28. A Transgender Listener’s Feedback

[00:00:00] I struggled with gender dysphoria all my childhood.

[00:00:03] I would pray to Jesus every night.

[00:00:05] Please let me wake up a girl.

[00:00:07] Of course, that never happened.

[00:00:09] I lost faith and I was extremely suicidal.

[00:00:30] Last month, I received the following private message on Facebook.

[00:00:35] Hi Mr. Sherwin.

[00:00:37] I've recently discovered your podcast.

[00:00:39] I was searching for an LGBTQ plus affirming podcast

[00:00:43] so I did some research online and discovered you on Spotify.

[00:00:47] I was getting more into my faith and as that was happening, the enemy was attacking my spirit

[00:00:52] telling me to not even try.

[00:00:54] So I was desperate to find some clarity.

[00:00:56] Praise Jesus, I ran across your podcast.

[00:00:59] Thank you for giving me some peace of mind.

[00:01:01] I'm a transgender woman and just finished your episode.

[00:01:05] What did Jesus say about sexual and gender minorities?

[00:01:08] I love how you translate the word unique.

[00:01:11] In my opinion, Jesus is referring to trans people.

[00:01:15] There are people born trans and with feminine characteristics such as myself.

[00:01:19] I believe there are people made trans due to past traumas

[00:01:23] and I believe people transition for the Kingdom of God, also my experience.

[00:01:28] That's a very interesting biblical reference to Matthew 19 verse 12.

[00:01:34] I also believe that Jesus was referring in Matthew 19

[00:01:39] to people who are born transgender as well as many other sexual minorities.

[00:01:44] But I must confess, I was a little surprised by these two sentences.

[00:01:51] I believe there are people made trans due to past traumas

[00:01:54] and I believe people transition for the Kingdom of God.

[00:01:57] I asked June about this, but let me finish her original message before we branch to that.

[00:02:04] June, whose name and voice I have changed, continues.

[00:02:34] Wow!

[00:03:05] What an inspiring story.

[00:03:07] There is so much that I could say about this,

[00:03:11] but I think I want to let June's words stand in their own authenticity.

[00:03:17] However, as I mentioned, I asked June to expand on this statement.

[00:03:35] This is a reference to Matthew 19 verse 12, where Jesus says there are three types of sexual minorities.

[00:03:45] One, those born sexual minorities.

[00:03:49] Two, those made so by others.

[00:03:52] And three, those who choose to be so for the Kingdom.

[00:03:57] I also believe that Jesus was referring in Matthew 19

[00:04:02] to people who are born transgender as well as many other sexual minorities.

[00:04:08] But I thought it was interesting that June included all three categories,

[00:04:15] including those made transgender by others and those who choose to be transgender for the Kingdom.

[00:04:24] It's biblical.

[00:04:26] However, I had not thought about this in reference to transgender individuals.

[00:04:32] So I asked her about it and this is what she said.

[00:04:37] I sort of relate to all three.

[00:04:39] Growing up at a young age, I experienced sexual trauma

[00:04:43] and a small part of that led me to become a trans woman.

[00:04:46] It helped me work through that trauma.

[00:04:48] I also suffered from gender dysphoria.

[00:04:51] As far as transitioning for the Kingdom of God, I think of myself pre-transition

[00:04:56] and how I just lived my life with no regard to Jesus or God.

[00:05:00] Transitioning set me free and instilled the boldness to do God's work,

[00:05:04] volunteering for my community, being an active member in my church and over all living for God.

[00:05:10] Therefore, in a way, I transitioned for the Kingdom of God.

[00:05:20] With that explanation, let's listen to all of June's remarks put together and uninterrupted.

[00:05:51] Praise Jesus, I ran across your podcast.

[00:05:55] Thank you for giving me some peace of mind.

[00:05:57] I'm a transgender woman and just finished your episode.

[00:06:01] What did Jesus say about sexual and gender minorities?

[00:06:05] I love how you translate the word unique.

[00:06:08] In my opinion, Jesus is referring to trans people.

[00:06:11] There are people born trans and with feminine characteristics such as myself.

[00:06:16] I believe there are people made trans due to past traumas

[00:06:19] and I believe people transition for the Kingdom of God, also my experience.

[00:06:24] I sort of relate to all three.

[00:06:26] Growing up at a young age, I experienced sexual trauma

[00:06:30] and a small part of that led me to become a trans woman.

[00:06:33] It helped me work through that trauma.

[00:06:35] I also suffered from gender dysphoria.

[00:06:38] As far as transitioning for the Kingdom of God,

[00:06:41] I think of myself pre-transition and how I just lived my life with no regard to Jesus or God.

[00:06:47] Transitioning set me free and instilled the boldness to do God's work,

[00:06:51] volunteering for my community, being an active member in my church, and overall living for God.

[00:06:58] Therefore, in a way, I transitioned for the Kingdom of God.

[00:07:02] I was extremely suicidal pre-transition

[00:07:04] and had no boldness instilled in me whatsoever.

[00:07:07] However, I socially transitioned at 16 and started medically transitioning at the age of 18.

[00:07:13] I struggled with gender dysphoria all my childhood

[00:07:17] and would pray to Jesus every night.

[00:07:19] Please let me wake up a girl.

[00:07:21] Of course that never happened and I lost faith.

[00:07:24] However, that faith has since been restored due to me transitioning.

[00:07:28] Now I realize Jesus answered my prayer.

[00:07:30] Although it took time, praise God, I wake up every day a woman

[00:07:35] and I am so blessed to not suffer from suicidal thoughts or depression.

[00:07:39] Now I'm bold and want to spread the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ,

[00:07:43] something I never would have been bold enough to do pre-transition.

[00:07:47] I just wanted to say thank you.

[00:07:49] I'm not sure if you'll see this either, but I felt compelled to reach out.

[00:07:53] God bless you and your family.

[00:07:58] June, thank you so much for messaging me on Facebook.

[00:08:03] If you know someone who might benefit from these podcasts,

[00:08:08] please pass them on and share them.

[00:08:11] Stay safe, stay brave, and God bless.

[00:08:15] This is Elton Sherwin.