Individual Responsibility

We hear a lot these days of LGBTQ+ people. They can’t be lumped together and dismissed by the majority who may consider them to be different, for they are not! They have *minds, bodies and souls like all human beings. God made them this way; in His own image He made them (Genesis 1:27).

Every person is responsible for their own actions before the Lord God Almighty (Romans 14:12; Revelation 20:11-15), whether they accept this or not, whether they believe in Him or not. There is no discrimination on the part of the Righteous Judge (Genesis 18:25) of all the earth. He can only do what is right. It is not anyone’s business to judge another (Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37; Romans 14:13), and that’s making judgments of all people, regardless of their gender orientation.

Compassion

We should be compassionate (James 5:11), just as Jesus is compassionate towards those with biological differences from the norm.  God is the Architect of all life (John 1:2-4), and He is particularly interested and concerned with ALL humans (John 3:16), irrespective of their genetic makeup.

Gender Equality

Today a lot of emphasis is placed on gender equality; for example, pay should be the same for women as for men when their jobs are identical. Anyone in their right mind would agree. The mantra is for girls to have the same opportunities as boys for learning to play football, cricket and other physical sports, including boxing and rugby. Who can argue about that? Whatever their gender, in an ideal world, youngsters should be able to take up what sports and hobbies they want. They should be free to study whatever subjects they are interested in. Later, when they apply for jobs, they should be recruited according to merit and ability, not gender.

God Differentiates between Genders

However, God does differentiate between genders (Genesis 5:2). There is no doubt about it. Each has a role to play **according to His Word, the Bible. Obviously a man cannot bear children, but his role in a Christian family is to be the head (Genesis 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:3) within it.

In the Old Testament the punishment of death was imposed on a man or woman who wore clothing normally worn by the opposite sex (Deuteronomy 22:5). The law was severe in this respect. We find no such direct requirement under the law of Christ, i.e., the whole of the New Testament, and the Old Testament as interpreted through the revelation of the New. Jesus was mute on the subject of dress, but Paul gave instructions to Timothy that the women in his church were to dress modestly, and not to adorn themselves with gold or pearls (1 Timothy 2:9).

Paul also pulled no punches in his condemnation of lesbianism and homosexuality (Romans 1:26, 27), pointing out that what these people did was ‘contrary to nature’. He said, ’the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (v 18)’.

A Problem

Where there is doubt and confusion on the part of an individual as to their sexual orientation, there’s a problem:

What if I am androgynous, i.e., a person born with both male and female reproductive organs? I certainly am not like the majority of people. I have to accept that I am who I am, or I have to make a choice as to who I would like to be. If I wish to change from being androgynous I shall have to undergo operations for the removal of one set of my reproductive organs, but what is my chromosomal makeup? Am I ‘xy’ or am I ‘xx’? For that will help me determine my sex, or will it? Although I am ‘xy’ I feel more like ‘xx’. Therefore I would prefer to be female. What do I do? Do I have to accept the risks involved of undergoing life-changing surgery? What if it goes wrong? If the surgery is successful, what shall I feel like afterwards? What if I want to reverse my gender? It will be too late! The change is irreversible.

This talk is not theoretical. It is very real for more people than most of us realise. Not only do people find themselves with similar predicaments, but their mothers and fathers, their brothers and sisters, are also affected, because they are related by family. Indeed, androgyny affects many life situations, none more challenging than for those caught up in it to find marriage partners with whom they may have children. In some cases the joy of having their own offspring may be impossible.

Discrimination

We cannot avoid observing how the world treats people with gender orientations that are not considered to be ‘normal’. Sometimes the minority are discriminated against, and in a few cases they are treated abominably with hatred.

I pose the question, “If you are a Christian, how do you respond and relate to the 1.7 percent of the world’s populace who are LGBTQ+? Do you love them as Jesus loves them (John 3:16)?” The gospel message for them is the same as for all people, “Repent and believe (Mark 1:14), and you will be saved (Romans 10:9).” For sure, God’s elect are among ALL who call upon the name of Jesus (v 13). Like all of us, some will go to hell and others to heaven. It’s not for us to judge (Romans 14:12; Revelation 20:11-15).

Gender in Heaven

Gender will play no part for those who will dwell in the new heaven (Revelation 21:1); for there, all its citizens will be ‘like angels’ (Matthew 22:30). The elect (Matthew 24:31) will be comprised of a predestined (Romans 8:29) number who will live forever; therefore there will be no need for procreation.

*Mind, Body and Soul

https://thebiblicalway.blog/2018/07/23/mind-body-and-soul/

**Women Teaching from the Scriptures

https://thebiblicalway.blog/2018/01/26/women-teaching-from-the-scriptures/