The video clip below shows six people who feel they were born in the wrong body and identify as “trans.” It’s easy to sympathize with their painful experiences. Their pain and suffering make a strong impression – many have experienced rejection, violence, and have undergone surgeries and hormone therapy to live out their convictions about which gender they believe they belong to. This is brutal to take in.
While we may feel deep compassion, that does not mean we must change our shared understanding of reality. Gender is a biological reality. The idea of fluid gender identity is a theory that should be challenged. Our compassion should instead be guided by a recognition that all human beings have inviolable value, because we are created in the image of God.
Our compassion should lead us to fight for equal respect for all people, while standing firm in our faith. God has given us free will – we can choose to follow Him or reject Him – but it is our responsibility to stand up for what we believe.
An important challenge is how we as Christians can show care for people experiencing gender dysphoria while remaining true to our faith and what we believe the biological and theological truth about gender. This means that we may have to risk disagreeing with some, but we can do so in a caring way without compromising our convictions.
Furthermore, we must be prepared for the fact that our convictions may cause offense. But truth, especially biblical truth, will often meet with resistance. We must be willing to accept the cost in the face of difficult questions, knowing that we do so with love and consideration for both the dignity of people and the truth we believe in.
We believe it is important that as Christians, we quote God’s Word. Genesis 1:27: “In his image he created them; male and female he created them… And he saw that it was very good.” This is the basis for our understanding of gender. This means that we believe everyone is born with the right body, and that it is not possible to change one’s gender.
Although others may experience gender differently, our convictions are firmly rooted in God’s Word. The Christian understanding of gender from Genesis 1:27 is protected by religious freedom, so as long as we anchor our view in the verse, we stand strong – also legally. It is important to remember that we have the right to believe and live out our convictions, and we can be confident that we can stand up for the truth without fear.
True care means standing firm in the truth while showing compassion and respect. We can hold fast to the biological and divine reality of gender without compromising our faith, even when it is challenging. As Christians, we are called to speak the truth in love, and it is the truth that sets us free.
Let us be a light in the world, unwavering in our faith, but always loving in our dealings with others. In a time of many challenges, it is our task to stand firm in God's word, knowing that it is in the truth that we find true freedom – for ourselves and for those we meet.
