Gender Identity v. Identity in Christ
- Annette Watson
- Aug 31
- 3 min read
Simply put, the Bible clearly teaches that God purposefully created two sexes: male and female. God made Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden. Moses wrote, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it” (Genesis 1:26-28). God defined new family units as male and female who marry, in Genesis 2:24, which says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” This first marriage happened in the sight of God, as the Scripture records that God brought Eve to Adam (Genesis 2:21-23).
Even so, because of sin, “The curse brought a distortion of previous roles,” according to Grudem’s Systematic Theology. Heterosexuality is God’s plan for marriage, family, and procreation of life. Because of current attacks on marriage and family, the Danvers Statement, first published in 1988, was codified by The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. As the sovereign Creator, God has given us Scripture to show us how to govern our lives. Peter wrote, “His divine power hath given to us all things that pertain unto love and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Therefore, the Scripture provides the believer with principles on all matters—even matters concerning one’s gender identity and sexual preference.
Rena Lindevaldsen, in the article posted below, provides facts concerning individuals who have been told they have gender identity disorder. She traces the history of medical name changes and medical treatment towards individuals who feel like their biological sex does not relate to how they feel. One particular statistic that Lindevaldsen picks up concerns the WPATH Standards of Care which found, “Only six to twenty-three percent of pre-pubertal children who were referred for treatment for gender identity disorder persisted with their beliefs into their adulthood” (p. 306).
Indeed, medical treatments for children can cause harm, as Lindevaldsen documents. Thus, if or whenever the government mandates that doctors must give medical treatment (rather than psychological treatment) for those facing gender dysphoria, that doctor is conflicted with his Hippocratic oath to do no harm. Also, a basic human right to medical care is not found in the pages of the U.S. Constitution. In fact, if the government forces its people to affirm gender dysphoria, this can cause conflicts with one’s free exercise of religion and one’s free speech (amend. I). Depending on the situation, other rights such as privacy rights and parental rights may conflict with the government's order to affirm those with gender identity disorder (amend. XIV). Lindevaldsen and Stanley Goldfarb both agree that the data does not show that suicide is staved off through gender transition.
On freedom of speech, Christians who believe the truths of the Scripture cannot ignore their responsibility to tell the truth about gender dysphoria in love (Ephesians 4:15). Using the God given right to free speech, individuals have the ability to tell the truth about what the Bible says concerning God’s creation of two genders. Parents correct children because of love not hate (Proverbs 13:24). Citizens correct their neighbor out of love not hate (Leviticus 19:17). Proverbs says, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:5-6). When one confronts their friend, he does so through a method that does not degrade his friend and through an attitude of humility knowing one day he, too, might need gentle correction (Matthew 18:15). When the time comes for one to engage in the general topic of cultural morals, the Christian cannot ignore those moral questions in the culture. His duty is to expose truth and to keep the righteous from going astray (Ephesians 5:11; Proverbs 28:10). For Christians, the truth is we are who God says we are: A new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Rather than finding solace in one’s sexual identity. The Christian finds his identity in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. When one comes to Christ, he confesses the truth of his sinfulness and his need for the Savior to forgive him. At the moment the individual trust is God, he is promised immediate and lasting forgiveness from God, who said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.” Now, as a Christian, he has a new identity as an adopted child of God (John 1:12). “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
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