Debbi Richards
So many of my sisters wrestle with the peculiar dichotomy of being a Christian and being a crossdresser...and I can only offer my perspective of the journey I've taken thus far. As a longtime Methodist, I believe in the power of God's grace. He wants to have a relationship with me and is constantly seeking the opportunity for that relationship. And I know that He loves me just the way I am, too. After all, He made me and I am His creation..."warts and all"...but that's a part being human.
So many people cite Deuteronomy 22:5 as the ultimate scriptural condemnation of crossdressing...but I have a different interpretation. Taken in context, the writer is discussing the practice by which persons who were not allowed to enter the temple were known to do so under false pretenses. As a condemnation of crossdressing in the 21st century, this is rather weak to my mind, especially when taken with the complete text. In so many cases, man has taken something out of context to suit a particular point of view.
But I digress...
To me, I am a child of God first. A human being, second. And as a human being, I know that I'm not perfect. I have certain failings...and we all have those. But what sets it apart is that I am confirmed in my faith that through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I am all right in God's eyes, too. And that whatever sins I commit, I am forgiven through God's unfailing grace and my faith in Christ.
It took me a long time to square my spiritual life with the fact that I am a crossdresser and always will be. It didn't happen over night, either. As I was struggling with the thought of telling my wife, Charlotte, about this side of my personality, I was also wrestling with the spiritual side. During that time, I asked God why He had made me the way I was...and I never got a direct answer to my prayers. Then one Sunday morning sitting in the church I have attended regularly for the past 40 years, a peace descended over me...one that I have never known before. And that peace offered me the hope that my years of denial would soon end and that I would at last be able to share my secret with my wife and I could devote a certain portion of my time helping others come to terms with their transgendered nature.
Is organized religion ready to have us worship with them en femme? Some are...but most are not. Sometimes our fellow Christians have worked to make things hard that shouldn't be that way...religion and spirituality being two of them. God's love for us is unconditional...through faith and acceptance of His Son Jesus Christ we are forgiven of our sins...whatever those sins my be, even wearing a dress, if indeed, it is a sin in the eyes of God. What we as Christians and crossdressers must do is quit beating ourselves up over the issue of crossdressing. It takes valuable energy...energy that could be put to use trying to convince people that we are worthy of worshiping beside them. Besides, if you follow the statistics, you aren't the only one in your congregation.
Coming to terms with crossdressing and living a faith-based life is a very personal thing. Don't expect it to come over night...but if you surrender yourself to the Lord, you'll ultimately find the peace that comes from being grounded in faith, hope and love. And you'll also experience the peace that comes from being one with God.
Jesus loves me, this I know...for the Bible tells me so.
Peace be with you.
Debbi Richards
debbirichards@pop.mindspring.com
Visit her web site at: Debbie Richards
