CLAIM:
I feel trapped in a body of the wrong sex. If I were made this way, shouldn’t I be accepted for that reality?
REBUTTAL:
Navigating gender issues involves three disciplines: biology, psychology, and sociology.
“Biology” refers not only to the physical traits typically associated with being male or female but also to the chemical processes occurring within the body. In the context of gender issues, biology must take into consideration differences between the typical and atypical ways the body naturally secretes hormones, as well as any deviations from the standard chromosomal structure.
“Psychology” in this context refers to the narrow consideration of how biological differences from the norm influence mood and behavior.
“Sociology,” finally, examines changing cultural norms and how that affects a person’s identification as a male, female, or another self-identified gender.
Terms
“Sex” and “gender” were often used interchangeably until the mid-20th century. Students of languages will recognize that “gender” is a grammatical term used to classify nouns as masculine, feminine, or neuter.
In 1955, psychologist John Money wrote a widely circulated paper proposing the term “gender” to refer to a person’s self-perception of their sexuality. From that point forward, “sex” refers to the biological description, and “gender” refers to the self-perceived or psychological/sociological identification of a person.
Biblical Testimony
Because the distinction between “sex” and “gender” is relatively recent, the Bible does not make such a distinction, referring instead to two sexes: male and female (Genesis 1:27). Noteworthy is how “male” and “female” were intrinsic identifications to perpetuate the species (Genesis 1:28; 6:19; 7:16; 8:17; 9:7).
Humans were explicitly created to honor and glorify God (Psalm 100:2-3; Isaiah 43:7; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Revelation 4:11). They do this by obeying the commands God has given (Ecclesiastes 12:13; John 14:21; 1 John 5:3).
God’s earliest instruction is to procreate. To ensure procreation, humans continue to be born with the necessary biology to procreate. It is not surprising, therefore, that God speaks emphatically against same-sex sexual activity (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27). The fact that such same-sex attraction is there in the first place is something I will address in a moment.
The Bible does speak of eunuchs, men who have been castrated (2 Kings 9:32; Esther 1:10; Acts 8:27). Castration was a practice employed by foreign armies on prisoners, and also by nobility on male house servants to maintain the purity of their bloodlines. It was not a practice condoned for God’s people (Deuteronomy 23:1).
Jesus makes an interesting reference to eunuchs when he wrote:
For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” (Matthew 19:12) [NIV]
At its simplest, “eunuchs who were born that way” sounds like some birth defect. Today, it would be referred to as a “biological intersex condition.” More on this in a moment.
Biology & Psychology
So far in my research, I have identified 26 biological anomalies that appear to be exceptions to the binary nature of sexuality. By this, I mean that the biology differs from typical sex chromosomal and hormonal patterns.
The severity of some of these anomalies is noticeable at birth, while others aren’t diagnosed until problems develop with puberty. Collectively, all these anomalies account for a little more than 1% of all annual births.
Using my narrow definition of psychology, a disruption in hormonal expression can directly impact a person’s cognitive functioning. Imbalances in estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, and thyroid (T3/T4) can present themselves as memory decline, cognitive impairment, or fatigue. It would not be surprising, therefore, that the 1% of anomalous births referenced above might result in individuals experiencing some confusion about their sexuality (sometimes referred to as gender dysphoria).
That might also explain why same-sex attraction, which is condemned in Scripture, was a problem in the first place. There are many other explanations as well, but for now, I want to throw that out there as a consideration.
Sociology
Now we get to the cultural shifts that have embraced us so zealously in recent decades. Superficially, we are inclined to explain our inversion of traditional morality by shifting to a more autonomous construct. Clichés like “my body, my choice,” “to each his own,” and so forth, reflect this shift, but I suggest a more insidious explanation.
Ever since the fall into sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7), the rebelliousness of those created to honor and glorify God has been evident. God described humans as having perpetually inclined evil hearts from birth and conception (Genesis 8:21; Psalm 51:5), resulting in a natural hostility toward God (Romans 8:7).
When the Apostle Paul talked about it, to use psychological terms, he sounded bipolar:
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? (Romans 7:15–24)
Paul was a believer. The miraculous work of the Holy Spirit turned him from being an enemy of Jesus and His followers to His leading advocate (1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 1:13-16). Yet, even believers are tormented by the desire to challenge God in a world that is naturally hostile to God.
The natural hostility of the world might explain why we work so hard to rationalize why people do bad things. Sometimes we look to the dynamic duo of “nature” or “nurture” for the explanation. Perhaps the 26 anomalies explain the many kinds of gender dysphoria (“nature”). Maybe it was an abusive family member or bad friends who had too much influence (“nurture”). Maybe it is neither. Given enough time and research, perhaps we might think we have found explanations for all that has gone wrong in the world. I propose that it doesn’t matter.
The fall into sin infected the world. The ground produces thistles (Genesis 3:18), plants stop producing (Luke 13:6-9), accidents disable people (2 Samuel 4:4), and murder becomes a possibility (Genesis 4:8). There are many explanations as to why these things happen. Still, even with accurate and correct explanations, it does not make any of these things “good” or “right.”
Because our world is naturally opposed to God, it not only wants to explain away wrong things, but we are told that it wants to call good as evil, and evil as good (Isaiah 5:20).
The problem with challenging our sex as male or female is that it fails to honor and glorify God. While some may argue that embracing their self-perception is a way of honoring God, it is to call evil as good, and good as evil literally. The only way churches embrace and endorse a non-binary perspective on sexuality is to reject select portions of God’s word. Same sex relationships and gender transitioning might be an embrace of “natural desires,” but it fails to consider the biblical truth that our natural desires run contrary to honoring and glorifying God.
Understanding
However important it may seem that those with gender dysphoria need to understand the forces at work driving them from God, I want to focus on the need for us to understand.
Even the great Apostle Paul found himself captive to feelings and inclinations that he seemed almost helpless to overcome. As Christians, who have the truth of God’s word, we must remind ourselves that corrections come through “great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2) and a spirit of “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
Paul felt so helpless in the face of the forces at work within him that he cried out, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24). As we approach this subject, we need to acknowledge our own vulnerabilities (Matthew 7:3-5). Self-righteousness has no place as we seek to help people honor and glorify God. Understanding that our sins would separate us from God if not for the sacrifice of Jesus (Romans 7:25) compels us to be Christ-like as we journey with others through their struggles.
There may be a scientific explanation for some of the gender confusion we observe around us. Understanding the forces at work never makes wrong to be right, but it could help us in our quest to honor and glorify God.
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