A Call to Embrace Biblical Identity
A report has shed light on a growing and highly contentious issue, the increase in gender-affirming medical interventions for minors in the United States. According to a database launched by the advocacy group Do No Harm, more than 5,700 minors have undergone gender-affirming surgeries, and nearly 14,000 have received treatments for gender dysphoria, including puberty blockers and hormone therapies, between 2019 and 2023. These figures represent a growing trend in gender-related medical procedures, particularly in liberal states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts, which have the highest numbers of minors undergoing such treatments. While these numbers reflect an increasing societal shift toward accepting gender-affirming care for minors, the news also raises deep ethical concerns, particularly from a Christian perspective. As parents and caretakers, it is vital to approach this sensitive topic with a balanced view, one grounded in biblical principles. The Bible offers clear guidance on how we approach matters of identity, especially as it relates to children, whom Scripture describes as a precious heritage from God.
The Biblical Understanding of Identity
In today’s culture, many young people are questioning their gender identity due to a wide array of societal pressures and influences. As Christians, we believe that God has already given each of us a unique identity—one that is far more significant than our physical characteristics. Psalm 127:3 states, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.“ This verse reminds us of the divine responsibility parents have in shaping their children’s understanding of who they are in God’s eyes.
Furthermore, in Jeremiah 1:5, God speaks of His intimate knowledge of every person before they are even born: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart.“ This passage emphasizes that our identity is not something we choose or create for ourselves, but something bestowed upon us by God. Every child is made in His image (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, their value and worth are not contingent upon their external traits or the opinions of society, but on the unchanging truth of being fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
When young people struggle with their identity, the Bible calls on parents to gently guide them back to these foundational truths. Proverbs 22:6 advises, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.“ This training includes teaching them to embrace how they were created, both physically and spiritually.
Parental Responsibility and Societal Pressures
In today’s environment, the pressures that children face—particularly through social media, pop culture, and activism—can lead to confusion and anxiety about gender. Unfortunately, this often results in young people seeking medical interventions like hormone blockers and surgeries as they try to reconcile their internal struggles with external realities. Yet, many of these treatments, particularly when undertaken at a young age, can have lifelong consequences. For example, hormone blockers may lead to delayed bone growth, infertility, and other health issues.
Chloe Cole, a prominent detransitioner and activist, argues that many children undergoing these procedures are being treated as “guinea pigs” for unproven and dangerous medical experiments. This view is echoed by various Christian leaders and organizations calling for caution and responsibility. Medical professionals, too, are divided on the issue, with some expressing concern about the long-term effects of these treatments, especially when they are performed on minors. She had a conversation with Jay W. Richards, PhD Of The Heritage Foundation, Watch the video here.
From a Christian standpoint, parents have a God-given duty to protect their children from making irreversible decisions that could cause them harm. This protection extends to encouraging children to find their true identity not in fleeting societal trends but in their eternal identity as children of God. Romans 12:2 instructs believers, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.“ This renewal happens as we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, allowing His truth to shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Embracing God’s Design for Gender
One of the core teachings of the Bible is that God created human’s male and female (Genesis 1:27), and that this distinction is not accidental but part of His divine design. Embracing this design is a central part of living a life that honors God. Gender, from a biblical perspective, is not just a social construct or a matter of personal preference—it is a gift from God, intricately woven into our identity.
While many young people today are told that their true selves can only be discovered by altering their bodies to match their feelings, Scripture teaches the opposite. Our true identity is found not in the flesh but in Christ. As Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.“ This does not mean distinctions are erased, but rather that our worth and value are not dependent on them.
Christians are called to show love and compassion to those who are struggling with their gender identity. However, true compassion also involves speaking the truth. Jesus said in John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.“ In a world that increasingly promotes the idea that altering one’s body can lead to happiness and fulfillment, the truth is that only by embracing how God created us—and finding our identity in Christ—can we experience the freedom and joy that He intends for us.
Guiding Children to Their True Identity in Christ
As this new data on gender-affirming surgeries reveals a growing trend among minors, Christian parents and communities must take a stand on what the Bible says about identity. Rather than allowing children to be swayed by societal pressures that encourage them to alter their God-given bodies, parents must remind them that their true identity is found in Christ.
Ultimately, the decision to embrace one’s gender as created by God is about trusting in His wisdom and plan. As parents, we are called to encourage our children to find security in the knowledge that they are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator who knew them before they were born. By instilling these biblical truths, we can help protect our children from the dangers of conforming to a culture that often leads them away from the life God desires.
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