The Rising Issue of Transgender and Biblical Response

Introduction:

There are lots of different issues that are rising these days. Church' face one and then has to deal with the other. There are such issues which we find difficult to deal with. We have Biblical ethics and we use our common senses, however young people come up with their logic. Here, we are going to answer on the issue of 'Transgender' in a Biblical prospective.

It was in 2012, that Pratik Panta, son of Santosh Panta; the most popular media personal/ comedy actor; helped his son to change his gander into a girl. He even changed his name to 'Caitlin'. So, how should our church response to this issue? This short article deals on 'Transgender Issue and Biblical Response on it'.

Defining the Term:

The Online dictionady Wikipedia defines; "Transgender is the state of one's gender identity or gender expression not matching one's assigned sex. Transgender is independent of sexual orientation; transgender people may identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, etc; some may consider conventional sexual orientation labels inadequate or inapplicable to them."

Writing for health professionals in the second edition of his reference work Sexual Hygiene and Pathology in 1965, psychiatrist John F. Oliven of Columbia University used the lexical compound trans+gender in theTransexualism section of "Primary Transvestism," noting "'transgenderism' is what is meant, because sexuality is not a major factor in primary transvestism."

Transgender is usually described as “trapped” in a body that does not match their gender. There are different terms to define the word 'Transgender'. It also is, Transsexualism, also known as transgenderism, Gender Identity Disorder (GID), or gender dysphoria. It is change of one’s sex or to fulfill the role of the opposite gender. Mostly, there is done major surgery or hormone therapy to do that.

However, beside of the human interest to change their sex, they argue that they are under social under-pressure and they are formed the way. …what makes them like that? What defines gender? Is it biology, the heart and mind, or some combination of both? Transgender persons not uncommonly seek medical services to make their bodies more congruent with their gender identities; involvement of mental health professionals is often necessary or desirable in arranging such services.

Moreover, many transgender and gender-variant people experience stigmatization and discrimination as a result of living in a gendered culture into which they often do not easily fit. They may not only experience an inner sense of not belonging but also discrimination, harassment, sometimes lethal violence and denial of basic human rights. These issues, too, often bring transgender people into contact with mental health professionals.

Biblical Response:

The Bible is clear enough on human sexuality. Most basic to our understanding of sex is that God created two (and only two) genders. "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.…" (Gen.1:27). God has created each and every individual in a unique way. He has perfect design for every one (Ps.139:13-16). The fall of mankind made the disorder. In the days of Abraham there was practice of homosexuality (Gen.19:1-7), and which is a major sin of God’s gift of sexuality (Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Old Testament:
In the Law of Moses, transgender was denied. The law says “A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this” (Deut. 22:5).

New Testament:
Another possible reference to this issue is 1 Corinthians 6:9, where “male prostitutes” is listed as a separate category from “homosexual offenders.” The King James Version uses the word “effeminate” here; that is to say, the “male prostitutes” might be transsexual men who act as women.

Conclusion:
The Bible clearly and consistently labels any sexual activity outside of marriage or not between a man and a woman as sin, rebellion against God’s plan. But following this realization is good news: sin can be forgiven and lives can be changed through faith in Christ. The Corinthian believers are an example of such a change: “And [homosexuals] is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).