Identity - How do you call yourself?
#1
What do you call yourself? An ex-crossdresser, or a crossdresser, or a crossdresser in recovery, or a trans Christian, or an ex-trans Christian?  I'm not sure what we should call ourselves.

When it comes to same-sex attraction, there is a controversy in the Church, even among those who all agree that giving in physically to same-sex attraction is a sin. There are some Christians who I respect greatly who experience same sex attraction but do not want to call themselves "gay Christians" because they don't want to associate their temptation to sin as part of their identity. There are some Christians who I respect greatly who experience same sex attraction and who call themselves "gay Christians" even though they are committed to following Christ, not giving in to sin, and therefore are living celibate lives. 

This issue recently came up in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of America. Here is a very powerful video clip and testimony from the discussions they had:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkWdMBQy...e=youtu.be


I tend towards the argument that says we should not go "gay Christian" if we are a Christian who has same sex attraction. But I don't want to be legalistic on that issue. I can really see both viewpoints, and they both make sense.  What do you think?

When it comes to crossdressing, there isn't a handy term like "gay" to describe us. The closest that we get is Transgendered or Transvestite. Neither of those are very helpful. "Transvestite" has mostly fallen out of use, and I think it would mainly describe someone who is actually giving in to the behavior. "Transgendered" would only fit for those who are experiencing some kind of gender dysphoria, and not many of us who used to crossdress. I also think "transgendered" would not fit most of the people in this community well because we don't believe that it is right to try to live like the opposite sex, we aren't giving in. We are living as men, not living "trans" lives.

I'm not sure what term we should use.  I know for me, I don't like going by crossdresser, because it's not a primary part of my identity. And I'm also not giving in to those temptations.  Maybe best is just saying, "I am Christian who sometimes experiences desires to crossdress but I don't give in."  That's long, but sometimes there just isn't a short way to describe it. I would even want to add that I am experiencing less desire to crossdress with each passing year.

What do you think?
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 –
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.


Reply


Messages In This Thread
Identity - How do you call yourself? - by Barnabas - 07-12-2019, 08:04 AM

Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)