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Transgender People and Our Community – A Rational Understanding and Approach

Transgender People and Our Community – A Rational Understanding and Approach

Over the last several years, there has been much in the press about transgender individuals, transgender rights, and legislators battling over various issues (public bathrooms, etc.). In my practice, I have had a number of patients who are transgender, and even more family members of transgender individuals struggling with some aspect of this issue.

Therefore, I thought it might be helpful to try and set a framework, based on known facts and healthy principles, on how to relate to individuals in your family or community who identify as transgender.

Facts First:

  • This blog only addresses issues related to transgender, not gay or lesbian issues or intersex conditions.
  • What is transgender? The definition I am using is: “noting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond to that person’s biological sex assigned at birth.” (dictionary.com)
  • Causes of transgenderism: Unknown. However, strong evidence supports this condition is neurobiological in origin and not characterological. The rate of gender confusion is up to ten times higher among those with Autism Spectrum Disorder than the general population. One study found that, within the Autistic group, 5% had gender identity issues, compared to 0.7% of the control group. Another study found the rate among the Autistic population to be 7.8%. [1]

Questions:

  • During childhood and adolescence is there a normal period of gender uncertainty that a person can experience and NOT be transgender?

    Absolutely yes! In fact, during childhood and adolescence, the brain is in a heightened stated of change and vulnerable to wiring in life experiences that are not originally in the DNA. Language, religious values, and sexually arousing stimuli can be wired in during childhood and adolescence. It has been known for many years that during puberty, individuals are at greater risk for developing paraphilias (sexual arousal to atypical things — sometimes pathological things). This is important to recognize, because not every person who experiences a same-sex attraction or a gender confused feeling will actually have a gender identity problem.

  • How should Christians treat individuals struggling with questions of sexual identity?

    With love, respect, kindness, and regard for them as individuals. I recommend focusing on character, not sexual preference. In other words, make value judgments based on character qualities (honesty vs. dishonest, kindness vs. cruelty, altruism vs. selfishness, loyalty vs. disloyalty, reliability vs. unreliability, etc.) rather than sexual preference. Learn to love people for who they are in character and don’t focus on their personal sexuality.

  • Is it possible that heterosexual young people could be influenced by others who are in the LGBTQ community and have their sexuality confused by that community and, if so, what would cause this?

    It is well known that all people can be influenced by others, and that adolescents are more vulnerable to recruitment and influence than those of older years. Examples of young people being influenced by various groups include: recruitment by gangs, extremist groups (which focus their recruitment on adolescents), and cults. The reason this occurs is that adolescence is a period of normal identity uncertainty, fear of rejection, feelings of inadequacy, and longing for a place to be valued, loved, and found special for who you are.

    With this in mind, we can examine the likely impact on young people of a condemning and critical church and an embracing and validating LGBTQ community and realize that as long as the church remains critical and condemning, and the LGBTQ community communicates acceptance and love, the experience of love and acceptance will draw, while the fear of condemnation will drive away.

    Therefore, the church has a real need to do some introspection and change its approach to how it deals with such questions — moving away from a behavior-oriented, judgmental approach, to a character-development and loving-the-individual approach.

  • Does the LGBTQ community and their political supporters demonstrate a healthy concern for all citizens?

    In my experience, they do not. Individuals, struggling with questions of gender confusion or sexual identity issues, and the entire LGBTQ community make up less than 3% of our society, while transgender individuals total less than 0.5%. I must praise the LGBTQ community for opposing and resisting the abuse, mistreatment, and discrimination of gay, lesbian, and transgender people. Abusive treatment and discrimination is wrong no matter who is being abused or mistreated. Yet, despite this real need to protect the rights of the LGBTQ community, some advocates have been imbalanced in their approach and are willing to injure heterosexuals in their zeal to protect their own constituency. Here is a case in point:

    Several years ago, an issue arose in Tennessee, which exposed a lack of concern for all people by those who actively promote the LGBTQ agenda. In that state, psychologists’ licensure was tied to adhering to the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association (APsychA). In pursuit of advancing the LGBTQ agenda, the APsychA changed its ethical guidelines and made it an ethics violation for a psychologist to refer out a gay couple for couples counseling based on the religious beliefs of the psychologist. In other words, if the psychologist believed it was a violation of their conscience to counsel same-sex couples and wanted to refer the couple to another psychologist who did not object to providing this counseling, the new rules would have made such a referral unethical and, since adhering to the ethics of the APsychA was required to maintain licensure to practice, a psychologist making such a referral risked revocation of their license.

    In response to this, legislators in Tennessee introduced a bill which would eliminate this risk and allow a psychologist to refer such cases to other providers. The bill passed the Tennessee legislature and, while it waited the signature of the governor for implementation into law, I received an urgent call from the American Psychiatric Association (APA). At that time, I was serving as the President of the Tennessee Psychiatric Association (TPA) and the APA contacted me, wanting the TPA to write a brief to the governor advocating he veto this legislation. In discussion with the APA leadership, I affirmed my concern for the protection of the rights of the LGBTQ community, but also my concern for all human beings, not just the LGBTQ community. I had concerns for the mental well-being of the psychologists who might find themselves coerced into providing care that violated their consciences. I also expressed my concern that the quality of care the LGBTQ patients might receive from individuals, who morally opposed their lifestyle, might be compromised and it would be in the LBGTQ patient’s best interest to be referred. However, the APA leadership only expressed concern for the LGBTQ community and were not willing to pursue any compromise that protected the rights of all human beings involved.

Our society is in a place of major flux and the issues around gender often stir intense emotions and make healthy discussion difficult. Our challenge is to move past our own emotional gut reactions and refocus our actions on love for others, challenging ourselves to deal with others from compassion and concern for their welfare — as we would have them deal with us. In short, our approach, as Christians, in dealing with others, no matter who they are, is always to be like Christ — to love others more than self, treating others with respect, kindness, and interest in their welfare.


[1] Glidden, D., et al., Gender Dysphoria and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature, Sexual Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2016, Pages 3-14

Strang, J.F., Kenworthy, L., Dominska, A. et al. Increased Gender Variance in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Arch Sex Behav (2014) 43: 1525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0285-3

de Vries, A., et al, Autism Spectrum Disorders in Gender Dysphoric Children and Adolescents J Autism Dev Disord. 2010 Aug; 40(8): 930–936.

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My husband is a pastor and I listen to your lesson almost every week. Thank you for helping me in my study life and to help me love the “real” God more.

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When I was 9 years old, I remember setting at our devotional table with a hunger and thirst for God that wanted more, deeper, BETTER. I can remember literally crying and pounding on the table, “I know these teachers didn’t mean to give us error. They taught what THEY had been TAUGHT, but didn’t ANYBODY READ THE BOOK?!?!?” It mattered to me then. It mattered to me as a teenager. It matters now as I teach bible classes. It didn’t have to be so hard as I watched so many give up and lay God’s great plan and gift of salvation aside as being “impossible.” Then, a friend sent me a link to Come And Reason’s website. I grew excited. YES! FINALLY! Then another friend told me to stay away, saying her son had just broken up with a girl because she was involved with Come And Reason and that “Tim Jennings preaches a false gospel.” But, AFTER many years of developing an authentic and, dare I say FUN relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit I see this message has been around a LONG time, since the apostle Paul, Ellen White, Graham Maxwell, Ray Foucher, and yourself (though I admit, you’ve made me back up, rewind and replay the clips, and get out my well-worn Bible on a few things.) I’m so thankful I have found LIGHT during these DARK days. I am not alone.

Vicki DiNitto

Testimony 60

Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

God bless the Come and Reason Team from our church here in Great Britain.

Andrew H., Great Britain

 

Testimony 26

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 33

I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 49

I came into the church at 21, but that is as far as it went. I was so confused about what love is. I couldn’t find it in the bible, because I am not a person that can read between the lines. I have no logic. I have read many, many books; trying to figure out the crux of the matter. They were helpful, but something was still missing. I have become very frustrated to the point of crying out to God, “Where can I go?”  I needed some basics.

I found two books, written by Timothy Jennings, MD, to be very helpful. God showed me that I had lived my whole life in fear. I didn’t even see it. Now, I do. God is so good.  I discovered the “The Remedy”  Dr. Jennings new book, “The God-Shaped Heart!” Oh, I was so excited, I purchased them right away.

I can get rid of most of my books, because “The Remedy” brings the Love of God out so clearly, even I can’t miss it. Now, I want to sit and read my Bible. Wow, what a revelation! It is just simply Awesome! I am so grateful to Jehovah Almighty for hearing my prayer for more understanding! I am so encouraged!

Jackie S.

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA