World magazine recently ran an article about the increasing number of books in elementary and middle school libraries across the country that present transgenderism in positive terms. Books like George by Alex Gino, Luna by Julie Ann Peters, Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart, and I am J by Cris Beam, encourage children to embrace their gender dysphoria; a condition where a person’s emotional and psychological identity as male or female is opposite to their birth sex. In Gino’s recent work, George, children as young as 8 years old can read about hormone therapy, sexual anatomy, and even sexual realignment surgery. These books, written from a secular worldview, are receiving accolades from critics and winning awards, which is how they end up on public school reading lists.

That such reading material is being promoted to young children should be a concern to every parent. Make no mistake, the transgender revolution is ardently committed to indoctrinating children. As a pastor and as a grandparent, I am deeply committed to proclaiming and preserving a biblical worldview for the next generation. So, with that in mind, I would like to make one statement about transgenderism and then attempt to share how it relates to a biblical worldview. Here’s the statement: No person will ever experience lasting peace and joy in life until they accept and embrace the person God made them to be.

Consider this illustration by Tim Keller:

“The owner’s manual that comes with your car tells you when to change the oil and what fuel to use, so as not to damage the car. To ignore the owner’s manual—written by the car’s creators—is to violate the design of the car by doing things that the automobile was not built to withstand. No one will have to come and give you a fine or legal penalty. The consequences will be natural. You will ruin your own car.” (1)

The Christian worldview is rooted in the conviction that mankind was created for the glory of God, and as His creatures, we are all designed to function according to His plan revealed in His Word. This includes our genders, as God created mankind “male and female” (Genesis 1:27). When we violate our created design, we harm ourselves as we do it. When biblical instruction is followed, it honors our created design and leads to flourishing (Proverbs 16:20).

If a person experiences a dysphoria with their physical anatomy, the answer is not to transform your body but be transformed by the renewal of your mind (Romans 12:2). Sexual realignment surgery doesn’t turn a man into a woman or a woman into a man. Transsexuals cannot procreate and thus are no longer capable of participating in the creative order God intended for them. One author has written: “Fertile and functioning sex organs reshaped into disabled sexual organs is not human progress; it is the mutilation of nature.” (2)

The transgender movement insists, “anatomy is not destiny.” There is at the very heart of the transgender movement a rejection of God’s creative design in favor of a culture promoting complete sexual autonomy. The Psalmist describes sexual revolutionaries in these terms: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’” (Psalm 2:2-3) Modern man will not have God rule over him.

We also need to understand that the transgender revolution is highly motivated and committed to their cause. It does not seem that we will simply be able to agree to disagree. This will be obvious to anyone who is familiar with cultural trends. Considering the increasing litigation against Christians (individually and institutionally), the plethora of articles, movies, television programs, and books that color dissenters in a negative light, there seems to be no room for open debate.

Regardless of the vitriol, as Christians we choose to respond in love. At the same time, we have an obligation to confront the movement by staying true to clear scriptural teaching. Maintaining the balance between the two is the best way to demonstrate compassion for those who struggle with their sexual identity. I concur with Russell Moore who wrote, “As Christians, all we can do is say what we believe: that all of us are sinners, and that none of us are freaks.” The gospel of Jesus Christ remains the cure for all human brokenness.

(1) Timothy Keller with Kathy Keller. God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life, A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs; February 26.

(2) Tony Reinkie. All of Us Sinners, None of Us Freaks: Christian Convictions for the Transgender Age. desiringGod.org