(Jennifer Leclaire) It’s a first. New Chapel Unitarian and Free Christian church is offering transgender baptisms in the name of Jesus. The church agreed to baptize transgenders, essentially initiating them into the Christian faith with their public demonstration that they have died with Christ and have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life, at its general meeting.
It seems soulish compassion rather than spiritual discernment led to the change. According to the BBC, the church’s worship leader felt sorry for a family with a transgender child who was “being shunned by mainstream churches.” I would feel sorry for the family also, but for perhaps different reasons. Although I believe churches should welcome transgenders as they are, expose them to the Word and the Spirit and pray for them, it’s not helpful to affirm anyone’s sinful lifestyle no matter their gender identity—and water baptism does just that. FULL REPORT
