GENDER IDENTITY

 

Although no one changed the calendar, the one in my office was becoming less legible. With time, it became obvious that I needed to get eyeglasses. The difference was obvious. The dates on the calendar were so much clearer. Actually, everything around me became clearer. Whereas the objects did not change, my perspective did.

The same is true about the issues we face daily. The lenses through which we assess things determine our perspective. For instance, when Christians and non-Christians view things differently, it is because the lenses are different. Christians are expected to view life through the lenses of the Bible.  In other words, one’s perspective is influenced by what the Bible says concerning an issue. That is what it means to have a biblical worldview.

A current case in point concerns gender identity. Whereas some will go to biologists for answers, the Bible provides a very clear position. The position is not deduced from an ambiguous text. It is unambiguous in a declarative text – “… male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Culturally and sociologically, the terms male and female are referred to as the two sexes. Syntactically, the sexes enable us to distinguish two genders, masculine and feminine. Interestingly, the creative order of male and female has been observed universally in all forms of life.

Biologically, male and female possess different reproductive cells. The primary advantage of these cells is that it encourages the survival of the species. That is what is meant when the Lord instructed Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and increase in number…” (Genesis 1:28). In order to facilitate reproduction, male and female were structured differently.

Generally, female skeleton is made up of lighter bones with smooth surfaces. The special characteristic feature of the female skeleton is that it has a wider pelvis than that of males. Also, the female pelvis bones are more rounded, and the surrounded bones are designed to be more flexible to child delivery. Females have more rounded thoracic cages than males.

Males normally have massive skeletons, which are made up of denser and heavier bones. The muscle attachment areas of bones are much more robust and prominent than those of females. Male bones complete their development around the age of twenty-one. Until then, the bones continue to grow and develop so that males have larger and more pronounced corners. 

The differences between the sexes in body composition are well known. Males typically have proportionately more muscle mass, more bone mass, and a lower percentage of body fat than women. In addition, there are marked differences between men and women in the incidence and expression of many major diseases. The volume implies that there are important underlying differences in physiological function. For instance, about 80% of patients with osteoporosis are women. Also, only men have testicular cancer.

Therefore, it is not surprising to see the Bible stressing the physical strength of men and the accompanying responsibility to women as “…the weaker partner…” (1 Peter 3:7). I hasten to add that this is not a reference to moral stamina, strength of character or mental capacity of women. Rather, it is an affirmation of the physiological differences between male and female.

Throughout Scripture, there is a consistent distinguishing of the two sexes. The distinctions were never intended to imply superiority of one gender over the other. Rather, the distinctions allow for compatibility in diversity. At times the Bible records cases of masculine abuse of strength. However, those records should never be seen as instructions to be emulated. Behaviour to be emulated is often found in didactic texts. One such text is found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians – “… each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (Ephesians 5:33).

When we observe the biblical position on gender identity, we observe God’s intention from creation. The deliberate distinction of the two sexes was not merely expressed as a good option. Furthermore, deliberate distinction is not open for debate. It is not an issue of Philosophy. We were physiologically and psychologically designed to be different. That difference was intended to facilitate reproduction, partnership and diversity. The Psalmist was correct when he said, “… we were fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139:14).