Recently, a friend who hid their true gender from me for a year before telling they are
transgendered, has now told me they are switching to the opposite of what they were born
biologically. Is there a specific way to respond to this according to the Bible? It seems now days
the responses are “accept them or shun them”. How do I/we do better?

As he did in the very beginning of time, Satan is tempting the world with lies veiled
in partial truths. With the rise of homosexuality, which is being redefined as natural, inborn, and
created by God, gender identity issues have followed suit. Our entire country, primarily through
mass media, political movements, and liberal new laws, is being mis-guided into the
deconstruction of God’s original design for human nature.

Other than spiritual issues, is there anything more basic to human existence other than gender.
But, the forces of this world are perpetrating a mass campaign to make certain we believe that
gender changes and transgender ideology are not just accepted, but celebrated as authentic,
healthy, and wonderful expressions of normal human identity and behavior.

There are other signals that a massive attempt to move humanity “forward” is well on the way.
Large activist campaigns working in universities, grade schools, and local communities that are
engaged in creating ordinances and state laws that demand transgender acceptance. 
Transgendered children and adults are allowed to use restrooms in a growing number of states
that reflect the gender they “identify” with and not with the sex of their birth. Gay and
Transgender people believe they were born this way, and yet there is no scientific genetic
evidence that proves this to be true.

The finest and most perfect principles that shine a bright light on this issue are right there in the
beginning of Genesis and revisited by Christ Himself in Matthew 19:4-5. God made us to be male
and female. That should be the end of the argument!

However, there are several key protests that gender activists express to battle those who stand
up for the biblically based design of gender and sexuality. Here are their key points: “I was born
this way and can’t change.” “You Christians are hateful, self-righteous bigots for not letting me
be who I am.” “Being transgender is all about love and being who I truly am.” “Our rights are
guaranteed by the Constitution.”

These issues are affecting the church and creating division. These issues are indeed taking place
within our members. The good news is, that with some caring compassion and sharing God’s
word, these issues can be resolved. The church can be emboldened to help those who are in
such painful need of compassion.

Compassion? Yes! The mind of Christ is Truth and Love incarnate. It will take this mindset to
help those who are in need, just like we serve those in the church with other difficulties. So how
then do we work to save or build up those who are dealing with these issues?

It is ultimately the power of Truth and compassion that can pave the path to freedom; first
spiritual healing to receive God’s unfathomable grace, then experiencing the resolution of the
deep causes of these issues, which may require professional Christian counseling.

As with the world, so it is with the church—this is not a new thing. New Testament writers such
as Paul and Peter dealt with and warned churches and Christians about sexual impurities (2 Cor.
12:21; 1 Pet. 4:1-3).

God did not create mankind for sexual impurities; He created us male and female and said,
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall
become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but
fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4).

Furthermore, God did not “call” Christians “unto uncleanness but unto holiness” (1 Thess. 4:7).
Lewdness, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and such like are condemned over and over in
God’s Word: “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in
lewdness and lust...” (Rom. 13:13); “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
homosexuals, nor sodomites ... will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10); “Now the works
of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness... and the like;
of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such
things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21); “Therefore put to death your
members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire...Because of
these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience” (Col. 3:5-6).

Those who practice these things are either ignorant of or willingly rebel against the will and
wisdom of the Almighty God! With most, especially those who are members of the church, they
sin presumptuously! “The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for
the body” (1 Cor. 6:13). This ungodly attitude and conduct toward sexual impurity are not
benign; the consequences of this mind-set and behavior can be spiritually and physically
devastating. The bitter fruits of fornication, adultery, and homosexuality, transgenderism,
include guilt, shame, diseases, and broken homes.

Additionally, when members of the body of Christ participate in these wrongs it gives the
enemies of Christ an opportunity to blaspheme God (2 Sam. 12:14); it blurs the distinction
between righteousness and unrighteousness in the eyes of the world. Christians are supposed to
be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, but salt that has lost its savor is not fit for the
Master’s use (Matt. 5:12-13; 2 Tim. 2:21). By far, the gravest consequence for all (those of the
world and those in the church) will be that souls are lost! See Romans 6:23.

We need to resolve to uphold, teach, and practice sexual purity and call to repentance those
who engage in and embrace the opposite. Man needs to “fear God and keep His
commandments” (Eccl. 12:13)— not corrupt his mind or body. To “fear God” is “the beginning
of wisdom” (Psa. 111:10) and the “whole duty” of man (Eccl. 12:13, KJV). While the “fear of
God” includes reverence for God and His Word, we should know that this reverence takes into
account the surety of God’s wrath upon the disobedient (Eph. 5:5-6). Immediately upon stating
the “whole duty” of man, the writer of Ecclesiastes states, “For God will bring every work into
judgment, Including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccl. 12:14).

However, we must not forget to make evident the love of God and the hope He holds forth in
Christ for all who have sinned in these matters. In Christ there is forgiveness. Paul told the
Corinthians: “Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites
... will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you
were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our
God” (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

To God be the glory! May we present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable
to Him (Rom. 12:1).
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