On Gender (Part 2)
Currents of Conviction: Living Faithfully in a Confused World
This is the second essay in the Currents of Conviction series on gender. The series overview and introduction to the Christian worldview, may be helpful to orient yourself to the goal of this series. You can read the first essay here.
NOTE: I want to acknowledge from the outset that transgenderism and gender dysphoria are real struggles. I do not seek to minimize that here. My hope and intent is to encourage those who suffer that there is freedom in Christ.
It was introduced in M*A*S*H as a continuous comedic sketch.
Today, it has become normal throughout corporate America and the Western world. Transgenderism has been at the forefront of the public eye for the last ten years, and especially so in the last five, with men competing in women’s sports and the plethora of associated concerns there.
Despite the societal push for everyone to accept this as okay and normal, we must recognize that it is not. Gender, as a purposeful gift from God, is not a random outcome of biology or a societal invention. Yet, what happens when the gift of ontological maleness and femaleness encounters a world marred by brokenness and confusion?
To begin to understand, we must look first to Genesis 3, where sin entered the world, disrupting man’s connection with God. From that point on, everything about the original goodness of God’s creation was affected negatively, especially our sense of identity in gender. Far from casting judgment, I aim to approach these challenges with compassion and clarity, grounding our discussion in truth and pointing to the hope of Christ’s redemptive power.
The Fall and Gender Dysphoria
In the beginning, God created a world that was very good (Genesis 1:31). He made mankind male (from the dust of the earth) and female (from the side of man) in His image (Genesis 1:27). Man had a simple mission: be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. In so doing, they would reflect His glory and live in perfect unity with Him.
This pristine order unraveled when Eve was deceived, leading to the fall in Genesis 3. Sin crashed into existence, shattering every dimension of the good life. Our bond with God was broken, death entered the world, and even our self-understanding became muddled. Over time, this disruption has altered our behavior, warping our very sense of identity and how we perceive and experience gender.
Gender dysphoria is the deep distress some feel when their perceived internal gender identity clashes with their biological sex. When we understand that God has created us intentionally and ontologically gendered, body and soul, there emerges a poignant echo of the fallen state. Though it can be a willful act or a defiance of God’s will, many are genuinely confused because of the chaos that sin unleashed. Much like physical pain, mental anguish, or any suffering reveals a world “subjected to futility” (Romans 8:20-22), gender dysphoria reflects another aspect of creation’s groan under the weight of sin. Because it is a genuine struggle like any other sin, compassion is the necessary approach, not judgment.
Still, God’s original ontological design endures beneath the wreckage. Genesis 1:27 and 2:18-25 reveal that our maleness and femaleness are purposeful, etched into our bodies to mirror God’s image and relational essence. The fall may obscure this reality, but it doesn’t erase it. Gender dysphoria thus stands as a clash between our God-given identity and our fractured experience—a tension rooted in sin’s distortion, not in God’s intent. For this reason, we must journey with those who suffer, offering hope in Christ’s redemptive power, where all things—including our identities—are renewed (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Transgenderism and Ontological Gender
Often presented as a response to the distress of gender dysphoria, a push to support transgenderism has emerged as a significant cultural and ideological movement. Transgenderism asserts that individuals can identify with a gender different from their biological makeup, frequently advocating for social recognition, medical interventions, or legal affirmations to reflect this self-defined identity. While, on the face of it, this approach claims to address genuine human suffering, it falls short of the biblical perspective of gender as an ontological reality.1
The Philosophical Clash
At the core, transgender ideology champions the idea that gender is fluid—existing on some spectrum. Further, it suggests that gender is a malleable construct shaped by personal experience rather than an ontological truth manifested by our physical bodies. This view categorically denies the Christian understanding of gender as an essential part of God’s purposeful design, rejecting the sovereignty of the Creator who crafted us with order. Rather than liberating, it deepens the brokenness introduced by the fall. The proposed solution sidesteps the reality of God’s plan for human identity, departing from the wholeness God intends. Individuals are then left to wrestle with a self-made identity that cannot fully resolve their inner turmoil.
A Call for Compassion
This critique of ideology, however, must not be mistaken for a lack of care for those who suffer from it. Those who experience gender dysphoria endure real pain, and their struggles demand our empathy, not our judgment. The church is called to reflect Christ’s compassion—meeting people where they are while holding fast to the truth of Scripture. Affirming transgender identities might feel like an act of kindness, but true compassion points beyond temporary comfort to the lasting healing found in embracing God’s original design.
The Hope of Restoration
The Gospel offers a transformative, redemptive renewal. We are not left to piece ourselves together because we are made new in and through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:17). For those grappling with gender dysphoria, Jesus extends a hope that transcends circumstance—a restoration of identity rooted in God’s original intent. In pointing to this promise, I do not seek to dismiss present struggles. On the contrary, I want to encourage those who suffer to look toward the one who can deliver them. Through faith in Christ and a supportive Church community committed to grace and truth, they can be restored!
For the Ploughman
From a Christian perspective, gender is not only a biological trait, and it is certainly not a societal construct. The biblical truth is that gender is an ontological reality established by God at conception. While transgenderism may arise as an attempt to address this suffering, it veers from God’s intent, further wounding our fallen humanity.
For Those Struggling with Gender Dysphoria
If you are grappling with your gender identity, hear this: you are not alone, and you are not beyond the boundless reach of God’s love (Romans 8:35, 38-39). Your pain is real, but it does not define you. Your status as one who bears the image of God does. Consider seeking Christian counseling that respects your struggle and the truth of Scripture. Seek out a church that will walk with you. Above all, rest in the assurance that God sees you (Genesis 16:13), knows you (Psalm 139; Jeremiah 1:5), and invites you to trust in His perfect plan for your life (John 14:6), even when it feels distant or uncertain.
For the Church and Readers
When you encounter someone experiencing gender dysphoria, let empathy lead your response, but do not affirm the delusion. Listen humbly, acknowledging their struggle's depth because it is as real as any other sin. Resist the urge to offer simplistic solutions but mirror Christ’s compassion instead. Share the truth of God’s design with gentleness, always directing them toward the hope found in Him. Our task is not to repair but to faithfully point to the One who heals. Trust that the Gospel renews hearts and can bring clarity and peace.
A Vision of Redemption
In Christ, brokenness is not the end of the story because His redemptive power reaches every part of our lives. As we await the coming reality of His kingdom, we are called to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). As ploughmen tending the soil of this fallen world, we must sow Gospel seeds in grace and truth.
Join me on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, to explore the need to restore courtship as the proper means to seeking a spouse.
We will continue this series on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, by examining our theological convictions on homosexuality.
Until next time, keep your hand on the plow and break up the fallow ground!
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This reality is that gender is a fixed, purposeful aspect of our being, established by God as male and female at creation (Genesis 1:27).