Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon - Does Gender Identity Matter?

Episode Date: December 2, 2018

Alan explains gender identity and what the Bible says about it. Download the mp3...

Facebook occasionally prompts me to update my profile, and among the categories I can revise is my gender. Now, besides the obvious male and female options, there's also this custom option. And from there, I can choose from one of 56 additional genders. That's right, I can basically identify with one of 58 total genders. I can basically identify with one of 58 total genders. Now, some of these options include things like transsexual or genderqueer or non-binary or pangender or androgynous or gender questioning or even two-spirit. Now, the fact that I'm incredulous about this development, which by the way, I know is not a new development. I know Facebook's had this for a while. But the fact that I'm incredulous about it has already earned me the label as intolerant, right? I've read that I'm old-fashioned. I've read that I'm a traditionalist.

I think the worst I've heard is that I'm a backwards-thinking religious zealot, okay? So my question here then is, well, what is gender? Is it malleable? How should Christians think about the subject? Well, I believe scripture makes two key points regarding this question. And the first is this. Scripture teaches that God made human beings in only two sexes, male and female. This is taught in Genesis 1.27 and Genesis 2.23-24. In fact, the creation account is predicated on the duality, meaning only two, and the complementarity, meaning different but functioning together, of the two sexes. So that's the first thing scripture teaches. And here's the second. I believe scripture teaches that our gender identity, which is really a psychological belief about what gender

we are, that our gender identity should follow our biological sex. And since there's only two sexes, there are only two options, right? If we're born biologically male, we should identify as male. If we're born biologically female, then we should identify as female. And so what scripture says, however, does not deny the reality that many people experience a range of psychological beliefs about their gender identity, right? I mean, of course, some biological males perceive their psychological experience to be female. And of course, some biological females perceive their internal state as both female and male. And of course, there's tremendous variation in how people experience their gender identity. God is not surprised by this reality. He does, however, anticipate the tendency of some people

to accept the incongruence of their biology and gender identity as, quote unquote, who they are. And that's why when scripture talks about people crossing gender boundaries, for example, like a biological male who attempts to take on a female gender identity, whenever scripture talks about these people crossing gender boundaries, it describes it in a negative light. So just for example, an Old Testament example, in the Mosaic law, it states this, a woman shall not wear man's clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman's clothing. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.

This is Deuteronomy 22.5. So you see, God made men and women different, and then he laid down this law to maintain the distinction between the two sexes. Now, the New Testament also addresses this matter, right? You got the Apostle Paul, who, of course, is inspired by the Holy Spirit. He cautions the Corinthian church from accepting unrighteous activities, including what some translations label as effeminate behavior. This is 1 Corinthians 6, 9 through 10. Now, this word effeminate is translated from the Greek word malakoi, which literally means soft men. And it's a reference to men who would act like women through their mannerisms and dress and makeup and sometimes even through castration. And Paul, as if predicting what the church will face in our generation, he warns that some believers will be deceived into thinking that crossing gender boundaries

is no big deal. Indeed, there are even now Christian organizations that affirm such beliefs, which is why this topic is essential to understand, of course, in my opinion. But let me offer here an important clarification. If you're male, this does not mean that you must model yourself after the typical 21st century American male, right? I mean, many of our gender stereotypes come from our society, like movies and fashion and stereotypes come from our society, like movies and fashion and school and our peers, and these are not biblical. So for example, if you're a male and you don't like football and fast cars and French fries, it doesn't mean you're not manly, right? If you prefer art or playing the flute, you're still a man and not any less of a man. And the same thing with being a female. If you don't like

shopping or sappy chick flicks or pedicures, it's not a problem, right? If you prefer sports or going to the gun range, you're no less a female. You're not required to follow the gender typical norms created by our culture to qualify as a woman. God is our creator. His word is our guide, and we should take our cues from him. His word is our guide, and we should take our cues from him. Scripture's directive, therefore, is not about following American gender-typical activities or roles, but about which gender you identify with, whether you actually believe you're a male or a female.

That's what God is concerned with. So people who identify with a gender that's different than their biology, for example, those who identify as transgender, aren't necessarily doing it to be trendy, though some admit they do, but are awfully deeply confused about who they are. In fact, often they experience severe psychological and emotional distress. And so tragically, 41% of these transgender people attempt to commit suicide, which compared to 1.6% of the general population is a staggeringly high amount. In other words, though believers are rightly concerned about countering false cultural messages about gender identity, we need to be equally compassionate about those who are deeply hurting inside. They need our friendship, they need our love, and they need our care.

And most importantly, they need the gospel like every other person on this planet.