It’s hard to believe but it’s true. Many states are moving toward birth certificates that do not declare the gender of a child that is born in that state. In 2017 Oregon allowed a non-binary option on ID cards and licenses. In Oregon you may simply identify as the “X” option if preferred. The nation’s capital quickly followed suit and added the same option. In 2018 New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a bill into law that allowed for a third gender option on all ID cards as well.1 Recently a third option was also offered on birth certificates for those who reject binary options. New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said, “you don’t need a doctor to tell you who you are and you shouldn’t need a doctor to change your birth certificate to reflect your true self.”2 Our culture is quickly changing isn’t it? With hormone therapies for children, political correctness among politicians, scared clergy, and bathrooms now all labeled “human” on the door you may be wondering HOW and WHEN do you talk to your children about these things.
BE A PROACTIVE PARENT
I would encourage you to begin having conversations sooner rather than later. While the legislative decisions above are “political” decisions I don’t wish to be political at all in this article. I only quote the above articles to demonstrate how quickly our culture is changing. As believers we must be diligent to train our children to understand the Word of God so that they may engage the culture with truth and love (I Pet. 3:15). With media, cell phones and public education ruling the day, a parent must take the time to biblically educate their children on how God set up biblical family structure. God’s creation of marriage between Adam and Eve is the first institution He ordained. The marriage institution serves as the bedrock for civilized society and should be a reflection of Christ and His relationship with the church (Eph. 5:22-33). Don’t forget that the foundation of this first institution is grounded in God’s creation of the genders.
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THAT GOD CREATED XY, AND XX
In the book of Genesis we can clearly see God create in binary fashion. Light/darkness, day/night, seas/dry land etc.. This binary pattern is reflected all through creation week and culminates in the male/female relationship. Genesis 1:27 says, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” God created males to have xy chromosomes and females to have xx chromosomes. These two genders of male and female came directly from the God who formed Adam and Eve. God didn’t give an option “x.” Jesus reiterates the binary truth from Genesis by quoting it in Matthew’s gospel chapter 19. He said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?” Notice that from the beginning there has been no ambiguity as to the genders God created. From Jesus own lips the genders are strictly “male and female.”
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THAT HOPE IS IN THE GOSPEL
The beauty of the creation story quickly changes to sorrow in Genesis chapter 3. In this chapter we see the Fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. Sin enters the world and spreads to all men (Rom. 5:12). People struggling with their sexual identity is because sin is in the world. Gender dysphoria is the struggle that someone may have of identifying with their biological sex. A man may struggle to feel like a male. A woman may struggle to feel like a female. In fact they may feel many times like they identify better as the opposite sex, or no sex at all! Sometimes someone will identify as transgender. A transgender person feels that their biological identity doesn’t match up with gender they identify with. Many transgender persons then undergo hormone therapies and or surgeries to make their biology conform to their feelings. Unfortunately, we all know (or should know) that our feelings lie to us. Not just sometimes, but a lot! As you educate your children about God’s creation of the genders, make sure and also teach them to be sensitive to those who may be struggling with this issue. The hope found in the gospel for them as sinners is the same hope found for anyone else struggling with sin issues. Persons struggling with the issue of their gender should be loved, comforted and directed toward the truth of God’s Word and His power to transform their life through the gospel. Remember Paul’s words, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”
- Josh Magness, Third gender coming to birth certificates in New Your City. Where else is it allowed? (Miami Herald). Oct. 9, 2018
- Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York City birth certificates get gender-neutral option (CNN). Jan. 3, 2019.
*All Scriptures Taken from the NASB Bible