This is a great comment, because it addresses a real life situation. Many of us know people who identify as transgender. Many of us have children or family members who identify this way, and it's extremely difficult to know how to show love to them in the Christian sense while always speaking biblical truth. Some will accept that about us as we accept that they believe as they do. But others won't. Ultimately, I think we will all give an account for how we handled every person we came into contact with, and if afterward, our witness stood firm and unequivocal. Also, it's a good reminder to us to pray for those encountering these very real issues in the real world. Thanks for your testimony.

@@SolaGratia. if your religion makes it difficult for you to show love to your own family, I believe you should start questioning it. My grandmother is one of the most genuine and devout Christians I've ever come across. Despite my strong disagreement with a lot of elements of her Christian beliefs, my love and respect for her isnt something I have ever been unsure about. When your love is genuine, you'll know how to show it no matter how different you are from them.

@@itwasaliens Well I do love my family, so my religion has never prevented that. Maybe you should reconsider your own hatred of religion. Good people come from all belief systems. If you cannot love the religious ones, that's an issue in your own heart. We all have sin, we all do wrong, and this is why biblical Christianity is so important to me. It makes my sin no better than anyone else's, and Christ's love and sacrifice was given equally and for all. 🙏🏻

That’s great. Thanks for watching!

@@SeanMcDowell I agree with Josh above! I myself transitioned, actually (about 10y ago). The compromises and options offered in the video are similar to what I presented to my move conservatively Christian friends and family. Like with my mom, for example, I said “I understand this is a big change, and I’m okay with you _not_ using he/him. However, it distresses me to hear she/her at this point; and now that I outwardly look male, that also adds confusion when we’re out to eat, meeting new people, etc.” I think she might’ve eventually started using he/him, but I’m really not sure lol. She got so good at structuring sentences (like to others around us; my family uses a lot of pronouns, idk why) such that a pronoun wasn’t even needed, and that was enough for me! She didn’t violate her own convictions, I wasn’t confronted constantly with aspects of myself I’d moved on from, and I was actually very touched by the effort I noticed she put in to meet me halfway. I also made sure to proactively tell everyone that it was OKAY if they didn’t agree with my decision, and that I didn’t automatically perceive them giving me respect and continuing our relationship according to my new identity as them agreeing with the changes. I just tried to free them from the burden of feeling like I was expecting them to support the decision itself, and free them from any guilt over feeling like a bad friend for their own private thoughts and convictions. I’m from a southern baptist missionary family, went to a Christian high school, and was heavily involved in a Christian group throughout college, and have not lost a single friend or family member. So, I’d say this mutual understanding approach is a success! :)

If I married my mother, would you be respectful to me and her and call us "husband and wife?" That would be a lie, and you know it.

Thanks for weighing in here, Stephen. You may be right, and I hear you about grieving when you hear Christians use pronouns. Appreciate your thoughts.

you should respect your nephews pronouns, he will be ok with you making mistakes, everyone does, it will work out eventually. i don’t want to tell you how to live but you need to respect his pronouns

@@stara111 No, she's a girl.

@@stara111 No, that's not how reality works. Stop living in fantasy land and grow up.

@@stara111 Facts don't care about your feelings.

@@stara111 No, that's not how reality works. She's a girl despite any creepy weirdo LARPing otherwise.

I would just walk away on you because you are judgmental and confused.

@@chriss780 No i am not because I know what gender I am.

I dont get the sense that Sean is suggesting the transgender should change. It is more an amicable oporortunity for the transgender to explain their story and why they want others to use their preferred pronoun. It also gives the Christian a chance to explain their convictions, why they can't comply with this request. Hopefully, the transgender and the Christian can come to a compromise that requires some give and take on both sides. But, if that is not possible, then at least both sides were heard, with each understanding the concerns of the other.

So your "friend" can listen to you but you can't listen to them? Odd friendship.

@@tastywallet7992 You are 100% correct here. No where did Sean say that the transgender must change to suit our position. Instead, as you say, Sean encourages us to come to an understanding through the love and grace of Christ Jesus. Admittedly, unfortunately, that understanding may result in the end of the relationship.

I understand. There’s a range of different scenarios, from adults to kids, and they each require some wisdom in our response.

@@SeanMcDowell I understand but we need consistency. Should we really respect those who don't respect God? Mr. McDowell, we have a great deal wrong with this country and pandering to sin and not calling it what it is, is not love. It is the worse thing we could do.

@@deniseadkins2901 I'm personally undecided on this issue. But I think your first question has a very important answer: Should we really respect those who don't respect God? I think the answer to that is clear: yes. 1 Peter 2:17: "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. " I wasn't sure what that word "honor" meant exactly when I first studied this verse and was trying to figure it out. Because we're supposed to show a special form of honor to our parents, but now God is saying he wants us to honor all people. So I wanted to know if there were two different words for "honor" in Greek. I looked it up. The verb is τιμαω and the definition in the most reputable Greek-English lexicon (BDAG 3rd edition) is "show high regard for" someone. It is astonishing! Isn't it? Show high regard for --- everyone! Wow! Show special love to other believers ("love the brotherhood") but-- try and show "high regard" for not just the brotherhood, but for everyone! Wow! It's the same exact word used for honoring our parents ( Eph 6:2: τίμα τὸν πατέρα ("honor your father...")). It's also used at the end of that 1 Peter 2:17 verse again: "honor the emperor." The incredible thing here is that at that time, the emperor was Nero! Evidence seems to indicate that this is the same emperor that was in charge (Dr. McDowell can correct me since he wrote a book on it) when Paul and also Peter were executed. Peter, the man writing this, says to honor Nero-- the very emperor that would have Peter executed. What a transformation for the disciple that, 30 years earlier, grabbed his sword to swing at the people that were trying to arrest Jesus. He has matured in his faith. His life is near its end. And he tells us, "Show high regard for all people. Warmly love your fellow believers. Fear God. And show high regard for your country's leader." Wow! So, yes it appears that it is on God's heart for us to try and find ways to demonstrate high regard for unbelievers. Not to agree with them on issues where we disagree, but to seek to find culturally appropriate ways of demonstrating that we have a high regard for them as precious people, made in God's image. That image may be marred by their sin, but it is still there, and they are precious and highly valued by God. Using their preferred gender pronoun is not the only way we can try and demonstrate our high regard for them. Listening to their stories with interest (James 1:19- "be quick to listen") and with love, refusing to attack their person when disagreeing with their views, refusing to use name-calling. Defending them against others who disrespect them as people. These are some other ways. You are absolutely right though, we don't have to pretend we think certain actions are ok if God says they are sin. Peter never advised that! But if we separate the person from their actions, we can show respect to the person, while disagreeing with their actions. It really is possible. And anytime God gives us a command, he will give us the power and assistance to carry it out. That's something wonderful to rest in! Thanks for stirring my thoughts with your comments Denise! And for your desire to live with integrity towards those who are stuck in sin. May God bless you so much and continue to guide you!

@@solomon.powell I do agree that we are all made in the image of God but, we are not called to confirm sin but to deny it and repent from it. We have a whole country who have forgotten they are creations. That doesn't mean I confirm their sin or confusion or whatever. This doesn't mean that I will be mean or rude but I won't socialize with them like a Brother or Sister in Christ. They are in open rebellion and I won't join them.

@@stara111 To pretend to be something that you're not is open rebellion to God. There are 2 genders male and female and we were all born as one of them. Sex changes are telling God that He didn't know what He was doing because "It's not how I feel." Open rebellion and people will be judged for it.

i think God calls us to focus more on our identity in Him, rather than trying to find identity in other things. love you :)

It's a fallacy. There is no opposite to they, and cis means you like the opposite gender. Besides, God made man and women. God intended for two genders. No more no less.

@@stara111 I can think of a million responses to what you just said but 99% of it would be hateful, toxic political rhetoric. And I've been trying to stop that. So I'll do my best to keep out of it, and hopefully you can tolerate me for a little while. Just know that I don't mean to ridicule you, nor do I want to "win." Matthew 28:18-20 refers to God as The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Now I think I know what you might say, to save some time. "I mean God's pronouns, not gender." Thing is, pronouns are a fairly new concept. I don't think there's a single verse in the Bible, or any other ancient literary work, that talks about not having a gender, changing gender, or the concept that you can identify as something different than your gender and still be your gender. I understand it's older than 2017 or even 2010. However, search up cisgender on Google. Then turn back the search results to 2000. The definition does not even come up. However, definitions like for example "family" come up. I'll try not to stray from the theological aspect but my point is all this pronouns stuff is fairly new. It's more of a cultural thing, like for example memes. "a m o g u s" is a meme and we find it funny for what ever reason but to literally any other society even when given context to the game it doesn't make sense at all and they would not find it funny. So all that pronoun jazz is a cultural concept, you can debate on that but the rest of my response I will just assume that is true. So God is referred to as the "Father" and the "Son", as previously mentioned. Therefore, He. And also, therefore the "cis girl" we're mentioning is not cis if she uses "she/they", as She and They are different genders and cannot be used with each other. Another thing I just thought of, all the great legends of the Bible (Daniel, Moses etc.) as well as everyone else refer to God as He. Now this is of great importance. How we should refer to God? Of course it's important. If God wanted to identify as "they/them", wouldn't God say "I am They" or something? Thousands of years go by and the entire time people refer to God incorrectly? Of course He would correct them. But He doesn't. So in conclusion- pronouns are simply a cultural construct and therefore is not something to be theologically argued about. God is He, as He is referred to in the Bible. And Timothee cannot be cis-gendered if she identifies as she/they. "the person didn’t even say they are Christian" yeah but she came on a Christian video to ask her question, so it's safe to assume she's asking for Christian advice. So... yeah! I hope I didn't come across as angry. I mean no harm, and I get that you don't want to offend anybody. But... I'd rather anger man than God. Have a good Friday.

@@ememman1460"in christ there is neither male nor female, rich nor poor, slave or free" 'For so: some are incapable of marriage from birth, some have been converted into it by men and some have made themselves as such for the sake of the kingdom of heaven." matthew 19.12 in reference to eunuchs who were regarded as outside of the gender binary at the time but you guys are so arrogant you already are sure your amerikkanized interpretation of christianity is correct, so you don't read the bible accept to reaffirm your preexisting bigotries

@@ememman1460 "pronouns are simply a cultural consturct" yes you're so close! thats the entire point. sex isn't gender! pink being a "girly" color has nothing to do with xx chromosmoses, its a cultural institution, as is marriage, virginity etc so are names! so is money! gender is a cultural construct! (sex is the biological part) gender is what sex MEANS to us culturally

be as cruel as possible, other people and bully them! Just spread hatred and disgust. -the Bible according to you

"frosting cowboy hat on the cake as an acknowledgment of their persons identity as a cowboy, Even if they are not a ‘real’ cowboy. " that is a big category mistake. I leave it to you to consider that.

"Being a woman means doing culturally feminine things" and that's where it all went wrong, when people thought feminine=woman and masculine=man. That's not what it is. I'm a masculine woman, I have masculine hobbies and a masculine job. I don't were feminine clothing and I don't wear make-up. According to today's definition I'm not truly a woman. Guess what, that's not what gender is. I'm a woman because I was born a girl. Nothing in my behavior or my appereance can make me even a tiny little bit less of a woman. My body does define only one thing, my gender: I'm a woman. Everything else is a choice, and my body isn't going to stop me from doing the things I want to do. I can be a woman and be masculine and all that at the same time. Biology=gender. Femininity on the other hand is not neccesarily gender based.

@@meeron-ny4qs So that’s a good point, and that’s why I tried to incorporate the idea that what you identify as is all that matters. If you identify as a cowboy, then you can do stereotypical cowboy things like walk bow-legged, talk with a southern draw, and wear cowboy hats, but in the end all you have to do to be a cowboy, is identify as a cowboy. It may be helpful to think about “womanly things” as things you can do, but all you have to do to be included in the identify of a woman, is to identify as a woman. It’s really just saying “people identify as a woman”, gender identity not not trying to say anything except that people identify with woman.

@@joethi4981 I don’t think I see the category error, can you explain what you mean? It may be helpful if I clarify that gender is simply and identify, like being a cowboy, being a weeb, being a nerd, being a car buff. If that’s all gender is a personality, and sex is biological, then it’s not a category error to say people can identify as a woman. I think it would be a category error to say people can identify as a biological girl.

​@@is44ct37 but that's where you're mistaken. you reduce womanhood and manhood to stereotypes, you even said that yourself. do some stereotypical cowboy/man/woman things, and that's what makes you a cowboy/man/woman. that's such backwards logic, it reduces womanhood and manhood to superficial stereotypes, my gender is nothing more than dresses, make-up, and outward behavior. as a non-feminine woman, someone who despises make-up and behaving feminine, I find this a whole lot insulting. running around in cowboy boots and yelling yeehaaw doesn't make you a cowboy. wearing a police uniform and handing out speed-tickets doesn't make you a policeman. walking around in a white coat with messed up hair while mixing mysterious liquids doesn't make you a scientist. wearing a spacesuit doesn't make you an astronaut. wearing a dress doesn't make you a woman. choosing not to wear a dress does not take away your womanhood, nor does it make you a man. all these terms have set definitions. biology matters. the truth is the truth, and the truth doesn't care about your feelings.

"They, them" are for multiples of people's. Singular is "her, her, his, hers".

​@@brando3342 Unknown gender singular is "it" unless you don't know. i.e. "She had a baby and it is a boy."

@@lordblarg You mean "It" IF you don't know and very rarely do you not know or for a short time. Furthermore many don't use it even in that case but "him or her" instead.

@@brando3342 You're right, I did mean "if." Yeah, many don't use it, but it is right.

Lord Blarg That's fair, though doesn't really change anything in the discussion.

@The Jittery Pilgrim sure, not that conservative american "christians" care about the bible if its nor reaffrming their prexisting bigotries, but sure matthew 19, 12 'For so: some are incapable of marriage from birth, some have been converted into it by men and some have made themselves as such for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. " in reference to eunuchs who existed outside the gender binary at the time. also "in christ there is neither male nor female, rich nor poor, slave nor free"