What do you think?
Rate this book
Trans-Formation: A Former Transgender Responds to LGBTQ
Drawing from her academic research and her own eleven-year journey out of transgender desires and same-sex attractions, Dr. Linda Seiler answers questions such
· What does the Bible say about sexual orientation and gender identity?
· Are people born gay or trans?
· Why are teenagers adopting LGBTQ identities at alarming rates?
· What about “celibate gay Christians”?
· Does transformation mean all temptation disappears?
· How do we navigate conversations with LGBTQ-identified loved ones?
· Should a Christian attend a gay wedding?
· What about preferred pronouns?
Whether you are a Christian leader, concerned parent, or conflicted adult, Trans-Formation will equip you with a theological, scientific, and restorative response to LGBTQ.
"Dr. Linda Seiler has masterfully taken the lessons from her testimony and combined them with biblical principles to provide us with Trans-Formation. It is obvious we are witnessing a serious moral revolution . . . culture pivoting away from a biblical view on human sexuality. This book is timely and a much-needed resource for the church, equipping believers to respond to the LGBTQ issues that we face."
Doug Clay,
General Superintendent
of the Assemblies of God, USA
· What does the Bible say about sexual orientation and gender identity?
· Are people born gay or trans?
· Why are teenagers adopting LGBTQ identities at alarming rates?
· What about “celibate gay Christians”?
· Does transformation mean all temptation disappears?
· How do we navigate conversations with LGBTQ-identified loved ones?
· Should a Christian attend a gay wedding?
· What about preferred pronouns?
Whether you are a Christian leader, concerned parent, or conflicted adult, Trans-Formation will equip you with a theological, scientific, and restorative response to LGBTQ.
"Dr. Linda Seiler has masterfully taken the lessons from her testimony and combined them with biblical principles to provide us with Trans-Formation. It is obvious we are witnessing a serious moral revolution . . . culture pivoting away from a biblical view on human sexuality. This book is timely and a much-needed resource for the church, equipping believers to respond to the LGBTQ issues that we face."
Doug Clay,
General Superintendent
of the Assemblies of God, USA
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 25, 2023
106 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 28, 2025
Dr. Seiler does an excellent job of creating a conversation around LGBTQ issues. She weaves the truth of Scripture through the whole of the book, and her compassion and deep love of people is evident in how she approaches the conversation. She methodically examines same-sex attraction and transgender desires from their possible inception points, guiding readers through child development into adolescence and adulthood to a place of hope for wholeness through Jesus. Her personal story is real, raw, and compelling, giving the book more depth and empathy than if it were purely regurgitated facts.
April 7, 2024
This book is not only a great resource for the theology of all things LGBTQ but the chapter on inner healing is amazingly insightful and applicable for any strongholds of sin. It was really helpful hearing Linda’s personal experience with inner healing in addition to her break down of each step of the process. The five response “streams” excellently and concisely explained each different way Christians respond to LGBTQ stuff. Truly a Goodread.
October 7, 2023
I sympathize with the Jewish people of Jesus' day. There were so many hurting and oppressed people who desired more—needed more—but the Jewish faith had been diminished to a set of rules and none of their teachers of the law were leading them into the abundant life with God. Cue Jesus, whose opening line heralded his mission to set the captive free. Indeed, there was more.
Today, Dr. Linda Seiler is picking up the same mission of Jesus, calling us into a faith predicated on the fact that no one is immune from experiencing new life in Christ. We live in a world where many are not preaching the transformation that is available in Jesus, especially for those who experience brokenness in the their sexuality and gender identity. Seiler is stepping into this void, imploring us to neither compromise on God's design for sexuality nor compromise on his power to transform the deepest parts of our brokenness.
With intellect backed by years of research and compassion backed by having been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt, Seiler reminds us that there is more in Christ—more freedom, more joy, more life. Would we all take up the message of transformation to a generation that desperately needs it.
Today, Dr. Linda Seiler is picking up the same mission of Jesus, calling us into a faith predicated on the fact that no one is immune from experiencing new life in Christ. We live in a world where many are not preaching the transformation that is available in Jesus, especially for those who experience brokenness in the their sexuality and gender identity. Seiler is stepping into this void, imploring us to neither compromise on God's design for sexuality nor compromise on his power to transform the deepest parts of our brokenness.
With intellect backed by years of research and compassion backed by having been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt, Seiler reminds us that there is more in Christ—more freedom, more joy, more life. Would we all take up the message of transformation to a generation that desperately needs it.
March 4, 2025
“Those who oppose God have been blinded by the enemy’s deception so they can’t discern the truth. Instead of operating out of reason, they argue out of carnal emotion, unaware of how illogical their beliefs are.”
Great and interesting book.
Great and interesting book.
October 9, 2024
Dr. Seiler, a former transgender, shares about both her doctoral findings and her personal experiences regarding same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria. She speaks about every "hot-button" topic of our current age and she does so with tactfulness and sensitivity while maintaining a conviction for Biblical truth.
Firstly, in light of all the literature and media that exists in bookstores and online, and with the ambiguity it produces about how Christians should respond, I believe that this book is entirely comprehensive. I particularly appreciated the chapter that spoke of the five streams of responses to LGBTQ, helping to clarify the sometimes subtle but important differences. The whole book is an excellent resource for Christian believers who want to possess a holistic understanding to the "why", "what", and "how" of gay and trans identified people
Secondly, as an advocate of the Transformation stream, Seiler contends that there is great hope for the person who have conceded that there is no other alternative to an LGBTQ identity. I recognize that some who follow other streams (affirmation stream, accommodation stream), may find Sailer's presentation as unrealistic or even impossible, yet she speaks from her own personal experience (as well as a source of others who contributed to her research findings).
Perhaps a new consideration--one that hopes for transformation--is a good read for someone who wants to have hope in a new life with Jesus.
Firstly, in light of all the literature and media that exists in bookstores and online, and with the ambiguity it produces about how Christians should respond, I believe that this book is entirely comprehensive. I particularly appreciated the chapter that spoke of the five streams of responses to LGBTQ, helping to clarify the sometimes subtle but important differences. The whole book is an excellent resource for Christian believers who want to possess a holistic understanding to the "why", "what", and "how" of gay and trans identified people
Secondly, as an advocate of the Transformation stream, Seiler contends that there is great hope for the person who have conceded that there is no other alternative to an LGBTQ identity. I recognize that some who follow other streams (affirmation stream, accommodation stream), may find Sailer's presentation as unrealistic or even impossible, yet she speaks from her own personal experience (as well as a source of others who contributed to her research findings).
Perhaps a new consideration--one that hopes for transformation--is a good read for someone who wants to have hope in a new life with Jesus.
March 12, 2025
A FORMER TRANS PERSON TELLS HER STORY, BUT ALSO DISCUSSES MUCH MORE
Author (and now an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God) Linda Seiler wrote in the Introduction to this 2023 book, “This book is a compilation of my journey of transformation, which began nearly three decades ago… I wrote this book for pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders---though I hope it is a blessing to others as well. Many of us have congregations, members, friends, or loved ones who are looking to us for answers on LGBTQ matters... And that’s where the panic sets in: ‘There wasn’t a credentialing class on this!’
“We have to figure this out as we go. What does the Bible say about sexual orientation, gender identity, and ‘sex-reassignment surgery’? How should we respond when someone says they feel like they were born gay or trans?... Why are teenagers adopting LGBTQ identities at alarming rates?...What about ‘celibate gay Christians’?... Should a Christian attend a gay wedding? What about transgender pronouns? This book addresses these questions and more, starting first and foremost with a biblical theology of sexuality that serves as the foundation for the rest of the book.” (Pg. 6-7)
She recounts her background, as “a disappointed little girl who doubted God’s love for her. I have zero childhood memories of being content in a female body… Somehow, I just knew I was born in the wrong body and that I wouldn’t be complete unless I had male anatomy. I was a tomboy.. and was often mistaken for a boy… to me, this was no phase: masculinity was my destiny. Or so I thought… In junior high… I discovered, to my horror, that I was sexually attracted to women. I didn’t choose that… But I felt helpless to change it. My attractions didn’t start with sexual feelings. Initially, I just wanted the attention of older, nurturing women who had a certain quality of maternal strength about them. I wanted them to … hold me in a motherly embrace… When my adolescent hormones kicked in, that desire … became confused with my normal sex drive. I felt like I had been born attracted to women instead of men.” (Pg. 9-11)
She reports, “During my junior year in high school, a friend invited me to an evangelistic outreach, where I heard the gospel for the first time… I surrendered my life to Jesus that night… Much to my disappointment, I woke up the next morning still attracted to women and desiring to be a man---only now I was in a dilemma because no one in church seemed to be talking about LGBTQ. I would have to work even harder to fool everyone and fit in.” (Pg. 14)
She recalls, “I rejected my mom early on, perceiving her as weak and emotional… I imitated Dad, pretending to shave and mow the lawn. I had no idea that rejecting my mother created a vacuum for feminine love that I sought to fill with other women.” (Pg. 21)
But eventually, “As I experienced inner healing prayer and intimate encounters with the Lord, I discovered a newfound contentment to being a woman… I experienced freedom from the urinal fetish and sexual addictions, which were essentially a counterfeit of the comfort I could only find in my heavenly Father’s love… The transformation I’ve experienced doesn’t erase my history or my vulnerabilities… Healing from sexual brokenness is rarely instantaneous---it’s more like peeling back the layers of an onion, one at a time. But… we can experience the transformation that Jesus died to give us.” (Pg. 24-25)
She states, “First, Scripture reveals that God’s design for sexual intimacy involves unity in diversity and forbids any sexual act that falls short… Scripture forbids the homosexual act because two humans of the same sex image unity in sameness, not unity in diversity. This is the fundamental reason WHY the Bible forbids homosexuality… Scripture reveals that God’s design for sexual intimacy involves procreative capacity and forbids any sexual act that does not.” (Pg. 38-39)
She observes, “When boys and girls don’t fit into cultural gender stereotypes, they may feel as if something is deficient about their sexuality. Sensitive boys are often teased as ‘sissies’ and struggle to feel masculine. Strong girls are sometimes considered ‘butch’ and struggle to feel feminine. It’s important to affirm the God-given personality types … in children without forcing them into cultural gender stereotypes… Interestingly, the Bible … never offers a definition of masculinity or femininity.” (Pg. 52)
She asserts, “There isn’t a single positive reference to homosexuality in all of Scripture. Every time it’s mentioned, it’s explicitly condemned. The same cannot be said of sex between a man and a woman.” (Pg. 69)
Turning to the Greek NT words, she argues, “While Paul did coin the Greek word ‘arsenokoites’… we should look more closely… to discern its intended meaning. ‘Arsenokites’ is a compound word consisting of two Greek words: (1) ‘arsen,’ meaning ‘male’ or ‘man’ and (2) ‘koite’… referring to a ‘bed’ or ‘couch’ in a sexual context… Clearly, Paul intended arsenokoites to refer to the sin of the homosexual act, not just any sexual act involving a man and a bed.” (Pg. 74-75)
She states, “Despite decades of research investigating the potential influence of genetics, brain structure, and prenatal hormones, scientists have yet to identify a definitive biological origin for same-sex attractions and transgender feelings.” (Pg. 91)
She recounts, “I subconsciously believed the lie that I was rejected because I wasn’t a boy… we asked the Lord what He had to say about it… the Father spoke into my spirit, ‘[Your parents] may have wanted a son, but… You have full permission to be the woman I created you to be.’ That was on September 26, 2005, and I have not had a compelling desire to be a man since that day! That doesn’t mean the enemy didn’t try to tempt me after that---he did---but the ‘hook’ was gone. As I continued to affirm the truth in prayer, the lie lost its hold over me… My lifelong transgender desires were resolved when I repented for my own sinful response to perceived rejection and heard directly from God who he created me to be.” (Pg. 177)
She argues, “Identifying as a ‘gay Christian’ conflicts with Scripture and introduces unnecessary confusion. Identifying ourselves by our temptations conflicts with Scripture. We are no longer slaves to sin, much less identified by it… The ‘gay Christian’ identity creates an ‘us vs. them’ dichotomy among believers, which perpetuates a victim mindset.” (Pg. 202-203)
She observes, “pro-gay advocates work diligently to perpetuate the lie that transformation ministries fail more than they succeed. They often quote Alan Chambers, the former president of Exodus International, who said, ’99.9% of them—have not experienced a change in their orientation.’ … The greatest liability of the transformation approach is that pro-gay advocates mischaracterize if as ‘conversion therapy,’ eliciting images of shock therapy, aversion techniques, and other forms of conversion… some Christians are skeptical of transformation due to negative experiences with flaky deliverance ministries…” (Pg. 218-219)
The author is less ‘judgmental’ here than many other such books are. This book may appeal to 'non-affirming' Christians wanting to know more about these types of issues.
Author (and now an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God) Linda Seiler wrote in the Introduction to this 2023 book, “This book is a compilation of my journey of transformation, which began nearly three decades ago… I wrote this book for pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders---though I hope it is a blessing to others as well. Many of us have congregations, members, friends, or loved ones who are looking to us for answers on LGBTQ matters... And that’s where the panic sets in: ‘There wasn’t a credentialing class on this!’
“We have to figure this out as we go. What does the Bible say about sexual orientation, gender identity, and ‘sex-reassignment surgery’? How should we respond when someone says they feel like they were born gay or trans?... Why are teenagers adopting LGBTQ identities at alarming rates?...What about ‘celibate gay Christians’?... Should a Christian attend a gay wedding? What about transgender pronouns? This book addresses these questions and more, starting first and foremost with a biblical theology of sexuality that serves as the foundation for the rest of the book.” (Pg. 6-7)
She recounts her background, as “a disappointed little girl who doubted God’s love for her. I have zero childhood memories of being content in a female body… Somehow, I just knew I was born in the wrong body and that I wouldn’t be complete unless I had male anatomy. I was a tomboy.. and was often mistaken for a boy… to me, this was no phase: masculinity was my destiny. Or so I thought… In junior high… I discovered, to my horror, that I was sexually attracted to women. I didn’t choose that… But I felt helpless to change it. My attractions didn’t start with sexual feelings. Initially, I just wanted the attention of older, nurturing women who had a certain quality of maternal strength about them. I wanted them to … hold me in a motherly embrace… When my adolescent hormones kicked in, that desire … became confused with my normal sex drive. I felt like I had been born attracted to women instead of men.” (Pg. 9-11)
She reports, “During my junior year in high school, a friend invited me to an evangelistic outreach, where I heard the gospel for the first time… I surrendered my life to Jesus that night… Much to my disappointment, I woke up the next morning still attracted to women and desiring to be a man---only now I was in a dilemma because no one in church seemed to be talking about LGBTQ. I would have to work even harder to fool everyone and fit in.” (Pg. 14)
She recalls, “I rejected my mom early on, perceiving her as weak and emotional… I imitated Dad, pretending to shave and mow the lawn. I had no idea that rejecting my mother created a vacuum for feminine love that I sought to fill with other women.” (Pg. 21)
But eventually, “As I experienced inner healing prayer and intimate encounters with the Lord, I discovered a newfound contentment to being a woman… I experienced freedom from the urinal fetish and sexual addictions, which were essentially a counterfeit of the comfort I could only find in my heavenly Father’s love… The transformation I’ve experienced doesn’t erase my history or my vulnerabilities… Healing from sexual brokenness is rarely instantaneous---it’s more like peeling back the layers of an onion, one at a time. But… we can experience the transformation that Jesus died to give us.” (Pg. 24-25)
She states, “First, Scripture reveals that God’s design for sexual intimacy involves unity in diversity and forbids any sexual act that falls short… Scripture forbids the homosexual act because two humans of the same sex image unity in sameness, not unity in diversity. This is the fundamental reason WHY the Bible forbids homosexuality… Scripture reveals that God’s design for sexual intimacy involves procreative capacity and forbids any sexual act that does not.” (Pg. 38-39)
She observes, “When boys and girls don’t fit into cultural gender stereotypes, they may feel as if something is deficient about their sexuality. Sensitive boys are often teased as ‘sissies’ and struggle to feel masculine. Strong girls are sometimes considered ‘butch’ and struggle to feel feminine. It’s important to affirm the God-given personality types … in children without forcing them into cultural gender stereotypes… Interestingly, the Bible … never offers a definition of masculinity or femininity.” (Pg. 52)
She asserts, “There isn’t a single positive reference to homosexuality in all of Scripture. Every time it’s mentioned, it’s explicitly condemned. The same cannot be said of sex between a man and a woman.” (Pg. 69)
Turning to the Greek NT words, she argues, “While Paul did coin the Greek word ‘arsenokoites’… we should look more closely… to discern its intended meaning. ‘Arsenokites’ is a compound word consisting of two Greek words: (1) ‘arsen,’ meaning ‘male’ or ‘man’ and (2) ‘koite’… referring to a ‘bed’ or ‘couch’ in a sexual context… Clearly, Paul intended arsenokoites to refer to the sin of the homosexual act, not just any sexual act involving a man and a bed.” (Pg. 74-75)
She states, “Despite decades of research investigating the potential influence of genetics, brain structure, and prenatal hormones, scientists have yet to identify a definitive biological origin for same-sex attractions and transgender feelings.” (Pg. 91)
She recounts, “I subconsciously believed the lie that I was rejected because I wasn’t a boy… we asked the Lord what He had to say about it… the Father spoke into my spirit, ‘[Your parents] may have wanted a son, but… You have full permission to be the woman I created you to be.’ That was on September 26, 2005, and I have not had a compelling desire to be a man since that day! That doesn’t mean the enemy didn’t try to tempt me after that---he did---but the ‘hook’ was gone. As I continued to affirm the truth in prayer, the lie lost its hold over me… My lifelong transgender desires were resolved when I repented for my own sinful response to perceived rejection and heard directly from God who he created me to be.” (Pg. 177)
She argues, “Identifying as a ‘gay Christian’ conflicts with Scripture and introduces unnecessary confusion. Identifying ourselves by our temptations conflicts with Scripture. We are no longer slaves to sin, much less identified by it… The ‘gay Christian’ identity creates an ‘us vs. them’ dichotomy among believers, which perpetuates a victim mindset.” (Pg. 202-203)
She observes, “pro-gay advocates work diligently to perpetuate the lie that transformation ministries fail more than they succeed. They often quote Alan Chambers, the former president of Exodus International, who said, ’99.9% of them—have not experienced a change in their orientation.’ … The greatest liability of the transformation approach is that pro-gay advocates mischaracterize if as ‘conversion therapy,’ eliciting images of shock therapy, aversion techniques, and other forms of conversion… some Christians are skeptical of transformation due to negative experiences with flaky deliverance ministries…” (Pg. 218-219)
The author is less ‘judgmental’ here than many other such books are. This book may appeal to 'non-affirming' Christians wanting to know more about these types of issues.
September 15, 2023
Dr. Seiler’s story, research, and practical theology compel me to reconsider local church ministry to broken, confused men and women with the fullness of grace and truth. Her own story humanizes and contextualizes a struggle felt by so many people that at once disarmed me and encouraged me to lean and pay attention. Her research and conclusions are impeccable and they contribute significant wisdom to Spirit-filled ministry for our generation. I could not help but appreciate the potential that the informed, engaged Spirit-filled congregation has to “heal In relationship those who were hurt in relationships.”
August 11, 2024
Great book on a very important topic that all Christians need to be know about. I don’t hold to some of the same doctrine as she does but her theology is solid and she has a heavy reliance on the study of scripture. The foundation of her ideas is spot on scripturally and the points she drives home are so good.
I would recommend this book to everyone. Again, I don’t agree with all the doctrine but this is one of the best books on this issue that I’ve read. It addresses this rampant cultural issue from a biblical standpoint and the author has some amazing thoughts and observations about the LGBTQ community. That community is full of people that God wants to call to Himself and as Christian we need to learn how to engage with this community to bring them the gospel.
I would recommend this book to everyone. Again, I don’t agree with all the doctrine but this is one of the best books on this issue that I’ve read. It addresses this rampant cultural issue from a biblical standpoint and the author has some amazing thoughts and observations about the LGBTQ community. That community is full of people that God wants to call to Himself and as Christian we need to learn how to engage with this community to bring them the gospel.
August 2, 2024
I would recommend this book to every Bible-believing Christian. As it grows increasingly difficult to resist the pressure to compromise to our culture, and as we seek to genuinely love the people in our life who are LGBTQ-identified, this book is a great resource to keep on hand. Includes biblical interpretations of scripture as well as addressing misinterpretations, provides a foundation for truth in love, and guidance on how to patiently walk through the journey of transformation and sanctification.
January 18, 2025
Very good book to help parents, friends, relatives to understand the trans movement and how it affects other aspects of society. Helps parents and others to know how to love and speak to a youth who is wrestling with this issue. It’s an easy read and explores the authors own experiences with this topic.
August 2, 2024
Very good book for any Christian who wants to be informed on the LGBTQ community. Very great insights and a lot of helpful information on explaining the why, but also how we can navigate it in our lives to love others.
August 28, 2025
Very Insightful
Covers so much material. Written by a professional who came very close to transitioning herself. I recommend this book to anybody with a mind open to Christianity AND to what is going on in our world today.
Covers so much material. Written by a professional who came very close to transitioning herself. I recommend this book to anybody with a mind open to Christianity AND to what is going on in our world today.
November 11, 2024
Very, very good. Probably the best resource I have read on this topic.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews