Walls Down | Covenant of Lies
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today I want to talk about witnessing to those who identify as transgender.
In VRChat, nearly a fourth of the people I interact with would call themselves trans. That makes this an important subject. If anyone has a heart to reach these people, this is the first mission field I would recommend. The trans community in VRChat is massive. There are groups dedicated to education around trans culture, along with countless social spaces built around it.
Many of the people I speak with seem frozen in time.
According to the studies I’ve reviewed, trauma, including abuse of many kinds, is strikingly common among those who identify as trans. Everyone I’ve personally interacted with in VRChat was born male. Every one of them carries a distorted understanding of what it even means to be a man or a woman. Masculinity and femininity are confused categories for them.
They are desperate for attention and kindness. Anime and other entertainment taught them that women receive more attention and care. Somewhere along the way, they put on female clothes, and someone finally noticed.
In VRChat, they can wear female avatars, stand in front of a mirror, and decide what body to inhabit with the click of a button. No matter what they choose, they receive far more attention and affirmation than they ever did in real life. For various reasons, they seek control over their own bodies and believe their lies shape reality. They find entire communities that appear to care for them, and they enter into covenant with those lies.
This is not meant to draw pity; they are sinners in need of repentance, just like us. Yet how should one call to repentance those who have little to no emotional control, or are caught in a web of lies?
Genuine conversions from child of Adam to child of God are often a long road, and for those on that journey, they need to hear truth that tears down their misconceptions and shows genuine compassion. God can call someone at any moment, and with any means. Yet it is faithful Christians who are present over time, speaking truth, and listening that fills their minds to contemplate. That is why it matters how we season our words. (Col. 4:6)
One person I’ve known for a while in VRChat once asked, “… But why don’t you call me by my pronouns?”
I told them, “I really care about you… so I don’t want to lie to you. If it is alright with you, I would rather call you by your name. I hope that’s okay.”
Another person said in anger that God hates trans people. Which gave me the opportunity to tell them, “Actually, God really loves you. Psalm 139 tells us He created your unique body just for you. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. That is how precious your body is, crafted by God’s hand. So I would not say God hates you or anyone who identifies as trans. In fact, He has been very patient, and gracious with you all this time.”
People are disarmed by truth – but also by kindness. Like lady wisdom I serve mixed wine at my table.
She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table… Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Proverbs 9:2&5
I do not know whether those I witnessed to will ever repent, but I always pray for them. No matter how serious the sin or how deep the deception, we are called to speak truth, we are called to maturity, and most of all, we are called to reflect God.
We were saved by mercy and grace, not by our own doing – we must live like it.
Call Beyond The Screen
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:5-6
Brothers and sisters, I know full well the irony of me writing this message. I’ve had elders bewildered at my responses to the people I witness to because they’ve known my struggles speaking with fellow believers. Yet I only know it as the work of the Holy Spirit. I strive to be the kind of man I am before the unbelievers online as I am before people face to face. I don’t know what I lack, I simply pray God grants it to me. May I be like Paul, authoritative yet restrained.
Marching forward undeterred by shortcomings is what builds kingdoms, tears down the enemy walls, and encourages others to march along. You are marching with me. Let us all continue practicing gracious speech, seasoning our words with salt – and mixing the wine we serve so it’s easier to drink. Satan won’t know what hit him.
Prayer & Updates
Please be in prayer for my wife and I, as we will be needing substantially more funds soon. I am returning to the States late February to early March, selling all of my earthly possessions and then visiting brothers and sisters along with their churches. If you’re considering supporting us and don’t yet, now is an excellent time. If you’d like me to visit your church, let us know. You can contact us at info@rooministries.org. If you’d like to volunteer in any capacity, send us an email. We’d love to talk.