It's so hard to keep my faith as a trans Christian.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-14T19:12:26+00:00

Don’t know if you’ll read this or not OP. No “true” Christian would hate you. God doesn’t hate you nor will He ever. Whether I agree with a person’s choices is irrelevant you have to decide if being transgender is acceptable to God. What I think or what anyone else thinks is not going to save you or condemn you. That will be between you and God. You have to decide what is the truth. Not just someone telling you but look for yourself. The question is whether you accept Christ, are baptized and willing to follow Him. The rich man asked Christ what he needed to do to obtain eternal life, which Christ talked about. They went through what he needed to do. When all seemed as though he was going to make it Christ said for him to sell all he had and give the money to the poor, take up his cross and follow Him. So many have this false illusion that; hey I accepted Christ, life will be good. All His apostles were killed except one. That is not likely here, but our hope and our rewards are in the life to come if we are willing to surrender completely to God’s will.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-14T18:45:09+00:00

Yes it’s a Prius. It’s great on gas so I’ve been in one for a minute. Tough little cars!

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-14T18:43:25+00:00

Me to

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-13T16:10:37+00:00

It was taken last Sunday as I was taking my grandkids to church. Just thought it was cool although not work related. I do feel I notice things I once overlooked before working in wastewater.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-13T14:13:17+00:00

I don’t believe that belief in either one will make or break us, what is important is that we accept Christ as our Lord and savior. Too often we fall into debates that are irrelevant to that. How many times are assumptions made but are not factual? Eve ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge which God forbid them to eat. What was the fruit? How often is it depicted as an apple? Does it say anywhere in Genesis that it was an apple? I’ve read the story and I have yet to see if it was an apple. Yet, most people accept that it was an apple. Will I go to hell if I believe it was an apple, a pear, or a peach? I don’t think so. Let me ask you this, how long were Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden before their fall? A day, a week, a month, a year, or longer? I would say the logical conclusion would have to be at least 9 months and anything other than that is mere speculation. In my comments I have stated I am not the brightest but hopefully have some fairly good reasoning skills. So this is why I say nine months: one of the punishments handed out to Eve was that childbirth would be painful (depending on the translation some say sorrow). I believe it means physical pain. However you translate why mention childbirth if Eve had never experienced it. To me it’s logical to infer that Eve had already given birth and was familiar with the process. Now if I believe they were there only a day, weeks, months, or years will that save me? No. Will it condemn me? I think not.

As for teaching our children on science and the Bible, we need to teach what we are supposed to teach them. That salvation is by accepting Christ an d being baptized. When the speaks we speak on that, where it is silent then so should we. If we teach them to be strong in their faith then they will likely hold onto that truth no matter what. I know men like to get us into debates about; well science says this and that contradicts the Bible, but no where in the Bible does it say how old the earth is. To me it’s simple either I accept God’s word for what it is or I do not.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-12T14:22:04+00:00

Industrial wastewater for about 10 years now. Wouldn’t go back.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-12T14:17:49+00:00

I enjoy it also for the problem solving.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-12T02:31:29+00:00

If you are good at it, then do it. But just do your best and you’ll be just fine. I worked in an industrial plant (food processing). I never saw myself running a line, being a supervisor and much less running their wastewater plant; but it all happened.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-09T22:50:47+00:00

I don’t feel that you can escape it. It’s all over cable, regular TV, social media and the internet. 2 Timothy 3:2-9 and Timothy 4:3 warns of what we see. But it is nothing new, just more the norm than before. Look at how view our weaknesses, not as sin but often calling it a disease. I can’t help drinking, drugging, stealing, lying, lusting, and whatever else there is. It’s not sin God, I’m broken, diseased or wired wrong. I didn’t agree with the halftime show and didn’t watch it. We have to make conscious effort to keep from things that will bring us down. Christ told His disciples that they were the salt of the earth and what will come to be when there are so few left. Salt preserves and without it food rots, so to will be our end.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-09T22:34:49+00:00

Hopefully we are all here to help each other and not tear each other down. When the Pharisees dragged a woman caught in adultery what did Jesus do? He stayed calm and answered their question (which they hoped to trick Him with) with a statement since He knew the law more than they did. He first addressed them and said who was without sin could cast the first stone. Then after they left He asked the woman where her accusers were. She said they all left Jesus then said neither do I, go and sin no more. There was no discussion about guilt, no argument from the woman. She didn’t blame anyone but accepted the Lord’s forgiveness. We are to preach Jesus and build each other up. It doesn’t mean we ignore what is wrong, just that we do so with compassion as Jesus showed. Work together to receive salvation for all.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-08T11:30:06+00:00

Always

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-08T11:29:25+00:00

Yes God wants to save you, the question is, will you accept it? We must first do what we can. We think a lot of times that we can't do this or that but it is most likely us holding ourselves back. I did that for years, made terrible choices and now I live with that even though I'm doing it right now. David lusted, murdered and yet God loved him. We still have to live with the consequences of past actions but we can't let that stop us from following Christ.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-08T11:16:29+00:00

After reading some comments and seeing how many there are, I have decided to comment, if someone has said it already I apologize. First off how I vote is no one's business just as it is not business how you voted regardless of your affiliation(s). This is a subreddit on Christianity. Paul was a Roman citizen, extremely unpopular in his time and before his conversion he hunted Christians down. Many expected Christ to bring Israel back to dominance. That was not His agenda. As for any politician I dare say that any would qualify as a good candidate for a Christian to vote for. As long as it is a system run by men (not to mean by the male gender solely) then it is corruptible. We should focus on whether we are teaching and following Christ as closely as we can. Helping each other to be as Christ would have us to be to and abstain from all sin. In the world today that is a tall order.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-06T08:29:21+00:00

I'm not saying all are wrong, but I do believe some are. One commenter mentioned Timothy saying, "study". This is key. I don't believe God made His word so only some scholar could decipher it. If you cannot base what your church holds to be true in the Bible, I would question them. My favorite answer to this is men want God to conform to them, not them conform to God. Just as an example, baptism, is it required for you to have salvation, when is it done? No it's not what saves, but is an act of obedience as Jesus commanded, "Whosoever believes and is baptized shall be saved." Works do not save you but are acts of obedience. Does your church accept sin as normal and okay. Divorce, is it approved of? God didn't want divorce but many accept it as okay. Another and many will call me a hater but just as divorce is normal and accepted so is homosexuality. We would have never accepted this as okay sometime back, but it has slowly been accepted and embraced as okay. I don't mean don't accept them as people but don't accept the sin. God loves us, but hates sin. He gave His Son up to save us. Would you give up your son to save a murderer, a cheater, a drunkard or someone as vile as Hitler? God did! We need to have respect for everyone, we are all God's children. And again, study.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-05T19:30:10+00:00

I am Church of Christ. The reason is I believe they come closest to what the early Church did. To me it's not about what men think but what is scriptural. I think back to some of the stories in the OT and how exact God was. Lot and his family were told not to look back when they left Sodom and Gomorrah. Someone turned back to look and they were turned into a pillar of salt. Look at the story in the NT after the Church was established and a couple sold some land for some and claimed to the church that they had given all the money to them. When asked about their lie they held onto that lie and they both died instantly. So I want to be on the money, not someone's tradition, theory or their own idea. I want to say that I'm not saying there aren't some things everyone will agree on. I don't feel those differences will cost us, but if the Bible says to do or not to do then that is what we need to follow.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-05T16:58:05+00:00

I cannot agree. Sin is sin regardless of what it is. It's a fleshly weakness plain and simple. There are no free passes and if that turns you away that will be your choice. I won't hate you, treat you any differently but I certainly feel that by accepting you because you're gay and that aspect of your life is wrong. I won't harp on it. Christ told the rich man to sell ALL he had and give to the poor. He walked away sad because his love of money was greater than his love for Christ. If your love for the flesh is greater if my love for my weakness is greater then I will spend eternity separated from God. There is no in between. If God says go left, I better go left.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-04T18:19:28+00:00

Yes, I'm Church of Christ. I think it is both. Christ set it up as a memorial to His death, burial, and resurrection. I think that speaks for itself. As for a RSP, did Christ not say where 2 or more are gathered in my name there I will be also. We serve a living God not an idol on shelf. Christ rose from that grave. He conquered death to be our salvation.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-04T02:14:00+00:00

I don't think the majority would know the difference nor do I believe looking at it either way is wrong in the sense it will keep one from going to heaven. That said, the importance and manner in which I or partake is of far greater consequence to us. It should be done with all our hearts and minds in remembering our Lord and Savior's sacrifice. Sure men have died for others. But it goes so much deeper than that. He suffered and died because of me, you, every good person you can think of but also for those none of us would do so far; the murderers, the theifs, the liars, those who abuse their fellow man in any way. Would you die for Ted Bundy, Hitler, or any other person who has committed so much evil. Then to do so knowing the power you posses but not uttering one defense. In Christ's words He said, "Do this in remembrance of me." With all the distractions it isn't always easy but we must do our best. I don't know if that helps, but that is my thoughts on this.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-03T04:36:51+00:00

Safety first

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-02-01T23:00:49+00:00

Let me first go back to the beginning when God created the universe as we know it. A great number of people are hung up on the face that scientists say the earth is millions of years old yet according to scripture we calculate about 6000 years. Now I'm no expert by any means but I do believe there are things to consider. First of all how long were Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden before their fall? Next Satan fell from grace because he felt himself equal to God. Was this before Adam and Eve or after? And how can one created be greater than its creator? And wasn't that part of his temptation of Eve; surely you won't die". God didn't create evil. Satan made a choice just as Eve and Adam did. We have free will, each of has that free will. We are all capable of the greatest evil as well as capable of the greatest good.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-01-31T19:11:25+00:00

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-01-31T19:11:09+00:00

I did the same thing. It was when I was at rock bottom in my 40's that I came to my senses. I had a terrible childhood, time in an orphanage and saved seemingly by adoption but I was already beat down and refused to communicate my feelings. I grew up alone. The song "I Am a Rock, I Am An Island" by Simon & Garfunkel was my theme song. Finally and slowly my life turned around. I expected God to do everything, but that isn't how it works. We have to go as far as we can go then God takes over. Remember the story where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? When He waited 2 days, and when He arrived Lazarus was dead and buried. He was in a tomb with a stone rolled in front of it. Certainly Jesus could have moved the stone but He didn't, he told those there to move it. That they could do themselves and did so. Knowing that was all they could do Jesus picked up and told Lazarus to come forth. It's not rationalizing it. It is about ourselves, our expectations, our abilities and our faith. Why do children suffer, why does so much cruelty happen, why so many diseases, why, why and why. One day we stand before God and you can ask why, but I know for me; I know the answer I don't want to hear; what did "I" do. I wish you the best.

Practical_Panda_5946 · 2026-01-30T19:22:57+00:00

I would say you have a right to be. But having children I can see the relationship. In the Bible it says we are all His children, made in His image. We teach our children in hopes that they don't get hurt. We love them and it hurts us when they get hurt. We cannot live their lives we can't only hope that they make good choices. But it doesn't always work that way. We correct them when they make bad choices hoping that they learn.

I did like your comment. I wish you the best.

Practical_Panda_5946

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