“A mixed bag”
Two things stood out for me while reading this book. First, Dr. Walker’s compassion and generosity of spirit, demonstrating his sincere desire to know and do the will of God, shines through this book. Second, Dr. Walker doesn’t know what transgenderism is. From his definition early in the book to examples throughout (e.g., the story about the man who claimed he was a “6’5” tall Chinese woman”), the writer proves that he doesn’t understand the condition that transgender people suffer nor the experiences they live through. The danger of this is that it can be a “blind guide” (Matt. 15:14) leading to confusion, division, and pastoral and missional failure. Christians would do better to access Lead Them Home ministries; or read “Understanding Gender Dysphoria,” by Mark Yarhouse, which provides a much better understanding of what it means to be transgender. Better yet, reach out and befriend actual transgender people, especially transgender Christians. Get to know them and understand them first-hand, rather than depending on teachers who, no matter how well-meaning, don’t understand the issue they’re teaching about.
Thank you very much for your feedback on Dr. Walker’s book. I am glad that you were heartened by both his compassion and his desire to be faithful to what the Bible teaches. I’m slightly surprised that you feel he doesn’t know what transgenderism is - there is a whole chapter defining the various terms that are common and/or helpful to use, and your feedback doesn’t reference that chapter at all. Dr. Walker mentions the story about the man claiming he’s a tall Chinese woman to make a very different point - not to argue that making that claim is completely identical to experiencing gender dysphoria (which, as he explains, is not the same as identifying as transgender). I would also like to assure you that Dr. Walker did a great deal of research and spoke to (and, more importantly, listened to) many people who have experience of this area, and who have views of it that are different to his, before he wrote his book.
Thanks,
Carl Laferton (editor)
