We affirm that God created human beings in his image as male and female (Gen. 1:26-27). This creation pattern refers simultaneously to biological and social complementarity. The biblical worldview does not support the existence of a concept of gender that is disconnected from the sexuality of our bodies. Likewise, we recognize the goodness of the human body (Gen. 1:31; John 1:14) and the call to glorify God with our bodies (1 Cor. 6:12-20). As a God of order and design, God opposes the confusion of man as woman and woman as man (Deut. 22:5).¹
Nevertheless, the often life-dominating suffering and distress experienced by those who are disturbed by their biological sexual identity calls for compassion, humility, and love (Gal. 6:1-3; 1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Rom 12:15). The transgender promise of salvation from that distress by means of claiming a gender disconnected from biological reality and “transitioning” the body toward that gender is a false gospel; compassion and love cannot encourage this false hope. Rather, the love of God in Christ and all the promises of the gospel of new identity and new creation in Christ should be both shown and explained.
Further, we believe Christians should seek wisdom to distinguish biblical mandates for the expression of maleness or femaleness from merely culturally formed ideas, stereotypes, and expectations. Failure to do so only contributes to the confusion and distress of those who fail to measure up to the cultural expectation and gives power to the temptation to seek the solution offered by transgenderism.
¹ A note on what is often called “Intersex:” The occurrence in some persons of an objective medical condition in which their anatomical development is ambiguous or does not match their genetic chromosomal sex does not negate the creation norm of male and female. Rather, these conditions are developmental defects that are part of the misery of the fallen condition of our nature and world. Such persons are also made in the image of God and should be given the compassion and love that meets them in their personal suffering with the promises and comfort of the gospel. They also should be encouraged to live out their biological sex, insofar as it can be known.
