Session 5 | Did God Really Set a Standard of Biblical Masculinity and Femininity? Big Ideas: ● Another Look at Biblical Disciplines. ● Biblical masculinity and femininity do not come from sameness but from source. God declared men and women unique, but equal, and therefore they are. “Eternity should capture our imagination. The mundane details of our lives are saturated with divine realities. Our world is dripping with God’s presence and calling us to worship him alone. But our eyes are dim and our understanding is darkened. Eternity is lost in the immediacy of our world. We hardly have patience to wait for someone to make our latte, let alone to set our minds on Christ, who sits at the right hand of God (Col 3:1-2). What does it look like to grasp God’s presence and his call for our growth in grace? What does it look like to be God’s “fellow workers” (1 Cor 3:9) in the Christian life? What does it mean to proclaim, “Without you I can do nothing” (see Jn 15:5)?” -Strobel, Kyle C Posture of Discipleship vs. Spiritual Disciplines John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. Posture-to place in a particular position or attitude. To position, especially strategically. To assume a particular demeanor. The position or bearing of the body whether characteristic or assumed for a special purpose. Some Extremes: 1. While ignoring science, many declare that gender is fluid, based on feelings, not absolute, and is different from personhood. Policing people’s speech and labeling as hateful and intolerant anything that does not align with certain cultural ideologies. Governments crafting legislation that don’t allow dissenting voices from their approved social constructs. 2. Anyone who struggles with gender or same sex identities just need more faith or a demon cast out. Sexual sin is the unpardonable sin in God’s eyes. Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Galatians 3:26-29 (all are spiritually equal in Christ) For you are all sons (children) of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Why is this conversation important? ● Kaitlyn Jenner identified as a woman for 6 months and was nominated as woman of the year. ● Biological Males participate in Rush Week to join sorority at U of Alabama. ● Morgan Murphy is a feminist and was pointing out that transgender women are entering into the female spaces and dominating them with male perspectives on female issues. She wanted to acknowledge that woman are a real thing and what does that look like. She was kicked off this social media platform forever. ● During the second day of confirmation hearings, Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was pressed by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, to define the word “woman. “Can I provide a definition? No. I can’t,” Jackson responded. “You can’t?” Blackburn asked. “So you believe the meaning of the word ‘woman’ is so unclear and controversial that you can’t give me a definition?” Jackson told the senator she was not a biologist, and that as a judge her role was to “address disputes.” ● Men are being told they can be pregnant. ● The push to sexualize our kids. “For more than five years, I’ve been reading to children in libraries, bookstores, and beyond as part of Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH), a unique organization that promotes reading through the magic of drag. I love that this program taps into the creativity and imagination that is already present in the lives of children and drag performers.” ● Don’t say gay bill-That bill, titled Parental Rights in Education, states that lessons about sexual orientation are banned outright in kindergarten through third grade. It also prohibits lessons in other grades unless they are "age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate." The measure, which would give parents the right to sue school districts, awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis' signature. It is scheduled to go into effect on July 1. The bill's supporters say it strengthens parental rights by preventing teachers and school staffers from withholding information about gender issues from parents. ● “When we American college teachers encounter Christians, we do our best to convince these students of the benefit of secularization. Rather, I think those students are lucky to find themselves under the benevolent teaching of people like me and to have escaped the grip of their frightening, vicious, dangerous parents.” -Professor Richard Rrorty: Princeton, University of Virginia, and Stanford ● “Outraged father sues Florida school district for having secret gender identity meetings with 12-year-old daughter who then tried to commit suicide.” ● Ryan Anderson books removed from Amazon. ● Jeannette Cooper, a mom who lost custody of her child three years ago for not fully, unquestioningly accepting her daughter's claim that she was transgender. She talks about how she believes there is a social aspect to the sudden surge in kids who claim not to be the gender they were born as and what it was like to have to basically be excised from her daughter's life over this issue. Jeannette also speaks out how she's been working over the past three years to raise awareness about what the state is doing in these cases of "trans" kids, fighting to prevent her situation from being repeated. Some Stats: ● The World Health Organization (WHO) states that transgender people, and other gender minorities, comprise roughly 0.3–0.5% (25 million) of the global population. The WHO adds that transgender people often experience disproportionately high levels of mental health conditions. ● They note that transphobia, discrimination, violence, and barriers to healthcare can all contribute to the increased chance of mental health concerns. ● Research suggests that transgender individuals are almost four times as likely as cisgender people to experience a mental health condition. ● The U.S. Transgender Survey reveals that 39% report serious psychological distress, compared to just 5% of the general United States population. ● Furthermore, 40% of respondents noted that they had attempted suicide in their lifetime, which is nearly nine times the attempted suicide rate in the U.S. This is consistent with findings from the 2019 Trevor Project National Survey, which notes that more than half of transgender and non-binary youth have seriously considered suicide. 2021 Trevor project survey concluded: ● that 50% of transgender and nonbinary youth seriously considered committing suicide in the past year. ● 72% of LGBTQ youth reported symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in the past two weeks, including more than 3 in 4 transgender and nonbinary youth. ● 62% of LGBTQ youth reported symptoms of major depressive disorder in the past two weeks, including more than 2 in 3 transgender and nonbinary youth. What are we doing as followers of Christ and a biblical community to compassionately offer hope to those struggling with topics like these, while maintaining a solid biblical foundation of truth? Biblical masculinity and femininity do not come from sameness but from source. God declared men and women unique, but equal, and therefore they are The entirety of scripture gives the distinction of male and female as God’s created design. There is not another formula or deviation of either of those that is blessed by God. Jesus and the New Testament affirm the creation account of Gods design of male and female. Genesis 1:27-28 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 2:18-25 18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 5:1-2 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. Matthew 19:4 4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ There are biblical prohibitions and Godly judgments given that condemn any behavior that is contrary to His intended design. Romans 1:18-32 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Take Aways: 1. What is my posture towards Christ on my journey of discipleship? (depending on how you answer this, determines your next steps) 2. What is my attitude towards those who struggle with gender or sexual identity? Resources: https://www.catalystnwa.com/painofporn