Pronoun Change as Christian?
- Thread starter Starlitmess
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B
Blackpowderduelist
Guest
You are correct. This is not going away, and also is not new. It does not take a long indepth search to see that this is old as civilization itself.
I also happened to like your description of what a Christian believes. And a little secret something else your are right about.
(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:9-10 NASB1995
in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.
1 Peter 3:19-20 NASB1995
As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
Zechariah 9:11 NASB1995
Jesus did descend into Hell which is death.
S
Scribe
Guest
Ok so I think I know what you mean. If I was talking to you about a friend of mine but I did not want to give away the gender. I might say "I have a friend who is thinking about getting a vaccine for COVID but they are not sure if it is safe." That would be the way I could use the word they and not give away their gender.
S
Scribe
Guest
The one that bothers me is asking if I am divorced on a form I am filling out. Who's business is that? Are you Married/Single/Divorced.
Now if I am divorced it is very likely that I am single so what is the purpose? I have a habit of answering Single.
For the record, there is a historical evidence for use of they as referring to a singular person. I have no issue with it being used for singular or plural. It has changed a few times over the centuries and that is just how language goes.
My concern is only that her and she are recognised by the majority as terms that, until recent madness, refer to a person who was born female. To shun a basic word that relates to being female isn't sending a great message to those confused about their identity and gender and who feel we can change it at will.
I am pretty sure I can say I am not alone in this fact, but I have plenty of things about my life I am not overly thrilled with, but you know what, that is life. I am sure there are people in far worse situations than I, who genuinely have sufferings and persecutions at far deeper and intense levels that I know nothing about. People fleeing for their lives, being tortured, being used as slaves and abused daily. The list is endless.
My comfort level regarding my health, sex, weight, marital status or place in society, is of little importance, when I consider others that have horrific pain, suffering and life or death situations to deal with, sometimes daily.
I grumble my pillow is too soft or my mattress is too hard, or my Chinese take away was a bit cold when it arrived, while others eat from bins and sleep on the streets in the snow. I am not saying we do not face hardships, or suffering, I do not know anyone who hasn't or doesn't, but I am saying these things we aren't happy about are all temporal and it is the life we are called to for now.
We don't have to like it, but we do have to be thankful for it and accept the will of God.
We have to learn to be content despite many things, because it is all temporal and these light afflictions, as Paul called his severe trials, are nothing to be compared with the glories to come. Contentment doesn't mean we are thrilled about it, but we have come to an amen and accept this is what is best for us at this time, even if it hurts.
I am sure Jesus was not thrilled with being a human being, but He repeatedly called Himself the Son of Man, for the sake of humanity. He said such things as "how long must I suffer you?' He was not always thrilled with living amongst us when we were in doubt and disbelief and sin. But He kept His earthly aligned identity and saw out His purpose.
If you cannot embrace your gender with joy, then rejoice instead that you are suffering for righteousness sake and count it joy, the purpose and calling God has for you that for some reason involves being a she, and a her. Others may not have the same struggle, but may have to find contentment in rejection, abandonment, bullying, unemployment, debt, persecution, disabilities and sickness, in grief and in distress, in poverty and in loneliness, in fear and in failure. Perhaps some of those also are your in life, I don't know.
We don't have to like our lot, but we have to trust God has allowed what is best for us and designed us as we are for a purpose, and that is primarily for his Glory, no matter what we think about it.
We are but clay in the potters hand
So let us not complain
When He spins His wheel and presses in
And at times He causes pain
For when the spinning finally stops
And like all those before us that He came to redeem
No more shall you marred nor broken be,
And your sins will never more be seen.
https://public.oed.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-singular-they/
My concern is only that her and she are recognised by the majority as terms that, until recent madness, refer to a person who was born female. To shun a basic word that relates to being female isn't sending a great message to those confused about their identity and gender and who feel we can change it at will.
I am pretty sure I can say I am not alone in this fact, but I have plenty of things about my life I am not overly thrilled with, but you know what, that is life. I am sure there are people in far worse situations than I, who genuinely have sufferings and persecutions at far deeper and intense levels that I know nothing about. People fleeing for their lives, being tortured, being used as slaves and abused daily. The list is endless.
My comfort level regarding my health, sex, weight, marital status or place in society, is of little importance, when I consider others that have horrific pain, suffering and life or death situations to deal with, sometimes daily.
I grumble my pillow is too soft or my mattress is too hard, or my Chinese take away was a bit cold when it arrived, while others eat from bins and sleep on the streets in the snow. I am not saying we do not face hardships, or suffering, I do not know anyone who hasn't or doesn't, but I am saying these things we aren't happy about are all temporal and it is the life we are called to for now.
We don't have to like it, but we do have to be thankful for it and accept the will of God.
We have to learn to be content despite many things, because it is all temporal and these light afflictions, as Paul called his severe trials, are nothing to be compared with the glories to come. Contentment doesn't mean we are thrilled about it, but we have come to an amen and accept this is what is best for us at this time, even if it hurts.
I am sure Jesus was not thrilled with being a human being, but He repeatedly called Himself the Son of Man, for the sake of humanity. He said such things as "how long must I suffer you?' He was not always thrilled with living amongst us when we were in doubt and disbelief and sin. But He kept His earthly aligned identity and saw out His purpose.
If you cannot embrace your gender with joy, then rejoice instead that you are suffering for righteousness sake and count it joy, the purpose and calling God has for you that for some reason involves being a she, and a her. Others may not have the same struggle, but may have to find contentment in rejection, abandonment, bullying, unemployment, debt, persecution, disabilities and sickness, in grief and in distress, in poverty and in loneliness, in fear and in failure. Perhaps some of those also are your in life, I don't know.
We don't have to like our lot, but we have to trust God has allowed what is best for us and designed us as we are for a purpose, and that is primarily for his Glory, no matter what we think about it.
We are but clay in the potters hand
So let us not complain
When He spins His wheel and presses in
And at times He causes pain
For when the spinning finally stops
And like all those before us that He came to redeem
No more shall you marred nor broken be,
And your sins will never more be seen.
https://public.oed.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-singular-they/
You make a very good point and you’re right. Also, thank you for doing research for your reply, it was very informative. I would like to note that, while you are correct that we should find things to be thankful for within in our struggles and we should remember that there are those who are suffering, that we shouldn’t stop there. If you’re in a bad situation, such as debit, sickness, or an abusive parent and partner, yes, we should always glorify God(remember Job) but God doesn’t want us stuck there. Maybe your problems are seemingly insignificant, but they are yours, and God wants to work and speak to you through those hardships. We aren’t called to stay in our problems, we are called to listen and follow. If God tells you it’s time for this season to end, it is time. In addition to that, we are called to action. If you are called to help someone, help them. (Matthew 25:37-40) We should always be ready to love and help others, even if we don’t want to.
You have said rightly. I tried to edit my post to add a p.s. about not remaining in situations that are bad if they can be avoided. I ran out of time though so left it as it was. I assumed someone would point it out
That wasn't the intended meaning of my post, but I should have clarified and I thank you for bringing it up in case anyone else read it and doubted they should get out if they could, of an abusive etc situation. Bless youNo problem, and thank you for voicing your thoughts, they were very helpful and informative
T
TheIndianGirl
Guest
My general position on this topic is, while I disagree, if someone wishes to be referred to in a different gender I think we should (if we remember) when addressing that person. I have a few coworkers who list pronouns in their email signature blocks. No one has switched gender but the person prefers to be referred to as "they". Usually, we automatically refer to them according to their birth gender, and this has not been an issue. However, if someone makes a big deal, I think we should respect their wishes.
I agree with you. I understand there is a big fuss about that, and honestly, I feel it’s common courtesy. I know some people have differing opinions, and that’s okay
Since you are one individual why would you or anyone else use "they" for an individual? It looks like Cancel Culture is becoming more and more absurd.
If you read the above posts, you’ll see ”they“ is accurate and appropriate for singular use, it has been for a while.
And cancel culture is a slightly different topic
If you want me to think of you as my friend, rather than my female friend, then I can respect that.
Galatians
3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Does this help, or am I still missing it?
Yes!
Those are actually really good verses, thank you.
I’m sorry it’s hard to explain, but essentially, yes, I don’t feel my gender is relatve to who I am as a human, and it bothers me when people put that on me and themselves. Yes, gender is wonderful, but we are equal in Christ. By changing my pronouns, I feel it’s easier for me to display that in a practical way
Whether I call myself a man, woman, or starfish has no bearing on what I actually am. Coercing others into playing into my own self delusion is wrong. It's mind control.
You're not some kind of special snowflake that needs your very own pronoun. Get over yourself.
You're not some kind of special snowflake that needs your very own pronoun. Get over yourself.