 |
|
| Volume 23 Number 4 April 2021 |
Page 9 |
|
|
| Volume 23 Number 4 April 2021 |
Page 9 |
Gender Confusion and the Bible
Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor
Cultural winds are gusting wildly in our current day. Certainly, transgender is a hot button issue today. Transgender is defined as “denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex.” From Hollywood to Washington and in every place between, we see this cultural pandemic exploding. Sadly, children from a very young age are exposed daily to transgender people, many of whom are these young people’s mentors, teachers and parents. As such, some young people are confused as to their own gender and are often left to decide their gender based on personal preference. As we begin, please understand that this author is neither hateful nor bigoted toward those who are not certain what gender they will choose. As a Christian, though, I am both sympathetic and scriptural minded. Christians must stand up, and they must lovingly, patiently and scripturally teach the truth about gender and the Bible.
First, let us notice the deception about gender. Some say that birth is responsible for gender confusion. “They are just born that way” many will tout. In fact, the clinical term for gender confusion is “dysphoria” meaning an unease or dissatisfaction with one’s birth gender. Gender dysphoria is the feeling that one’s emotional and psychological identity do not match a person’s biological sex determined by birth. Psychologists have noted two different types of gender dysphoria: “Early onset” and “Rapid onset.” Early onset can be seen in children as young as 2, while rapid onset is usually seen a bit later in a child’s development, especially in the early teen years.
Quite interestingly, studies have shown that early onset of gender dysphoria is observed in young children who have had great trauma early on. For example, “24-year-old Sabrina was adopted at age 2 from China. Her birth parents had abandoned her on the street soon after her birth. As a young child, she told her adoptive parents that she was a boy. She wanted to cut her hair short and wear boys’ clothes.” Was Sabrina “born” confused, or did her birth parents add undo trauma to her life that resulted in her gender dysphoria? Studies abound that show trauma at a young age negatively affects a child!
Rapid onset of gender dysphoria, which occurs more in adolescents, has been shown to be “peer contagious.” For example, social media, social pressures, social celebration of transgenders and social clubs that promote gender confusion all contribute factors to this dysphoria (1 Corinthians 15:33). Ironically, many young people who have had some sexual traumas are at greater risk for gender dysphoria.
Secondly, let us notice the details about gender. For as long as there has been sin, there has been a desire to place the blame on others (Genesis 3:12). God did not create people confused about their gender! In fact, the Bible is replete with how God designed His crown creation. “So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female, created he them” (Genesis 1:27; cf., Genesis 2:20-24; 5:2). God was not confused, and neither were Adam or Eve confused about their genders. In the context of dealing with leprosy, God commanded that “You shall send away both male and female” (Numbers 5:1-4). Simply for emphasis’s sake, allow me to list a few more passages that deal with males and females: Genesis 3:14-19; 2 Samuel 13:1-19; Proverbs 5:3-14; Matthew 5:28; Romans 1:26-27; Leviticus 20:10-12; Deuteronomy 15:12-15; Numbers 6:1-4; Lamentations 2:21; Acts 5:1-11; Joel 2:28-29; 1 Corinthians 14:33-35. Dear Readers, men are good at confusing issues, especially when they have an agenda for sin. Nevertheless, God gave the details clearly; He made man and woman, and God expects us to honor what He created, as well as what He has decreed.
Lastly, let us notice our duty regarding gender. This is where some sadly go astray. Some, though desiring to honor God’s Word and His plan, are hateful and unsympathetic toward those who experience a gender crisis. Others, in the name of tolerance and acceptance will embrace gender confusion and overlook it, and in many cases, laud its practice. Neither are acceptable to God! First, we must instruct. Christians cannot remain silent about such controversial issues. God depends on His people to teach the truth! How will the world hear the truth if we are silent (Romans 10:13)?
Secondly, we must influence. Parents can influence this world in a positive way by raising our boys to be boys and our girls to be girls! Teach your children and your grandchildren the differences in gender. Do not be guilty of allowing your children to be confused as to what gender God has created them to be. “Frogs and snails” are quite different than “sugar and spice”!
Thirdly, we must invest. There are a host of young people in our communities and possibly even in our congregations into whom we must invest our time and our energy. I plead with godly, more mature men to stand up and invest in another less mature young man, especially one who may be struggling with his gender. I plead with godly, mature women to stand up and love some less mature young lady enough to show her the beautiful way in which women ought to conduct themselves. Dear Friends, Satan has invested a great deal in changing the gender roles in America. Dare we think we can invest less and have better results?
The battle has already been waged in the arena of gender. We have no choice but to fight! While I sympathize, Scripture must guide my actions. Spiritually, our goal must never be to build a wall to keep people out, but that God’s Word may go forth to teach and guide each of us, so that we may have the abundant life both here and in eternity (John 10:10).
[Editor’s Note: Though women may be physically able to do nearly everything men can do, only the male can father a child, and only the female can give birth to a baby. Those are the indisputable facts, which correspond to the natural order of men and women – as Almighty God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. So-called transgender confusion does not alter the reality of either creation or procreation. One’s gender or sex is apparent when he or she is born. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
