Essential Truths For Our Times

God’s Design For Gender

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:3, “By faith, we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” For Christian disciples, according to this verse, God Himself authored the earth’s foundations. This belief implies that human beings were created according to His intention and design when forming the world. Christian disciples also accept the Bible’s authority for defining what it means to be male and female without variation or confusion. The Bible does not seek to prove through science or debate the origins of humanity. It simply declares the truth of humanity’s design as an irrefutable fact. The result is that followers of Jesus accept the scriptural declarations about God and His intent for creation instead of social and philosophical trends. Biblical faith is impossible without complete submission to the Word of God.

According to Genesis 1:27, God framed humankind in His image, giving only two genders without confusion or the possibility for another. Furthermore, Genesis 1:28 states that God blessed His creation and commanded them to be “fruitful and multiply.” This declaration reveals that humans were created with the mandate to continue the human race according to God’s will. God stated: two genders, one purpose.

Throughout the Bible, there is reoccurring instruction that men and women remain in their created design. Deuteronomy 22:5 states, “A woman shall not wear a man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.” This verse clarifies that men and women must remain in the identity of their birth gender. Violating that order is an abomination, being exceptionally loathsome. Crossing gender identity was unacceptable and rejected by the faith community.

In the New Testament era, the need to affirm gender clarity continued. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 we read, “Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” The meaning is clear: men who outwardly take on a woman’s nature both in appearance and in sexual identity will not enter the kingdom of God. The same is true for women taking on the nature of a man. The conclusion is that God cannot accept those who insist on doing so as a philosophy and a lifestyle.

Paul argued that a created being does not have the biblical right to question its original design. Romans 9:20 states, “who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,’ will it?” God chose to create each human according to His plan and purpose in His absolute sovereignty and power. The creation being lower than God must accept and embrace their birth nature and identity.

As the world and its philosophies are constantly changing, there is always significant pressure upon Christians to bend and acquiesce to society’s demands. As a result, there is fierce debate and discussion within Christendom to decide what the Church should believe and practice. In 1 Timothy 4:1 the Scripture states, “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” The Apostle Paul indicated that there would be confusion and a withdrawal from following Jesus based upon false teaching for what is acceptable in God’s Kingdom. He describes the change in belief to have its origins in powerful spirits, which cause people to wander away from God, being under the influence of demonic power.

We must resolve to remain faithful to biblical definitions regarding the present dilemma on gender confusion. We cannot accept the false narrative that gender is fluid and unknowable. We also cannot affirm or support those who “give hearty approval” (Romans 1:32) to these philosophical and political ideas, whoever or whatever political platform they may be. While this position will be unpopular, there is no other choice in God’s Word regarding the created order of gender.