In the past couple of years, the transgender community have been pushed into the spotlight by the media. Most people, especially Christians, don't know how to react. Is it sinful? What are the risks of accepting them in society? Could God actually make a mistake? What does the Bible say about transgender people? I am going to attempt to answer some of these questions, with the help of verses and Biblical scholars.

Sidenote: For the purposes of this article, I will only be referring to verses in the New Testament. I believe that is where our creed as Christians lies, and that the laws of the Old Testament no longer restrict us. But that's a whole different topic.

If we're being completely honest, the Bible says nothing. Transgender people are never mentioned in the Bible. Not once. That's a huge fact that we need to recognize in itself. I'm not sure that we can make a claim that something is sinful when the Bible doesn't speak of it at all. It is very dangerous to put words in God's mouth. Therefore, we need to move on and widen our scope to what the Bible says about gender.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28 ESV

In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he puts it plainly for us. In Christ, we are all one. Gender is not a factor. So why does it play such a huge factor in our lives? I think this is largely a result of our society and how it has developed over the past few centuries. There's always been divisions, but they've become increasingly binary, until the past fifty years. Accepting the transgender community would be countercultural, but I don't believe it goes against how we should behave as Christians. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34 ESV). We are to love one another. This commandment gives no specifications on gender origin. It is plain and simple.

Does God make mistakes? How could someone feel like they are in the wrong body?

No, God doesn't make mistakes.

"All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." John 1:3 ESV

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14 ESV

"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." Colossians 1:15 ESV

He had a hand in everything created. However, not everything has a simple answer. What about people born with physical deformities or mental handicaps? What about people born with hormonal imbalances that cause things like depression and psychopaths? Are these people mistakes? No. They are different. We are all different in some way. It's just easier for us to see the physical differences of the trans community. That doesn't make their differences wrong. It just makes them...well...different.

Most importantly, God can use the trans community in His kingdom, just like He can use anyone else.

“'Teacher,' his disciples asked him, 'why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?' 'It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins,' Jesus answered. 'He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him'” (John 9:2-3 ESV).

This topic goes on and on. There are questions about Genesis 1-3, eunuchs in the Bible, and so much more. But the underlying point is this: The transgender community is still God's community. They are His children, and He loves them dearly. That much is clear Biblically. We should treat them with the same love and respect with which we (should) treat everyone else.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8 NIV