INTRODUCTION
We transition now to an application of what we've learned in moral philosophy. The next several weeks will be devoted to covering certain ethical issues. Today we will be studying how we should respond to the emerging transgender movement.
We're going to break this down into two primary responses that we should have when it comes this issue: love and truth.
RESPONSE: LOVE
Let's begin with love. First, why should we respond in love?
- We are sinners too. It's not as though we're superior people to transgenders and others who struggle with that issue.
- Love mirrors Christ. Christ extended incredible love to us when we were sinners. And because we are to be imitators of Christ, loving others is what we are to do.
- We must always love the person. We don't have to agree, support, or love the things that people do, but they're still people.
- Love can lead someone to change. If you have a quality relationship with someone, you can guide them in their decision-making and lead them to making a change.
Remember, even though the reality is that people who intentionally mess with the gender issue are sinning, it's not like the ultimate sin. Transgender-related issues aren't some unforgivable, separate category of sin. It's just like lying or selfishness or stealing or disobedience or whatever. Along that thought, if you know someone who has a problem with lying, do you completely shun them? Of course not! You still love them! So, if someone has a problem with gender confusion, do you shun them? Of course not!
A fascinating point that was addressed in a separate message later during the worship gathering had to do with the early Christian church. One of the reasons for their spread in the Roman Empire was that when the plague was devastating the region, it was the Christians who were going in and tending to the needs of the sick - even if it led them to dying from the disease themselves. What if today's Christians had a similar reputation: that we were known for reaching out in love to all - even people that we'd rather avoid and express frustration toward and criticize. How Christ-like would that be!
Nevertheless, part of loving others is being real with people and gently proclaiming truth. I have a weird obsession with cliff analogies so bear with me here for a second. suppose someone is walking unknowingly towards the edge of a cliff and we know it's there and see they're approaching it. We can't be of the mentality that it's "nice" and "good" and "tolerant" and "Christian" to be like "well if you want to, it's cool. I'll accept diversity. I may not agree, but I'm not gonna talk about the fact that you're making a poor decision. You go ahead." No! We warn them. Yes, we do it lovingly, but we warn them. Love cannot stay silent.
RESPONSE: TRUTH
That leads to our second response: we respond with truth.
And what is the truth? The truth is that you're either (and always) a male or (always) a female (and yes, there are some legitimate exceptions that can be hard to figure out, but those are very few and so we won't significantly address them here). but that's the way it is.
But how do we know that? How do you know someone's gender? Their feelings? Their decisions? Their anatomy? Something else? I believe the answer to be simple: genetics! Your DNA and chromosomes determine whether you are male or female. You can't change it. It's science. It's biology. It's just the facts. I'm not speaking in anger or hate here. I'm just wanting to be clear.
So consider, is Caitlyn Jenner a boy or a girl? Some would say a girl because that's his desire, choice and anatomy. But what is he, really? Genetically, he's a boy. He may not like to be called that, but that's doesn't change the truth.
That's the scientific truth. But how can we look at this theologically? Consider this verse: Deuteronomy 22:5 - "A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this." This seems to be a pretty big deal to God. But why? Think of it this way, God has designed us a certain way and if we try to change what He's done, we're elevating ourselves above Him and playing god. In case you forgot, we are not God. God is God and what He's done and what He desires deserve immense respect. And since He's established our gender, we are to honor that.
But do we just yell this fact at people? Absolutely not! We gently discuss it and we pray. 2 Timothy 2:25-26 - "Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." Although this verse is not in the context of transgenderism, it is in the generic context of what to do when we face opposition to our faith. We must lovingly "gently instruct" people, but also hope and pray that they will one day accept the truth.
THE BATHROOM ISSUE
So how do we address the bathroom issues that have been going around?
First, this should never have been an issue in the first place. Up till now, society seems to have had common sense about respecting others and using the proper bathroom. And those who have a legitimately gender-confused anatomy knew what made most sense to use. I think people should still just have common sense and go where it makes sense to go.
Unfortunately, that's not the world we live in today. And here's the problem that I see. When you change the standard to be "whatever you associate yourself with, you can go there," you open up a dangerous can of worms. Why? Because anyone can make the claim that they associate themselves (for no reason at all) with the opposite gender. No one can legitimately confront them, because you've boiled down gender to a matter of opinion. When you eliminate a standard, you can't stop anything because you have nothing to appeal to. And what have we seen?
Unfortunately, we've been hearing stories of issues when people go and use the other locker rooms or bathrooms just because they're allowed to. And seriously, who's going to take advantage of this emerging ideology? Only the pure and sensitive of heart? I don't think so! It's going to be a significant amount of perverts and troublemakers.
I wish people could just use common sense about this.
Consider this argument that I wish I could claim to be my own: this whole "go where you want" bathroom ideology has called into question the reality of the man and woman. Those pushing this are suggesting that since you can choose your gender that "woman" and "man" are nothing but some kind of social notions and political constructs. But as a believer in science, the man and woman are factual and real! And because they are real, they deserve rights like the right to privacy and their own corresponding bathroom.
During the discussion, it was pointed out that we should remember that we've not been placed in a world that abides by our morality, nor should we expect it too. So to a certain extent, we must deal with the decisions the world makes. We can still do what we can to impact this world for good, but there's no reason to throw a fit and continuously whine because this is a fallen world and a world not devoted to Christ. Do we have to just drop all issues then and throw up our hands? No. But we have to find a balance when it comes to our attitude towards it.
CONCLUSION
What can we conclude?
- We must be loving about this whole issue.
- Yet, there is truth involved and we can't ignore it.
- That truth must be gently proclaimed and bathed in prayer.
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