Articles
Open Letter to One with Gender Confusion
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 Dear One, We live in a trying and confusing time. It’s normal to have concerns, doubts, fears, and confusion about any number of issues. Of late there’s been much talk about gender confusion. It’s difficult to face such an issue. It is emotionally taxing to consider. And there are more choices than ever for dealing with gender confusion. Muddling along in a confused state is probably the most common option. Cross–dressing is another, practiced by many. Employing drugs and even surgery to change one’s gender is practiced now. How does one choose? I advise you to avoid all the choices presented above and choose another option. Try to understand gender from the point of view of the Creator, who created gender for His people. The Bible teaches that God made humans, right from the beginning, with two genders: male and female. Every step of creation was sealed with the comment that what had been created was “good.” The implication is that God purposefully chose for humans to have two genders and that that arrangement is very good. Some may tell you that you have a choice to make about your gender. That’s a lie. In fact, that choice was made for you at the moment of your conception. Those who tell you that you can chose or change your gender overlook, willingly or in ignorance, the permanence and pervasiveness of gender. Our gender is etched into every cell in our body. It is impossible to change in part or in whole. So we can simplify the issue immensely by understanding gender can’t be changed. That relieves us of the responsibility of making an impossible choice. What then remains is understanding our gender. It was given to us by our Heavenly Father, who loves us and cares for us. What guidelines has He given for us regarding gender? Well, He tells us we have roles in society and in family based on gender. There are roles for men and roles for women. That idea might seem restrictive, but I assure you there are wide ranges of freedom within gender confines. So wide that you can find profound fulfillment and meaning by embracing God’s plan. So much so that there is no need to come up with a different plan of your own. lease note that gender roles have nothing to do with value. Every human soul is precious in God’s sight, regardless of gender. Every soul can be saved from sin, regardless of gender. Every soul can spend eternity with God in heaven, regardless of gender. And the Bible teaches that gender is a characteristic we humans have in this realm but not in the next. Our fleshly body is referred to as a tent; a temporary dwelling. And gender is an attribute of the fleshly body. Jesus said in the hereafter we are not given in marriage but are like the angels (Matthew 22:30). The implication is that we are not male or female in heaven. Just a saved soul. So I invite you to clear up gender confusion by learning what God has to say about gender and gender roles, then living a unique life according to God’s plan. Trust Him that your gender is just right for you. Don’t worry about trying to change it. God promised us that He never lays on us an unusual burden that we can’t bear. He always makes a way for us to bear whatever comes our way (1 Corinthians 10:13). Jesus said His yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:29-30). We can accept our gender role. This approach, trusting God and accepting one’s gender for what it is, learning to live with it, is a tried and true approach given by God and used for years. Today’s popular idea of changing gender is relatively new. People have been cross-dressing throughout time, but only recently have they thought you could change gender. If we carefully consider the fruit that has come from recent attempts to change gender we’ll see they don’t work well at all. Some may say that we just need to improve the gender changing process. The Bible teaches that the idea of gender changing is fundamentally flawed. We need to forget about trying to change our gender. Your prospects for a happy and healthy life are much better in accepting God’s plan for your gender than in trying to change it. That approach is the focus of God’s children wherever they are and whatever the issue. Learn what God says about it and try to apply it in our lives. He promises that this approach will bring a peace that passes all understanding, too profound and amazing to explain with words. That peace surpasses anything the world can offer. It’s available to us by the saving work of Jesus Christ and the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father. Whosoever desires that peace can have it. We invite you to be a partaker in that peace and fulfillment, and stand ready to help you on that journey. Addendum from Jim Jonas: Thanks to Jeff for these timely and insightful words. There’s no doubt that people end up with emotional uncertainty and anguish over their sexual identity. But a huge complication is a society that creates and encourages the uncertainty, illustrated by misguided parents who refuse to identify their children at birth according to their biological sexuality and then raise them in a gender-ambiguous environment. Then the prevailing social message is to embrace whatever direction their feelings may guide them. Psychological counseling for minors regarding sexual orientation is now illegal in a number of states. So, the operative question is not whether people feel confusion; obviously some do. The question is how to help them work their way through it and come to terms emotionally with what has been genetically and physiologically determined. Herein lies true health, healing and harmony with God.
