Yesterday, Rosaria Butterfield published an article about why she no longer adopts self-chosen pronouns when speaking to or about those who identify as transgender. If you’re not familiar with Rosaria, she’s most well known for her 2012 book, “The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert”, which recounts her transformation from being a lesbian, LGBTQ+ activist professor of women’s studies to becoming a Christian, and eventually to becoming a pastor’s wife.

In yesterday’s article, she tells the story of Laura Perry Smalts, author of “Transgender to Transformed”. Laura spent years identifying as a transgender man, pumping herself full of testosterone and undergoing gender-denying surgeries to mutilate her God-given body. During that season in her life, her parents and the members of her childhood church refused to adopt her self-chosen pronouns. And yet, “when the Lord enlivened her heart and mind with the gospel, she returned to the church of her youth… Why did she return to them? Their refusal to lie compelled her trust.”

A powerful, 4.5 minute video about Laura’s testimony can be found here. I strongly encourage you to watch it. A longer version can be found here, and a full-length movie entitled “In His Image” that contains her story and many others can be found here. That movie helpfully begins by repudiating the sinful attitudes and messages of some so-called “Christians” who express hatred toward fellow image-bearers that struggle with LGBTQ+ related issues. There is no room for hate. There is also no love in lies. Compromise is not the answer – compassionate clarity is the answer. Love speaks truth.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Evan