I am going to be referring to Bruce Jenner as Caitlyn Jenner, and as a "she" in this article, because that is what she has specifically asked to be referred to as, not because of any personal opinions or beliefs.
Yesterday, Bruce Jenner came out to the world under a new identity- as a woman named Caitlyn Jenner. The news spread like wildfire, and people immediately felt compelled to voice their strong opinions on the issue- either promoting this transformation or attacking it. This is where the first problems began to arise, and where I think some Christians' personal thoughts and beliefs began to cloud what makes up the basis of their faith.
We as Christians are called to love one another. We are called to choose love, as Jesus chose to love us. Bruce Jenner's decision to transform into Caitlyn Jenner, to change the way that she looks and to identify as a woman, does not negate what Christ did for her and for you and me. It does not exempt her from that sacrifice, from that act of selfless love committed 2000 years ago. Jesus' love is for ALL his people- all of his children. Regardless of any decision or choice we will ever make in our lives, He loves us. There is nothing that can separate us from his love, no act that can make Him change his mind or turn His heart from us. Caitlyn Jenner is no exception to this. So why under any circumstances would it be okay for us to think that we, with all our sins and flaws, should not love Caitlyn Jenner?
The fact that people can call Caitlyn such hateful names- a freak, a disgrace, and say so many cruel things about her- even threatening her life- honestly makes me extremely upset and disappointed. I do not know Caitlyn Jenner personally. I do not know what she is going through. I do not know if she has ever had any kind of deep, personal relationship with Christ or not- since she has not spoken much in detail about that matter as far as I have heard (though I do not know her heart). But what I do know is that she is somebody who has felt empty her whole life. She has felt like she had to hide a part of herself from everyone, and live a lie for 65 years. I don't know her struggle- I don't know what that is like, and many of you probably don't either. But I can't imagine going through a life long trial of unhappiness and identity crisis without having the fullness of Christ to lean on for support, to call out to for help. Because I've known Christ, I know that true happiness and joy can only come from Him alone. Caitlyn Jenner was searching for happiness by choosing to become a woman. She said that when she was Bruce, she felt like she had to hide who she was and that she felt she could never be happy. And is that not what all Christians were doing when they found Christ- weren't we all searching for greater joy and happiness? Caitlyn may not know what kind of overwhelming happiness lies within having a relationship with Jesus. So can you blame her for just wanting to be happy by doing what she believes will make her the happiest?
Whether you agree or disagree with her choice does not give you the right to speak badly of her or to shame her. It should not affect you in any way except one: How you decide to pray for her, if you feel so led. Do not condemn her for her choice. You don't need to pray that she would "decide to change back to being a man". If you pray, pray for her heart- that she might be drawn to Christ so that she can find even fuller and richer happiness than what she could've ever dreamed of her whole life! This is the only thing that you should be doing, if you feel compelled to do anything at all. Caitlyn Jenner has said that she is happier now identifying as a woman than she ever was as a man. For this, I am happy for her. I am not sad for this. I am sad for the fact that she may not have experienced the life-long joy of Christ as I have. That she may have spent her whole life both without knowing Him personally AND feeling like she had to live a lie. That she had to go through a long and painful process in order to feel like she could be truly happy. That her family- her daughters and step-daughters, had to go through such a change in lifestyle all while under the overwhelming scrutiny of the entire world. And that those daughters had to watch their father endure criticism and hatred from many different groups of people, including Christians. These are the only things there are to be sad for, and the only things that we should be concerned with regarding this issue.
Gracen Humphrey
North Carolina State University
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