OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Articles Next 

A DISCUSSION OF TRANSGENDERISM (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Cultures are much like a coastline.  It may look like the same coastline today as yesterday, but there are always forces at work that are changing the coastline.  If one looks closely, he can see the changes as they manifest themselves.  Most of the time, however, changes are not noticed for a long time.  Once the changes are noted, it seems as though they occurred overnight.  This is not true.  The tides, the motions of the waters due to wind, numerous storm systems, and the use of the coastline by the public have brought about the changes over several years.

            Transgenderism was not a topic of discussion for this author when he was growing up.  Oh yes, there were a few places in the nation wherein “drag queens” entertained the crowds, but one was never acquainted with a person who was transgender.  It seems that transgender people have become a cultural phenomenon almost overnight.  Could it be that Bruce Jenner’s transformation has brought hundreds and hundreds of transgender people out of the closet?  Or, has there been an “ebb and flow” for years in our culture that has been shaping our society, making it ready to embrace transgender individuals?  The reality is that the latter has been transpiring.

            Let’s begin our discussion with the definition of transgenderism.  A transgender person is one who has a gender identity (an internal, deeply held sense of gender) that differs from his/her sex at birth.  A male feels as though he should be a female.  A female feels as though she should be a male.  Those who deal with this problem tell us that they feel like a puzzle whose pieces never come together to form a picture.  Their emotional person never harmonizes with their biological being.  There is a constant humming deep within them that says you are not what you were born.  Those who have these feelings make up a very small section of our society.  Transgenderism impacts only .6% of the people in the United States.  In other words, only about 1 million people personally deal with transgenderism.  Males are more likely to deal with transgenderism than females.  When a person questions his/her gender identity, there is usually severe stress that accompanies the confusion.  This condition is referred to as Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria.  It is a mental health issue that is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition. 

            There was a time in our society when transgenderism was viewed simply as sin.  Those who practiced transgenderism were declared to be sinners and were told to repent.  Eventually, transgenderism was classified as a mental disorder that needed to be treated.  Initially, treatment goals were intended to change the person’s mind about his his/her gender identity.  In recent years, treatment methods seek to bring the individual’s body into harmony with his/her feelings through cross-dressing, medications, and surgery.  Of late, the transgender community has pushed to be accepted as a “natural” section of the nation that is to be celebrated.  Most Christians view transgenderism through the lens of sin.  They see it as a threat to Scripture, the church, the home, marriage, their children, and society in general.  Their cry to those who are transgender is:  “Repent, or perish.”  Society, however, is not of that opinion.  Most in society view it as a mental health issue or as a part of culture that is to be accepted.  Thus, Christians are marginalized when it comes to transgenderism.  They are labelled as being transphobic.  They are also said to be responsible for the victimization of those who are transgender.

            One of the most prominent questions that people ask about transgenderism is:  “What is the cause of transgenderism?”  Sadly, the answer to that question is a huge mystery.  There is not a person alive who has studied the issue in-depth that can give a definitive answer to that question.  There are many, many theories that have been advanced.  The theories fall into two categories:  nature or nurture.  Did something happen to the individual as he/she was developing in the womb that led to this confusion between body and mind?  Or, is the environment in which the person was raised responsible for the dysphoria?  Every theory that is advanced has its strengths.  However, there are also many flaws that can be found in every theory as well.  Three things are commonly agreed upon in the mental health profession.  One, transgenderism often first begins to manifest itself when a child is between 2 and 4 years old.  Two, those who are transgender are making a declaration of their feelings about the age of 15.  Three, there are no treatments that cure the disorder.

            What we have discussed thus far in regard to transgenderism involves basic information about the subject.  This information has been presented in order to help Christians expand their knowledge base regarding transgenderism.  Notice that we have not approached this issue from a Scriptural standpoint yet.  We will do this in articles that will follow.  We will look at what the Bible says about sex and gender.  We will look at how the church needs to respond to these individuals.  Too, we will look at what those who are battling transgenderism must do be assured of their salvation in the last day.