Gender confusion is a major problem in the United States.  It is one of the major issues of our day, especially among the younger generations.  As Christians, we need to be able to address this issue because it is an issue.  That is, Christians must be prepared to give a Biblical response to any aspect of culture which contradicts with a Biblical worldview – regardless of clear an issue we might think it is (I Peter. 3:15).

First, we must respond by affirming and teaching important Biblical truths.  As we’ve previously seen the past few months, we need to start with the basic Biblical foundation that God created mankind as male and female (Gen. 1:26-17).  We also have seen that God has made male and females different in roles, appearance, outward demeaner, and different in what godliness looks in each one.  In other words, we must begin by defining and modeling Biblical manhood and womanhood since these truths form the foundation of our beliefs when it comes to the issue of transgenderism.  Next, we need to be clear that the Bible teaches that transgenderism is sin: “A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 22:5).  A common objection to this passage is it is actually addressing cross dressers who know they are wearing clothing of the opposite sex, whereas, transgender people are not actually crossdressing since they are dressing in accordance to their “actual” gender identity.  This line of reasoning sounds dangerously close to a popular – and unbiblical – popular sitcom cultural reference: “it’s not a lie if you believe it.”   This objection betrays a heart deceived by sin (Jer. 17:9).  It also undermines virtually any Biblical standard since any standard and be redefined according to sinful man’s “genuine” belief.

Second, we must lovingly point transgender people to the gospel.  Sadly, many transgender people regret their decision to “transition” to the opposite sex; according to the Heritage Foundation, a 30-year study in Sweden (a culture which is supportive of the transgender community) shows the suicide rate of those who transition is fifteen to twenty times that of their peers.  The study concludes this is “because sex change is physically impossible, it frequently does not provide the long-term…  happiness that people seek.”  In other words, many transgender people are hurting inside.  Rather than seeing them as enemies, we ought to have compassion on them by sharing the solution to their problem.  That solution is the gospel since true contentment, joy, and peace are only found in Christ (2 Cor. 12:9-10; Phil. 4:11-13; Gal. 5:22).  Giving a defense means not only making it clear that transgenderism is sin, but pointing to the gospel as the only true hope for gender dysphoria.

Finally, given our Biblical position on transgender and gender identity, we must not compromise on this issue when it comes to church doctrine or policy.  There are times when believers can work with the government and their laws (Daniel 1:8-16).  For example, we ought to obey laws when they don’t violate our theological beliefs.  However, we shouldn’t endorse transgenderism by giving them special rights or staying silent about their sin problem because transgenderism is antithetical to Biblical truth.