The media doesn’t usually emphasize (or ever even state) the negative findings when it comes to the research of transgender people. The reality is, the findings are striking. Sure, the short-term effects of say, people who follow through with sex-reassignment surgery, are good, but what about the long-term effects? With us again this week is pastor and researcher Paul Dirks to talk about some of these facts. We also talk about how we, as Christians, can better engage with those who share differing beliefs with us.

 

Who is Our Guest?

Paul Dirks is the Lead Pastor of New West Community Church. He lives in the neighbourhood of Sapperton with his wife Rachel, and his five children. He came to know Christ at a young age through the godly influence of his parents and thinks that such a conversion is as exciting as any. Paul has a big smile and loud laugh. He enjoys basketball, history and music. Paul loves preaching and teaching and enjoys books by John Piper, CS Lewis and GK Chesterton.

Episode Links

Make sure to check out Paul’s YouTube channel in which he goes in depth on different transgender studies. Also, take a look at WomanMeansSomething.com. Again, tons of information.

 

 

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Isaac:

With me again today is Pastor Paul Dirks. If you weren’t here last week, you wouldn’t know that Paul is a husband, a father, and a local church pastor in New Westminster, which is close to Vancouver in B.C., Canada. He’s also the founder of Woman Means Something. Anyways, thanks again for being here today, Paul.

Paul:

Yeah, great to be back with you again, Isaac.

Isaac:

You know, it was made evident by the end of our last conversation that we really hadn’t really, you know, gotten into some of the facts of what you studied regarding transgenderism, which we said we would get into. So … you know, and we also didn’t touch on other few questions that I had hoped to ask you. So that’s what this conversation is all about.

Now, if you’re listening and you didn’t hear last week’s conversation, definitely go check it out. It’s almost a must if you want to understand kind of fully the full picture of where Paul is coming from personally. He kind of shares a bit of his story and what he’s been up to, but also what we are addressing in today’s conversation.

But anyways, before we jump into that, very briefly, for those who don’t know you, Paul, can you just take a minute or so to explain who you are?

Paul:

Yeah, sure, Isaac. Yeah, I’m a husband and a father as you mentioned, but most importantly, I’m a saint in Christ Jesus who has redeemed me. That’s my ultimate identity. And … but also, somebody who has done a lot of research and reading on sexual issues, gender issues, and so, yeah. Some of your listeners will know that I went to the Senate to present on Bill C-16. But I also do a lot of training on these issues, trying to bring some clarity, not only from a Christian standpoint, but also trying to clarify for people what the literature, you know, the peer-reviewed, secular literature says about some of these topics, because of some of the bias and obfuscation that goes on in the media with not carefully representing what’s in the literature.

Isaac:

Yeah, definitely. No,