It seemed a strange request. Can you come through to Glasgow to record a documentary with us on gender? There was nothing more specific…who would I be recording it with? Is it about male/female or transgender? What was the format? The answers were,to say the least, vague. I was told that we would be there for four hours, that my ‘opposite’ would not be named until I met them…and that the whole programme would only last 4 minutes.
So it was with a great deal of trepidation that I found myself on the overcrowded train to Glasgow early this morning. Could I trust this production company to take hours of recording and distill it into four minutes without distorting the message? Why was I not being told my opponent? I assumed that it would be transgender and did I really want to put my head in that particular noose again? Why are you doing this, you fool?”, was my thought as we neared Glasgow….and then my McCheyne reading was Galatians 2 –
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved med and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20).
The Lions Den is fine…if Christ is with you.
The production company was situated in an old factory. I was impressed with the people I met and found the atmosphere and ethos to be warm and welcoming. I was a little amused to read the disclaimer I signed which went into some detail about their diversity policy – the office was largely white, young women! But I guess thats not what they were meaning by diversity. I loved the Hilary Clinton calendar.What followed was fascinating…I have no idea how the programme will turn out – that will be entirely up to the editor but I was left with the following emotions:
Disgusted….at the way that some ‘religious; people had abused and treated Victor. There is no excuse for that. Mocking, abusive, contempt is contemptible and should never be used by any one who follows Christ. What intrigued me was that according to Victor he had until today never met a religious person who really believed. Thats why I was….
Depressed...at the messed up. confused and hellish mess that our culture is in. Queer theory is wrecking people’s lives. Victor became famous because she identified as non-binary. Now he rejects the non-binary label and says he is male (whilst at the same time refusing to allow the possibility of change! ) I won’t say more about what was said other that it was clear that both Victor and I both regarded gender as fixed. Victor thought it was fixed in the mind and that the biology should be changed to fit with what the mind feels. I think that gender (although not all expressions of gender) is biological and it is the mind, not the body, that needs changed! To Victor that is impossible. For the Christian we know that everyone needs changed – to be reborn, have a new heart and a renewed mind. That is a miracle but it does happen – through the rebirth and regeneration worked by the Holy Spirit in the Gospel. And so I was…
Delighted...to be able to speak of a greater identity than gender. When you set the story in the midst of a bigger picture – The Big Story what a difference that makes. I very much enjoyed meeting Victor and I hope we will meet again to continue the conversation. Victor is a human being, made in the image of God. I encouraged him to look beyond gender for his happiness and fulfillment. I pray for him…
I have no idea how the programme will turn out…but I do know that this was a worthwhile interaction and will I hope be beneficial to Victor and to all those involved and all who watch. We will see if the Trans Thought Police even let it happen!
SDG….
The Re-imaging of Humanity – 3 – The Transgender Revolution
When Harry Became Sally – the ‘must read’ book of the decade!
Did this person present evidence as to their claims about Christians? Or did they simply make allegations?
I believed them. Given that his was social media abuse and that it is something I have experienced – I have no reason to doubt them.
Hi David,
As I am sure you realise this was an attempted “set up”. “Hate-filled trans phobic Christian bigot versus vulnerable teenage trans man”. I have no doubt that you handled it with empathy, wisdom and love. But if I was a betting man (I am not) I bet that you will be almost totally edited out of the final program other than some random comment which will be portrayed in a negative way.
Please may I be proved wrong. And I will go on praying (and campaigning) for the vulnerable Victors who are being dreadfully harmed by this vile Queer theory.
Well done, David. Thank you for stepping by faith into the “lion’s den”.
I’ll pray you and Victor become fast friends and that God speaks truth through you.
Very well done brother. By the Grace of God a very encouraging, informative and instructive article. Keep up the good work and to God alone be all the Glory.
Whatever the result of the editing, the people there will have heard the Gospel message, that they may never have heard before. What was striking was that Victor had never met a “religious person” who believed!
It would be ideal, or perhaps set as precondition, that you be furnished with an unedited copy of the whole recording. You could ask, if you haven’t already. Perhaps the production, company is an independent contractor, that sells the end product to the BBC, and may, therefore, not be keen to let you have a copy. But if it’s the BBC, in the interests of even-handedness, impartiality may be persuaded.
God knows our hearts and our tragic natural condition. We all need to keep turning back to Him – whatever our situation in life. Thanks for this thought provoking blog David.
Great read, and so glad that it went well for both of you. Fascinated by Victor’s video too. He comes across as confident and I like his sense of humour. Interestingly my first ever piece of published writing was based on Galatians 2:20 as a devotional for Lent.