What the Bible Teaches about Transgenderism

"God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27; 5:2; Mark 10:6).

Who would have thought this verse would become controversial?

If we truly have compassion for mankind, we'll accept Biblical teaching and pray for people trapped in the harmful sins of transgenderism(1) and transvestism.

Our gender is no accident:

Psalm 139:13-16: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb…Your eyes saw my unformed body..."

We damage our souls when we defy God's choices:

Isaiah 45:9: "What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, 'Stop, you're doing it wrong!'" (also Romans 9:20)

We have different personalities, interests, skills, and mannerisms. Not every man need be ruggedly masculine nor every woman lacy feminine. But God assigns gender, and He knows us better than we know ourselves (Psalm 139:1).

Transgenderism typically involves homosexuality and always involves acting as if we are another gender. Scripture warns that people who do either of these things have never turned their hearts to God:

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [malakos], nor homosexuals [arsenokoitasis], nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”  

Malakos means men who intentionally act like women. Arsenokoitai means same-gender sexual activity.(1) 
 

Revisionist gay teachers claim malakos and arsenokoitasis must be translated together to condemn:
1. Homosexuals who role-play male-female sex roles; and/or
2. Homosexuals who sexually abuse others. In this explanation, they claim malakos refers to abused boys.

Neither of these arguments is legitimate:

1. The Greek does not combine malakos and arsenokoitis but condemns homosexuals and effeminate men separately.(2)  If we assume that the only homosexuals condemned are those who have sex with effeminate homosexuals, then we might just as logically assume that covetous people are only wrong when they participate with thieves. The Greek doesn't reflect this combining of sins. 

2. If malakos are victims, God would never condemn them!

Scripture condemns transgender behavior (read more), and it also condemns homosexuality. Nowhere does it make exceptions for either. If this passage actually meant what revisionists claim, our all-wise God would have worded it to reflect that meaning because our sexual behavior is of utmost importance to God (1 Corinthians 6:18).

In addition, revisionist gay teachers generally approve of transgenderism, which further weakens their arguments. Why would God approve of transgenderism but condemn people born male who act like women?

To read more about the arguments people use to justify transgenderism see: A Letter from a Reader.

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(1)This devotion is not discussing ambiguous genitalia (atypical genitalia), which is a birth defect where a child is born with genitalia that are not clearly defined. This devotion is discussing people who are clearly born with male or female genitalia but claim they are meant to be the opposite sex or who claim they are neither or both male and female.

Click Image for "God's View of Sex" archive

For more:

Genitalia are Not Destiny, But are they Design?

What Does the Bible Say About Transvestism?


As Christians, we know that the most powerful voice for any subject is Scripture. But there are also some strong voices in the secular world that still consider transgenderism a mental disorder that needs to be treated, not enabled. Perhaps they will be silenced as time goes on, but they are worth noting:
John Hopkins Psychiatrist on Transgenderism
Regret Isn't Rare
This article, from a Christian perspective, is written about a man who had a sex change and later became a Christian:
Walt's Story

I encourage you to do further study on this subject using today's Bite Size Bible Study. 

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