I’ve found in my own culture behaviors and attitudes that go against the grain of benevolence, compassion and love towards others. The American left and right wing communities, both think they’re doing things for the greater good ironically, but at the end of the day, they are both inflicting more damage than help to the people in question.
In one of the areas where this is most visible is with the transgender community.
On the left, there has been a genuine effort to display empathy and support for those questioning their gender identity. However, in some cases, this approach leads people down paths that can result in irreversible decisions they later regret. For some, surgical transitioning becomes a response to what has been temporary phases in their lives or in other instances, undiagnosed hormonal imbalances contributing to gender dysphoria.
Unfortunately, the voices of those who de-transition out of regret remain underrepresented, overshadowed by broader narratives that encourage and normalize transitioning without deeper, individualized assessments. I implore those filled with compassion and empathy to listen to the stories of those who have faced deep regret over life-altering decisions made in moments of fleeting impulse. These voices, filled with sorrow and reflection, serve as powerful reminders of the weight of choices and the value of patience and foresight.
This often results in a one-size-fits-all approach, where the complexities behind a person’s desire to change genders are left unexplored. Instead, a generalized affirmation that they are completely healthy and normal is given, often by mental health professionals under social pressure, that views any experience of gender dysphoria as an inherent and unchangeable aspect of identity. This can overlook the possibility that some people may indeed find peace outside of transitioning.
The reluctance to consider alternative perspectives may, in the end, be less compassionate than intended. True empathy lies not in affirming every trans person’s belief but in carefully guiding people toward a deep understanding of themselves.
Had the American left been willing to meet conservatives halfway by supporting a reasonable measure to restrict minors from having a sex change operation, allowing only those of legal age to make such decisions, it could have had a significant positive impact for them in the 2024 election.
However, their refusal to acknowledge their health concerns ultimately worked against them, leading to unintended consequences, given how important this issue was for many Americans. This was a hard lesson learned, which should have resulted in listening to the concerns of others and at least compromise and meet them half way.
On the right, there is often a recognition that those grappling with gender dysphoria are not healthy, but unfortunately the response is frequently marked by aggressive anger, hostility, scorn and rejection, which offers no real help. The rhetoric used by these individuals always feels like a small sample of the unfiltered hatred demonstrated during the American civil rights era.
As a result, zealots on both sides of the issue fail to address the root causes or to provide meaningful solutions for those experiencing these crises.
It is deeply troubling, particularly among those who identify as Christians, to see such antagonism toward people facing profound challenges related to their health, identity, and mental well-being. Too often, judgment and hostility replace compassion, a response that is in stark opposition to the example set by Jesus. Were He among us today, He would undoubtedly extend His hand to these very individuals, just as offered genuine help and compassion to the marginalized and stigmatized during his life. Jesus’ life reminds us that true healing and support come from empathy and help not anger or hatred.
There is no doubt that pursuing spiritual awakening could help cure and alleviate this problem for many, as this is mostly a problem of identity and ego run amok. Our egos have a persistent desire to be seen as unique, different and separate from others instead of one and united with all humanity. One of the ways it does this is via isolating ourselves from others in unorthodox ways. An addiction to individuality and distinction from others is purely born from our egos.
Modern Christians would do well to pause, reflect, and consider the impact of the hostility they sometimes direct toward others. The leader of their faith, after all, called them to love—to approach others with compassion, not condemnation. Instead, countless words of rejection have been directed at those in the transgender community. If Jesus’ instructions were actually being followed they would extend love and help, not punishment or judgement.
There are many transgender persons who through spiritual practices or addressing the underlying causes of their struggles—be they hormonal or psychiatric—have found paths to healing, even returning to a cisgender life.
“Condemning” someone as a future resident of hell and subjecting them to relentless criticism is in direct contradiction to Jesus’ teachings on judgment. Again, Jesus called us not to judge others but to love, bless, and assist them however we can. Yet, in some mainstream Christian circles, it has become common to harbor intense animosity toward those deemed out of alignment with God’s will. The irony lies in this: while condemning others for straying from biblical principles, they themselves violate the fundamental commandment against judging others. Jesus consistently approached others with compassion, aiming to help rather than condemn or criticize. Following His example calls us to embody kindness and understanding rather than harsh judgment.
This is a profound opportunity for self proclaimed spiritual persons to embody the central teaching of their faith: to “love others as you love yourself”. Instead of using hurtful words, they can embrace this calling, offering support and kindness over judgment.
Your goal should never be to view a member of the LGBTQ+ community as less of a person, to judge them, or to see them as inferior for choosing a life different from one you might choose for yourself. Instead, extend them your blessings and love, treating them with the same care and respect you would offer any loved one. They have chosen the path that feels true to them, and neither hatred nor chastisement will bring about change or embody love. True compassion lies in accepting people for who they are and allowing them the freedom to live the life they choose.
The appropriate response to members of the LGBT+ community is not to hate or attack them for living a life you may not personally agree with or choose for yourself. Such reactions risk steering you toward becoming a person consumed by hate. Instead, extend compassion, leave them in peace, and offer them your prayers with a heart full of understanding and love. For those who call themselves Christians, this would truly be emulating the life of Jesus.
That said, a social compromise on this issue that is fair is the enactment of laws to ensure that minors are protected from undergoing drastic medical procedures with potentially lifelong consequences. Such measures would provide a balance between respecting individual choices and safeguarding the well-being of those too young to fully understand the permanence of such decisions. There are no disadvantages to ensuring that critical life decisions are reserved for adulthood, when maturity and experience provide the necessary foundation for informed and thoughtful choices—rather than leaving such decisions in the hands of impressionable and immature children. This would also serve to temper much of the contentious debate surrounding this deeply divisive issue, fostering a more measured and thoughtful discourse across the nation. Meeting others half way is an incredibly important step towards a united and reconciled culture.
On another note, I have always found it ironic that such intense vitriol is directed toward the LGBTQ+ community for “violating biblical scripture”, while equal outrage is not aimed at those who fail to forgive, refuse to turn the other cheek, or neglect the poor—acts that are also clear deviations from their faith’s teachings. It is perplexing that only certain transgressions provoke such disproportionate anger and condemnation.
What is especially remarkable is that ANY hatred is directed at members of the LGBTQ+ community at all, when Jesus explicitly commanded his followers to love others. For anyone uncertain, let there be no doubt: what we witness in such instances is not a righteous upholding of doctrine, but outright hatred toward these individuals. This animosity runs counter to the very essence of the teachings they claim to uphold.
Below is a perfect example of the normalization of hatred in modern Christianity, seen at a Christian church. This flies in the face of everything Jesus taught. The moment you judge others as inferior or for “sins” despite most definitely being guilty of some yourself is. Any worldview that shifts superiority of one group over another is the moment you abandon Jesus’ teachings. Never forget that Jesus sided with the cheating wife, not the group lambasting and judging her. This “christian church” is taking the position of the latter.
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