Earlier in December, I watched a video on X that went viral of a UMC minister coming out as transgender. You likely saw it too if you're on the platform.
The man, bedecked in a rainbow stole, stood in front of his congregation and announced he's transitioning, that his parents don't support him, and that they chose their beliefs and convictions over supporting their child. He says all this while a cross stands behind him, which I found to be insulting.
UMC pastor shocks his congregation by announcing during the sermon that he's transgender and will be 'transitioning' to a woman.
— Protestia (@Protestia) December 2, 2025
"My parents texted me this morning and they asked for me to TELL YOU all that they DO NOT support me." pic.twitter.com/HD2s87pPLi
The reason I found it so insulting wasn't just that he effectively announced that he's defying the male and female sexual dynamic that God gave us, but it's that he, a supposed shepherd of the Lord, stood in front of his flock and said that the greatest of all shepherds made a mistake when he was fearfully and lovingly made.
The thing is, if the Christian God can make mistakes, then he is not God. Whatever God this pastor is worshiping isn't the one who died on the cross represented behind him. I think it's also telling that he decided, in the house of God, to dishonor his mother and father, on top of insulting his Heavenly Father by accusing him of creating something the wrong way.
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Bible Verse Is Now 'Blasphemy': Hate Speech's Slippery Slope
I grew up Methodist. I used to go to church with my grandparents every other weekend in a little place in Georgetown, Texas. I can still remember the smell of it when I walked in there, the feel of the plush red carpet between the rows of pews, and the stained glass windows I'd daydream about swinging by as Spider-Man when I got bored.
But the thing was, I felt safe there because it was my grandfather's church. He was involved in it. He and the other men would stand around, talking, laughing, and discussing things in their Sunday best while I half-listened, more interested in the playground just outside. When I watched that UMC pastor announce he was transgender, I couldn't help but think, "What would my grandpa and his friends have done if that happened in our church?"
The answer is obvious. The pastor would've been ejected from the church. My grandfather and his fellow warriors of God wouldn't have tolerated that kind of blasphemy and kicked that guy out, along with his supporters, without apology.
But then another thought occurred to me. My grandfather and his fellow Christians aren't there anymore. The church I grew up in is likely changed. Indeed, the website for the church now reads, "While our belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is essential, we are open to a variety of perspectives beyond this core belief. We do not all think alike or interpret the Bible in identical ways, which is to be celebrated."
What does that even mean?
It was my understanding that if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. Funnily enough, this was a lesson that I learned from men in that church. If the message is "we celebrate diversity of thought based on your interpretation," then what I'm hearing is a lot of "your truth" nonsense. By that argument, you open the door to people suggesting the opposite of what Christ clearly intended.
Yes, there are many different ways to interpret things in the Bible, but not every interpretation is equal, and it's my honest belief that a church should have a foundational belief that it does not stray from. The attitude should be "this is our belief, and if you don't like that, you're still welcome, but we're not backing off from the message to spare your feelings."
While I'd like to say that this is a UMC problem, it's not. Many churches are very careful not to upset people by opposing contemporary ideas. The "all are welcome to attend" mentality has devolved into "all will feel safe."
That's not Christianity. Christ wasn't "safe." In fact, he was the opposite. He embodied the masculine aspect of planting your foot and confronting the danger that came as a result of doing so. He said he came to "bring the sword" and warned his followers that they would be hated because Christ was hated first. Any honest Christian will tell those considering becoming a Christian that once you put yourself on the board, the attacks start both from the Earthly and spiritual realm.
Caving to these contemporary pop-culture sentiments is, effectively, a rejection of Christ. Too many modern churches want to put one foot in Christ's camp and keep the other in the world to make them look cool and approachable, but in reality, this just ends up putting too much emphasis on the world. The message gets polluted and watered down to be careful about offending or upsetting, then it begins adopting beliefs and reaching conclusions that Christ did not want or intend.
If the church is the bride of Christ, then it's acting like a total slut. It's not being loyal to her husband; it's bedding down with His enemies while lying that this is what He intended all along.
There needs to be a masculine revival in the church, and I don't just mean from the men. I mean, there needs to be a masculine energy of willingness to go to war with the current social climate and welcome the fight and consequences that come about as a result. We're supposed to imitate Christ, but I don't recall Christ being a coward and retreating away from offending anyone, or trying to create a welcoming space where the sinful feel safe to sin. We need to protect the church instead of focusing on just growing it.
Revivals happen all the time because the world does people wrong, and they search for answers. The last thing we need to do is become like the world and give those looking for something better no place to go for truth and salvation. We're supposed to be a fortress filled with soldiers wearing the armor of God, but too many churches are acting like permission structures to be the opposite of Christlike.
