Where once revealing the gender of your baby was accompanied by a party and celebration, those parties are now labeled as transphobic and hateful. One of the first questions you might ask a pregnant woman is “do you know the gender of your baby?” and now a question like that is deemed offensive. The world in which we live is confused and fallen. We live in a world where all of mankind is lost and ruined by the fall. We live in a world where men and women have “exchanged the truth about God for a lie (Rom 1:25).” People with their hearts so hardened and minds so darkened that for some it has become difficult to answer one of the most rudimentary questions: am I a boy or a girl?
The CDC refers to the word “transgender” as “an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity or expression (masculine, feminine, other) is different from their sex (male, female) at birth.” I don’t want to take the time in this post to explore the absurdity of transgenderism. I affirm that distortion of gender is a sin and that the sinfulness of transgenderism, a continuum of genders, gender-neutrality, or genderfluidity are against God’s design. However, what I do want to explore is the positive side of the discussion and how God designed gender as a good gift.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He also created mankind. Within mankind, God created two, and only two, genders. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” These gender distinctions, which God had made, are not constructs of society nor are they simply labels we can choose according to how we feel. God created male and female, and gender is the sovereignly ordained difference between male and female. Any sort of attack on gender or its distinctions is ultimately an attack upon God.
Notice, later in Genesis, we read, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good (Gen 1:31).” God called everything he created very good. God’s creation includes his gender distinctions. Gender and the difference between males and females are a good gift God gave to us. God created males and females for the good of humanity and human flourishing. We see that men and women have different roles in the home, church, and society. When we blur the lines of gender, we also blur the lines of God’s created structure for us as humanity.
Many view gender as limiting and restrictive. Yet, it is when we do not live within God’s designed gender for us, we become slaves to sin and live in bondage. Gender is not restrictive. Gender causes flourishing. Little boys are meant to grow up and be men. Little girls are meant to grow up and be women. Then as men and women, they live in the divinely appointed roles that God has given men and women. The church will flourish as men lead the church. The church will equip its women as older women teach younger women to love their husbands and children. The home will flourish as men lead their families as they love their wives as Christ loved the church. As we teach our children to live out in fullness God’s design. Society will flourish through common grace as men and women are fruitful and multiply (which biologically takes a man and woman to do!). It will be good for society as the public witness of the church stands firm upon the good gift of gender.
An unbiblical understanding of gender boils down to an authority issue. We do not get the option of defining reality. God defines reality. God designed the world we live in. Gender is God’s design, and because it is God’s design it is final and absolute. Anyone who seeks to mar that design is in sin and not submitting to God who is in all authority.
If you believe you were born the wrong gender, or believe gender roles and distinctions are archaic, my question to you this: “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” God has made you what you are. He has made you either male or female. If you are male, embrace your masculinity. If you are female, embrace your femineity. Embrace the very roles God has given you and flourish. God has sovereignly made you male or female. Who are you to question what God has done? Instead of fighting it, try praising and thanking God for his gracious design.
For anyone who is struggling with gender, you might believe there is freedom in gender reassignment. Please do not believe the lie. Satan and his false teachers will promise you freedom, “but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. (2 Pet 2:19).” Attempting gender reassignment will not produce freedom but only more spiritual slavery and bondage.
Gender reassignment is not the answer. Jesus is your answer. You can pump yourself with all the hormones you would like, you can wear different clothes, and alter your physical appearance, but none of those will address your eternal problem. You hate God, and you hate His creation, and He stands in judgment over you. Escaping God’s appointed gender for you will never help you escape the wrath that is to come. Yet, there is a way of escape, and it is found in Christ. However, if you are to continue God will give you over to yourself in judgment. You, my friend, do not need a gender transformation you need a heart transformation. You can experience a new heart that now loves God when you receive the risen Christ. Christ has the transformative power to give you a new heart. Trust in him today.
Gender distinctions are good. Primarily because God has designed male and female. The church must be faithful to God’s divinely designed gender distinctions. God created male and female, it is very good, and it is for our good.