RE-CREATED 2 by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC
Introduction: Robin Williams was one of the most talented actors in Hollywood, until his untimely death by suicide in 2014. One of his greatest hits was Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993. As you know, in order to be near his 3 kids, the father Daniel, played by Robin Williams, creates the character of a British nanny named Mrs. Doubtfire. His acting skills along with his prosthetic mask are so convincing that even his own wife, played by Sally Fields, cannot recognize him. Eventually, she does find out and the act falls apart. Robin Williams won several awards for his acting in the movie. Unfortunately, this happens in real life where men pretend to be women and women pretend to be men, and it is called Transgenderism. Here are some questions: How is transgenderism different from the homosexual movement? What about Epigenetics and the transgender gene? How should we address the high suicide rate among transgender teenagers? Main point: Our society and culture are increasingly trying to neutralize gender identities. Both scripturally and scientifically, transgenderism is unnatural, inappropriate, and sinful. We are to be compassionate towards those struggling with gender dysphoria, but we are also to stand firm in our conviction of biblical gender distinctions. Compassion without the gospel of Jesus Christ is collaboration.
Genesis 1 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…”
Background: The scripture that we just read declares that men and women are equal and yet different. We are different on a deep level (Andrew T. Walker): chromosomes, brains, voices, body shapes, body strengths, and reproductive systems. God has designed men to lead and protect, and he has designed women to nurture and mother. Both are essential and assigned by God. These roles are very specific to our sex and gender and cannot be interchanged. Again, this is tied to the Trinity. 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” To negate or neutralize these differences is to attempt to negate or neutralize the Trinity! There is so much there that we will see later.
I want to preach this message the same way I did the last one and that is by answering the questions that were raised.
Question #1. How is transgenderism different from the homosexual movement? I’m sure some of you are probably wondering why I am preaching on this topic again since I just preached on homosexuality last weekend. Although, some people lump homosexuality and transgenderism in the same category, there is a difference. While homosexuality is same-sex attraction, transgenderism is more complicated than that, involving many conflicting definitions (from Alan J. Branch). Here’s the main issue: sex and gender are separate things. Sex has to do with biological and anatomical parts. Gender has to do with psychological, sexual, and cultural traits. Sex has to do with physical organs, bone structure, DNA, hormones, and reproduction. Gender has to do with how one feels. So, sex is male and female, and gender is masculine and feminine. Add to this, “gender identity” and “gender role.” Gender identity is how one thinks about oneself as “masculine” or “feminine.” Gender role is how the person identifies as he is playing a role in the presence of others. There is more. Under the broad category of transgenderism come many subcategories of transsexual, transvestite, gender variant, gender fluid, genderqueer, and cross dresser (from Branch). Also, new titles like “Cisgender” and “gender binary” have been created to refer to those who hold to the biblical view of male and female as the only sex and gender.
What are the actual numbers? According to the Williams Institute at UCLA, in 2016, 0.6% or 1.4 million people self-identify as transgender. The population of the United States is about 330 million. Also, it claimed that in 2017, 0.7 % or around 150,000 of youth ages 13-17 years in the United States identified as transgender. Although the numbers are small, the problem is real. We need to be aware of the agenda since the 1960s and even earlier to obliterate any gender distinctions.
Question #2. What about Epigenetics and the transgender gene?
Just like homosexuality, there is no transgender gene. There is nothing conclusive with the CYP17 gene or the SRD5A2 gene or family studies or twin studies. Also, epigenetics is “the chemical modifications of the human genome that alter genetic activity without changing the DNA sequence” (Branch). Again, there is nothing there.
The sad case of David Reimer: Born in 1965, accidentally mutilated circumcision. His parents were put in touch with John Money, a Harvard trained and Johns Hopkins psychologist and sexual expert. He gave them the advice to have him castrated and raised as a girl named Brenda. As he grew up, he did not want that. Money was using pornography and other treatments that were nothing but sexual abuse to treat David. You can imagine the trauma. Ultimately, he had reconstructive surgery and got married, but ended up committing suicide in 2004. Transgender movement tries to claim this as support, but it’s actually to the contrary.
Question #3. How should we address the high suicide rate among transgender teenagers? The example of Joshua Alcorn: Grew up in a conservative home but wanted to be called “Leelah.” Ended up taking his life in 2014 by walking in front of a tractor trailer. He blamed his parents and upbringing.
To start with, we need to be clear as to what the Bible has to say about transgenderism? Of course, we have already seen passages from the Old and New Testament that emphasize that God has made us in his image as male and female, and both Jesus and Paul affirmed Genesis 1:27. There are some more that apply directly to our topic:
Deuteronomy 22:5 “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the LORD your God.” In the English, some of the nuance is lost. In the first clause about a woman not wearing “anything that pertains to a man,” the word is “keli” and it is not just clothing but any object that makes them manly. So also, in the second clause, the word for garment is “simlah,” which refers to a garment or a shawl/mantle. The whole point of those 2 clauses is that one should not pretend to be of a different sex. Why? Because it is an “abomination” to the Lord. The Hebrew word is “toebah,” which means detestable, loathsome, and abhorring. This is on the same level as pagan worship practices and the superficial worship of God. 2 things: 1. Yes, in our culture, women wear pants and shirts, but this is not to fool others that they are really men. It’s more about current style and comfort. 2. If God found transgenderism an abomination, so should we. Deuteronomy 23:1 “He who is emasculated by crushing or mutilation shall not enter the assembly of the LORD.” This was often related to pagan worship practices like the worship of Ishtar and Cybele. There is often the mention of “eunuchs” in the Old and New Testament. Isaiah 53 4 For thus says the LORD: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, 5 Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off.” The Hebrew word is “saris” and the Greek (LXX) is “eunichos.” Matthew 19 8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” 10 His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 12 “For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.” What is the meaning of “eunuch” here? There are 3 categories here: 1. Eunuchs from birth are those who couldn’t have sexual intercourse and hence couldn’t marry. 2. Eunuchs who were forcibly emasculated to make them in charge of treasuries and harems. 3. Eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven are those who have chosen to remain single in order to serve God. Three different reasons with three different applications.
Is there hope for people in this lifestyle? Yes.
Acts 8 26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
1 Corinthians 6 9 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Invitation: There is hope, but the gospel is the hope. Our compassion can never replace the gospel.
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