There is much confusion in today's society about what exactly is gender. Those on the political Right say that there are only two genders, while those on the political Left say that there are thousands of different genders. Only one side can be right while the other side is completely wrong. But, which side is correct? In this blog, I shall be discussing how Transgenderism is bad for one's mental health and then I will discuss how the Bible addresses this issue. However, first I'd like to discuss what exactly is transgenderism because not many people seem to understand what that disorder is or even means. The Diagnostic Statistical Manual 5 (DSM-5) lists eight defining characteristics for what it calls Gender Dysphoria and to be labeled with this disorder one must meet at least six of these characteristics. These characteristics are the following:
1) A strong desire to be of the other gender or an insistence that one is the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one's assigned gender)
2) In boys (assigned gender), a strong preference for cross-dressing or assimilating female attire; or in girls (assigned gender), a strong preference for only wearing typical masculine clothing and a strong resistance to the wearing of typical feminine clothing
3) A strong preference for cross-gender roles in make-believe play or fantasy play
4) A strong preference for toys, games, or activities stereotypically used or engaged by the other gender
5) A strong preference for playmates of the other gender
6) In boys (assigned gender), a strong rejection of typically masculine toys, games, and activities and a strong avoidance of rough and tumble play; or in girls (assigned gender), a strong rejection of typically feminine toys, games, and activities
7) A strong dislike of one's sexual anatomy
8) A strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics that match one's experienced gender
I would like to note that transgenderism is first and foremost a clinical mental illness, which means that those suffering from this disorder are not in touch with reality. The answer to helping these people is not to treat them with disdain. They are still created in the Imago Dei so they should be treated with dignity and respect. They need to see a good psychiatrist and a good therapist, but one who will not affirm their "gender identity". Personally, I struggled with Gender Dysphoria myself when I was younger. I have always enjoyed being around female friends instead of male friends and to this day I still prefer to be around women rather than men. I also have been known for wanting to be a woman at one time because I did not like being a man. I thought men were horrible people. I say this to show you that I completely understand this mindset very well so that you can understand that what I am about to say is out of love for the people in the transgender community.
As I have stated earlier, people who struggle with Gender Dysphoria are claiming that they are another gender other than the gender they were born with. These people will claim to be either the opposite gender they were born with and they will claim to be one of the many genders that the Liberals have concocted. These people are delusional and we should not validate their delusions. As someone who deals with Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type, I find it remarkable how quickly society is all too willing to affirm these people's delusions. If I had a mania episode today where I believed that I could fly like a bird, I shouldn't expect society to automatically believe that I literally could fly like a bird. Instead, society should seek to get me some professional help via a psychiatrist and therapist. In the same way, transgenders should not expect society to affirm their delusions. These people need to understand that they are not the opposite gender from what they are born with. Liberals will try to say that gender and sex are not the same things, but this is a distortion of the truth. Gender and sex are in fact one and the same thing, regardless of what anyone says or believes.
So, what does the Bible say concerning this topic? If we turn to Genesis 1:27, it reads,
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, he created him; male and female he created them"
As you can see from this text, God created a male and a female from the beginning of creation. The text does not say, "God created them male and female and other". What this means is that from the beginning of time, God already established gender identity by declaring that there are only two genders! Some LGBT activists seem to have an issue with this rendering, so they decided to rewrite the Bible and make it more transgender-affirming, but the so-called "Queen James Bible" is not an actual translation and is instead a distortion of the Word of God. These people are playing fast and loose with the text of the Holy Scripture. In case you may say that "Well, that was in Old Testament and we live in the New Testament now", Jesus Christ reiterates this sentiment in Matthew 19:4. He says,
"Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female..."
This means that even our Lord and Savior acknowledged that from the beginning of time, God created only two genders. The reason God did this was to fully display His image. Men and women both display the image of God. This means that both men and women are equal in His sight in dignity. No man or woman can ever say that their gender is superior to the opposite gender. We should treat one another with the dignity and respect that we deserve as image bearers of the divine and thrice Holy God. If anyone mistreats another person because of their gender, then they are going against the Righteous and Holy Lord Almighty and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God (Hebrews 10:31).
I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog and I hope that this has shed some light on the issue of Gender Dysphoria for you. If you disagree with me on this issue, then I suggest that you take it up with God's word because your issue is with Him and not me. I am merely the messenger. I hope that this blog was a blessing to you. May the grace of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all!!
-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
1) A strong desire to be of the other gender or an insistence that one is the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one's assigned gender)
2) In boys (assigned gender), a strong preference for cross-dressing or assimilating female attire; or in girls (assigned gender), a strong preference for only wearing typical masculine clothing and a strong resistance to the wearing of typical feminine clothing
3) A strong preference for cross-gender roles in make-believe play or fantasy play
4) A strong preference for toys, games, or activities stereotypically used or engaged by the other gender
5) A strong preference for playmates of the other gender
6) In boys (assigned gender), a strong rejection of typically masculine toys, games, and activities and a strong avoidance of rough and tumble play; or in girls (assigned gender), a strong rejection of typically feminine toys, games, and activities
7) A strong dislike of one's sexual anatomy
8) A strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics that match one's experienced gender
I would like to note that transgenderism is first and foremost a clinical mental illness, which means that those suffering from this disorder are not in touch with reality. The answer to helping these people is not to treat them with disdain. They are still created in the Imago Dei so they should be treated with dignity and respect. They need to see a good psychiatrist and a good therapist, but one who will not affirm their "gender identity". Personally, I struggled with Gender Dysphoria myself when I was younger. I have always enjoyed being around female friends instead of male friends and to this day I still prefer to be around women rather than men. I also have been known for wanting to be a woman at one time because I did not like being a man. I thought men were horrible people. I say this to show you that I completely understand this mindset very well so that you can understand that what I am about to say is out of love for the people in the transgender community.
As I have stated earlier, people who struggle with Gender Dysphoria are claiming that they are another gender other than the gender they were born with. These people will claim to be either the opposite gender they were born with and they will claim to be one of the many genders that the Liberals have concocted. These people are delusional and we should not validate their delusions. As someone who deals with Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type, I find it remarkable how quickly society is all too willing to affirm these people's delusions. If I had a mania episode today where I believed that I could fly like a bird, I shouldn't expect society to automatically believe that I literally could fly like a bird. Instead, society should seek to get me some professional help via a psychiatrist and therapist. In the same way, transgenders should not expect society to affirm their delusions. These people need to understand that they are not the opposite gender from what they are born with. Liberals will try to say that gender and sex are not the same things, but this is a distortion of the truth. Gender and sex are in fact one and the same thing, regardless of what anyone says or believes.
So, what does the Bible say concerning this topic? If we turn to Genesis 1:27, it reads,
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, he created him; male and female he created them"
As you can see from this text, God created a male and a female from the beginning of creation. The text does not say, "God created them male and female and other". What this means is that from the beginning of time, God already established gender identity by declaring that there are only two genders! Some LGBT activists seem to have an issue with this rendering, so they decided to rewrite the Bible and make it more transgender-affirming, but the so-called "Queen James Bible" is not an actual translation and is instead a distortion of the Word of God. These people are playing fast and loose with the text of the Holy Scripture. In case you may say that "Well, that was in Old Testament and we live in the New Testament now", Jesus Christ reiterates this sentiment in Matthew 19:4. He says,
"Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female..."
This means that even our Lord and Savior acknowledged that from the beginning of time, God created only two genders. The reason God did this was to fully display His image. Men and women both display the image of God. This means that both men and women are equal in His sight in dignity. No man or woman can ever say that their gender is superior to the opposite gender. We should treat one another with the dignity and respect that we deserve as image bearers of the divine and thrice Holy God. If anyone mistreats another person because of their gender, then they are going against the Righteous and Holy Lord Almighty and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God (Hebrews 10:31).
I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog and I hope that this has shed some light on the issue of Gender Dysphoria for you. If you disagree with me on this issue, then I suggest that you take it up with God's word because your issue is with Him and not me. I am merely the messenger. I hope that this blog was a blessing to you. May the grace of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all!!
-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
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