my own moral failings. It’s something that has simply become a reality for me. I would however have to agree with Yarhouse that treatment should involve the LEAST invasive methods whenever possible. Surgical procedures should be a LAST resort. The reason is that those types of intervention are irreversible and might further perpetuate dysmorphic thoughts. My dysphoria has been severe at times and I have considered those treatments but ultimately I’m not convinced it would be effective in the long term. Coming to better (although not perfect) terms with my male identity is my goal in all this. I believe it will have better long term consequences on my life and those around me. I know it’s different for everyone but my experience is not unique and should be considered in the conversation.
Imagine trying to tell people what they are and arent
Wow! I have never heard such well spoken and well camouflaged bigotry and transphobia.
@@prophet_alfredo9465 Yeah, because that was how Jesus helped people. "You're blind? I know this guy who said he was blind but he managed to make a living. Why don't you do the same?"
Yeah, it was top notch. Used the correct pronouns and everything!
This was very disappointing. Missing all sorts of reality. Gender dysphoria is often a by-product of other severe issues such as trauma, being on the autism spectrum, childhood abuse, disassociative disorders, borderline personality disorder, BIID and autogynephilia. Each of this health issues are nothing to be uncomfortable or ashamed of. They are almost all treatable with therapy. They are real issues that are being ignored and great harm is being done to many who find out after transitioning that it did not solve their issues simply because they bypassed therapy. There is also an emerging social contagion named by some experts ROGD (Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria) where massive numbers of young women are transitioning even in groups of friends. Some experts think it is similar to anorexia being a mental health issue regarding dislike of their body.
It is one thing to have dysphoria but it is totally another to actually believe you are the opposite sex. Mr. Yarhouse has left all this out. I wonder if he did it on purpose or if he is just unaware. Being kind to people is certainly of the utmost importance but those who lose their hold on reality need more than that. There are parents on twitter hiding behind made up names trying to find help and stop the insanity of automatic affirmation. There are doctors doing the same risking their reputations in this crazy world. We look to our religious leaders to speak the truth. In his attempt to be kind he hasn't even delivered the truth. This is more harmful than helpful.
I don't know if you are right. I would have more conversations with non-believers who suffer from gender disphoria. The truth that there's a lot of problems that comes with rejection of the common grace of wisdom in society. Aquinas would note the principal. For one thing, it makes it impossible to draw in non-believers if those who don't put their nose to the grindstone of science pretend to be more knowledgeable about this stuff than they are. Not saying you are. But a lot of those who talk with me at Durham university about faith are made blind to Christianity's truth by how Christians disrespect them, their personal experience of life and their fields of knowledge. I don't know if Christ would do the same. I expect he would always listen first, which I personally see little of.
You're listening to too many conservative lies and half-truths. PLEASE BE CAREFUL OF YOUR SOURCES. They are doing IMMENSE harm.
Life-long gender dysphoria is never the result of trauma, abuse or anything else. And while conditions like BIID and autogyephilia sound similar they are VERY different from gender dysphoria. Each is treated VERY differently.
Yes, some few are not helped by transitioning. Most are homosexuals trying to become "normal" people. I wonder what would push them to feel that way?
The great majority ARE helped. That you don't see them is because their goal is to become a whole person and fade into society like any other "normal" person; get away from the stigma that is transgender.
*ROGD DOES NOT EXIST.* It was invented by interviewing PARENTS, not children. These parents were clueless until their child came out as transgender. It's like saying Rapid Onset Blindness exists because some parents didn't know their child needed glasses until age 10.
ALSO nobody with gender dysphoria believes they are the opposite sex. By definition such a belief wouldn't result in any mental anguish or suicidal behavior - their mind matches their body.
ALSO there's no such thing as "automatic confirmation." A diagnosis of gender dysphoria takes no less than 6 months. I have yet to find a doctor that will make that diagnosis in under a year. In all my travels I've found exactly 1 trans woman (very clearly trans) that managed a diagnosis in 6 months.
There are people pretending to be parents of transgender children creating this false narrative so conservatives and "Christians" have an excuse to validate their fears.
MOST OF ALL...
WHY ARE YOU LOOKING TO RELIGION TO EXPLAIN A MEDICAL CONDITION???
Yes, comments like yours ARE more harmful than helpful. PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS, don't assume people with no training and no experience can explain something they don't understand.
I’m a Christian, and I have gender dysphoria... It's hard.
@@bjbrana there are other paths than allowing yourself to be shamed by the teachings of misguided bigots.
you clearly are very ignorant of the realities of the world. Gender dysphoria is its own issue, and is merely amplified by other such disorders/experiences. If people view transitioning as a way to fix all their problems then of course they'd be disappointed and lost, because they didn't get the outcome they wanted and now are part of a rather disliked minority. The way to fix this is to provide better information to the general populous about what transitioning really is, as there are plenty of people who have none of the things you listed and still have dysphoria, and many people who have transitioned with help of a therapist and have had it all go well
As soon as a preacher starts preaching science you should rebuke the devil and do what I did end the video and write a truth warning to the body of Christ