Upside Down... ~ Transgender ~

   Solomon penned God’s wisdom and warning: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. 14:34).  The word “reproach” means “shame, disgrace.”  Our culture has become increasingly characterized by all manner of ungodly wickedness.  As a result our nation stands in shame and disgrace before God.  “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isa. 5:20).  This series of articles examines, from a scriptural perspective, a number of issues that have contributed to turning our culture upside down!

   People who identify themselves as being transgender claim to have an inner conflict between their natural gender identity at birth and the gender to which they personally relate.  It’s been described as feeling as though they’re in the wrong body.  Many transgender individuals have exposed the public to their inner conflict of identity by cross dressing- males dressing like females and females dressing like males.  This is nothing new; it has been going on for a great many years.
   Recently, Bruce Jenner, a sports icon from days gone by, went public with his assertion that he is a transgender.  He went through various procedures to transform his male body into the appearance of being a woman’s body.  In going public, he gained widespread media attention and a great deal of public sympathy and support.  It’s interesting to note, however, that he was married several times and fathered several children through his life.
   The similarity of claims, mannerisms and practices of many who claim to be transgender and others who claim to be gay is striking.  Could it be that living a transgender lifestyle is just another degree, or a different dimension or expression, of the gay lifestyle?  Many gays, to one degree or another, cross dress.  A male who claims to be transgender is attracted to other males, just as are males who are gay, and a female transgender is attracted to other females, just as are females who are gay.
   A predominant claim by those who are gay and those who are transgender is that they were born that way.  Many insist that God made them that way.  Yet, as pointed out in a previous article in this series, the Bible is clear, straightforward and repetitive in condemning homosexuality (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:27; 1 Cor. 6:9).
   John states, “God is love” (1 Jn. 4:8).  That verse does not just say that God is a God of love; it says “God is love.”  The most absolute, descriptive, profound definition of love is “God.”  That being true, God would not create a person in a certain way and then condemn that person for being that way.
   There’s a huge conflict within our culture regarding God’s word.  Many people base their values, including their morality, on feelings and human reasoning rather than on the teachings of God’s word.  When scripture contradicts what they think on these matters, their feelings and personal reasoning trump God’s word.  They often try to explain away the clear teachings of scripture as being outdated or vague or a matter of personal interpretation.  But Peter stated that the teachings of God’s word are not a matter of “private interpretation” (2 Pet. 1:20-21).
   God’s word means the same thing for everybody, and there are no doctrinal contradictions within it.  We need to simply believe and live by what it says and trust God to guide us in all truth.  To live otherwise is to live a life turned upside down…