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For Gender
Series: God's DesignGod’s Design: For Gender
Our world is becoming increasingly complex. If you are over 50, the world you grew up in is gone. For many in the 50+ age range, there is a grief that is being processed in the loss of this world. The loss of simplicity. The loss of black and white. The loss of morality. The list goes on and on. The list of societal issues we are currently dealing with is long, but one of the newest and most confusing of these is the topic of gender.
What is gender? Well, it seems like it depends on who you ask anymore. Traditionally, we’ve used gender to define the biological sex given at birth by differing body parts and physical traits. This has, historically, been the way we have talked about “male” and “female.” But, as we discussed this morning, that is all changing. There is a push to be more inclusive of those who don’t “identify” with their biological sex. There is a push to define gender as “fluid” and not simply male/female.
First, I want to be sensitive to the very real issue of gender dysphoria. Some people struggle to fit with their biological sex—they don’t “feel” male or female even though they are physically. This is often due to a hormonal imbalance, or in some cases the individual may even have both male and female body parts (hermaphroditism). Many who are struggling in this way are scared to talk about what they are dealing with.
In the presence of something like gender dysphoria, the world has offered its platter of solutions. Again, however, we ask the question—what does God think about gender and biological sex? Is gender really “fluid?” Are there multiple definitions of gender and is it up to us to define who we are? Or, did God design it a certain way? This morning we talked about God’s design for “male and female” and how this is ultimately a reflection of the divine image. There are two biologically given sexes for a reason. Anything outside of this is not how it was supposed to be. Just because something like gender dysphoria or hermaphrodites exist does not mean it was the way it was supposed to be. It is a result of the broken world in which we live.
I’m reminded of John’s description of Jesus’ coming to earth. John says Jesus came from the Father, “full of grace and truth.” Jesus didn’t cut people any slack—he told them the truth. But, Jesus also had incredible patience with those who were genuinely struggling. May the church be like her Master—to be able to tell the truth about God’s design for gender and sex, yet full of grace to help people struggling with how sin has distorted it.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
-Scott McFarland
