I recently came across a video posted by @tiktokys on Instagram.* The video features a young male (clearly he is biologically male) by the name of Juwan Gutierrez, who identifies himself as being transgender. Gutierrez appears in the video wearing a pink colored girl tank top, his breasts clearly puff up, and wearing what appears to be a pinkish colored straight hair wig. In the short 15-sec video Gutierrez holds up a sign, while there’s some music in the background, that says, “Am I a boy or a girl?” At the end of 13 seconds he then proceeds to open up his tank top abruptly. Inside his tank top is another message which states, “It’s none of your business!” His short video has had almost 180.000 views!
Whether Gutierrez is open to dialogue about his sexuality is unknown. Deducting from his video, at face-value, it seems he is not. He certainly attempts to make absolutely clear that his sexual orientation is not up for debate, since “It’s none of your business.” And I agree with him! As human beings, who were created in the Imago Dei (image of God), we are certainly free to make our own decisions. Free-will, the ability to make personal choices devoid of divine coercion, is something God has inherently granted us. So, Gutierrez is right that it’s none of our business to question whether he is a “boy” or a “girl.” He can choose to identify himself as a girl though his biological make up is male. To she or not to she? That’s his business. But how should we answer his question, as Christ followers, who disagree with his lifestyle and choice? … how would you answer his question?
Historically, I mean since the sexual revolution, the LGBT movement (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, also known as the gay liberation movement, started sometime between the 1960s and 1970s), Christians have been labeled as homophobes. Most evangelical believers have been labeled homophobic and lumped together under such description. Is it warranted? Only in part. Some Christians have not been very gracious. Some Christians have written scathing remarks against people from the LGBT community, and have completely ostracized folks who identify as LGBT. Let me be clear, evangelical Christians do not agree with the gay liberation movement and its “moral theology.” The pointing of fingers is never helpful, because both sides, broadly speaking, have done so.
Well, some premises don’t have to be simultaneously correct. For instance, One can agree that Gutierrez has every right to identify himself as “she” ( as being of female gender), and at the same time disagree with his stance is a matter of fact. One can agree that Gutierrez should live in a free society and not be completely mocked for his choice, and disagree that his choice to identify himself as a female is wrong. One can agree that Gutierrez is loved by God, was created in his image, and that Christ died for him, and disagree that he is free from any consequence from his sinful behavior.
Gutierrez’s choice is 100 percent contrary to what is revealed in Scriptures, our source of authority. The Bible is clear that God created mankind “male and female.” Such truth is found at the very out set of the Bible in Genesis 1:27: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”transsexuality is a complete distortion of the Imago Dei. Further, science broadly agrees that such categories, maleness and females, should be primarily defined biologically, not socially. Scientific research has also equated transgenderism with mental illness. These things are unavoidably factual realities. But they do not reflect my disposition toward people who are transgender. My heart hurts for them. God’s creational design was “very good” according to Genesis 1:31. And his Imago Dei is certainly tied to his biological creation of mankind as male and female. Gender confusion is a consequence of the Fall (Genesis 3).
One thing is certain … society expects a response from those of us who are called evangelicals toward those who identify themselves as adherents of the LGBT movement. The Bible is clear that we are all born into sin (Rom 5:6-14). The Fall affected all of us without exceptionIssues arise when we quickly begin to ostracize, mock, and deride others for their behavior. As Jesus said, to the self-righteous leaders of his day, “He who is without sin, let him be the first to cast a stone at her.” The “her” in the context of this passage is related to a woman who was allegedly caught in sexual sin, namely adultery. Jesus showed her mercy, and did not condemn her. Jesus was wise. He did not fall into the trap of the self-righteousness of the hypocritical leaders of his day. He loved her. But, do note what he says to her before she leaves his presence,’ Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'” He did not condemn her, but he also did not condone her behavior and encouraged her not to do it again. His was a way of compassion.
Do I think Gutierrez should identify himself as girl? No. Am I called to respect him, pray for him, and treat him with dignity? Yes. Do I think Gutierrez’ stance helps us redefine sexuality to whatever a person thinks he or she should be? No. Am I responsible for lovingly sharing with others God’s original design for mankind in a non-condemning way? Yes. Do I think Gutierrez, or anyone who agrees with him, is right to assume he is a girl? No. Am I called to lovingly correct him and others who adhere to such life choice? Yes. Do I think Gutierrez’s over-sexualization is appropriate? No. Am I called to live in a way that demonstrates my identify is not based on sexuality alone? Yes. The hermeneutical key in this situation is grace. We speak of, model, and offer grace to others whom we disagree with.
The debate over transgenderism and other forms of gender identify will rage on. Christians must not be frazzled by it. Rather, we must respond like Jesus did, stand for the truth of Scripture, and show that we are his disciples by our conduct. We must seek modesty. Modesty in the way we dialogue with others. Modesty in the way we dress. Modesty in the way we use social media. Modesty in the way we interact with folks that hold values that are in complete opposition to ours. Lastly, while we must stand opposite to any distortion of God’s intended design for human sexuality, whether it issue is about maleness and femaleness or marriage being the covenant between a man a woman, we must also seek to share the transformative news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a society who is quickly dilapidating itself with sexual immorality. And further, we must seek to live above reproach and seek sexual purity whether we are single or married.
*https://www.instagram.com/p/B6BPovggv7o/?igshid=16s7thh6tdwnr
Written by Daniel Messina
