Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:1-8
Part 1
Turning Order into Chaos
(Why Gender Matters)
Intro.
1. God created gender identity and distinction, complimenting and completing male with female (man and woman), (Gen. 2:18). There is a new and growing vocabulary:
a. Transgender: “of, relating to, or being a person (as a transsexual or transvestite) who identifies with or expresses a gender identity that differs from the one which corresponds to the person's sex at birth" (Merriam-Webster).
b. Gender identity: “It was not until 1955 that John Money, Ph.D. first used the term “gender” to discuss sexual roles, adding in 1966 the term “gender identity” while conducting his gender research at Johns Hopkins. In 1974, Dr. N.W. Fisk provided our now familiar diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria. Previously, one’s sexual role was considered one of two discrete, non-overlapping congenital attributes — male or female…” (What is Gender and Who is Transgendered?, Carl W. Bushong, PhD, LMFT, www.transgendercare.com)
"Dysphoria could be defined as a sudden and transient state of mind, such as feelings of sadness, sorrow and anguish. It is a psychological condition accompanied by depression, melancholy and pessimism.
"Dysphoria is generally characterized as an unpleasant or uncomfortable emotion such as sadness (depressed mood), anxiety, irritability or restlessness." (www.dysphoria.info)
c. Gender reassignment: What was once called “sex-change” operation.
d. Intersex: Ambiguous sex/gender identity at birth (hermaphrodite, anomalous genitalia, ambiguous features, etc.). [We are discussing choices, not congenital conditions that occur in 1 out of 4500 births.]
2. Deep psychological problems are present. But that does not remove moral accountability.
3. The transgender subculture is becoming mainstream, fueled and supported by medical and psychological communities, government and media (wisdom of men, Col. 2:8).
"It's a topic that has rapidly permeated the culture through entertainment, business, education and law.
"It was just a year ago when Facebook® added more than 50 new "gender options" to their website for people who don't identify as male or female. Last June, the social media giant added more than 70 gender options for European Facebook users." (Transgenderism, Focus on the Family email, 27Feb15).
a. cf. Bruce Jenner ("Call Me Caitlyn"). Other celebrities of TV, movies, music, etc. (Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt -- At two-years-old: "I'm John". (newnownext.com)
b. Jenner tweeted:" I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can't wait for you to get to know her/me." (businessinsider.com)
4. America has been conditioned to be sympathetic towards TG people (by media, medicine, gov't, etc.):
a. Jenner is being described as, "Very courageous". President Obama: "It takes courage to share your story," the president Tweeted, sharing Caitlyn's first Tweet from earlier in the day. Obama then followed up with a Tweet asking people to share their own stories in the fight for LGBT rights." (http://goo.gl/mkow8h)
b. Human rights issue: June has been declared LGBT Pride Month by the White House.
c. I have been accused of being insensitive hater and bigot because of what I believe and teach:
"I’m a transgendered Christian who happened upon your site while searching for transgender and the bible. I consider the sermon you have posted - Bible Question Box: What about being Transgender? (June 2005) to be uninformed hate speech and your best course of action is to remove the sermon on the grounds that it has no basis in scripture and is merely your own biased eisegesis. Do not respond to this email." (Anonymous, 11/4/11)
d. Strange that those who don’t want to be judged for being transgender will judge you for the opposite view (Matt. 7:1-2; Jno. 7:24).
5. God knows and judges our hearts: Like Jesus, we desire their repentance and salvation (Lk. 19:10; Rom. 10:1).
To be continued: Part 2 and Part 3.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: June 4, 2015