In modern times, the world has witnessed a sharp spike in the acceptance of homosexuality within Western culture. The West has also been inundated with the heightened promotion of the LGBTQ+ community. For the awareness of "gay pride" has been extensively and continuously covered by the liberal mainstream media over the course of the past several years. However, even though this homosexual trend has gained increasing visibility in recent days, and has also been extensively evangelized by the entertainment industry and through various other forms of pop-culture outlets, the vast majority of the population is not in favor of the transgender movement and does not support this ever growing queer agenda. Now it is not that all heterosexuals support the violence which has been perpetrated against homosexuals by certain "intolerant" individuals, and neither are they guilty of hate speech for speaking out against the transgender rhetoric being taught in public schools. But at the same time it is completely understandable if straight people are opposed to an alternative lifestyle which goes against their own sexual orientation, morals, and personal values, especially when this diseased form of illicit sexuality is flaunted openly in public. Heterosexual parents are also justified in taking a firm stance against the sexualization of their young ones. For the current curriculum practiced in many American elementary schools, where human sexuality is being introduced to a generation of prepubescent children, is something which could be qualified as child abuse. It is also of my opinion that we should all look to the teachings found written in the pages of the Holy Bible to better guide us into the knowledge of our own specific gender identity, and thus acquiring a clearer and healthier understanding of what it means to be a man, and what it means to be a woman.
When reading from the book of Genesis, the very first book of the Bible, do we find that in the beginning God created man in His own image, male and female created he them (Genesis 1:27). Even all the animals were created with either a male or a female gender as part of the intelligent design which would ensure the propagation of life upon this wonderful planet. Even Jesus Christ Himself reiterated God's divine handiwork in the natural order of creation when He said, "...from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female" (Mark 10:6). So here do we find in both the Old and New Testaments the revelation that there are indeed only two genders: male and female. The Old and New Testaments also condemn the acts of homosexuality, and according to the Bible God even considers the practice of cross dressing to be an abomination (Deuteronomy 22:5). Now the Lord is merciful and God is also good, but just as there are natural laws that uphold the material universe, there are also spiritual laws which govern our relationship with God and ultimately determine our soul's salvation. If we do good by obeying the commandments then we are blessed, but if we choose to do evil then we are in danger of eternal condemnation. The choice is ours. For as the Lord spoke unto the children of Israel, saying, "...I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Now from thoroughly studying the scriptures do we not only find the diagnosis of certain sins, but we also discover their remedy. For example, the transgender problem can be healed by switching our attention from a focus on gender to identifying as a Christian. For in his Epistle to the Galatians, St. Paul teaches that, "...as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:27-28). Thus it is evident that by accepting Christ, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, do we transcend gender, social status, and even race. For whether we are male or female, black or white, rich or poor, we are all one if we choose Christ. So knowing that God has set before us life and death, and that He has also provided for us a spiritual identity which goes beyond gender, then the most progressive thing a person living in this modern secular society can do is to be baptized into the Orthodox Church. For in baptism we put on Christ, our sins are washed away and all things become new. We no longer identify as a certain gender or race, but instead we look to Jesus in order to establish our identity.
Another unfortunate problem, which I believe is at the core of the transgender crisis, is the mental delusion and spiritual blindness that has so corrupted modern society, all the way to the point where many people today can't even distinguish between right and wrong anymore. Yet even though spiritual darkness may be plaguing today's world, human ignorance has always been been around, going all the way back to the most ancient of times. Take the Ninevites for example, a people who God said could not discern between their right hand and their left hand. Yet through the preaching of prophet Jonah, the people of Nineveh came to their senses, truly repented, and the Lord forgave them and delivered them from all of their iniquities. Now the good news for modern man is the fact that God doesn't change, and the mercy which the Lord showered upon the people of the past is the same mercy which is being poured out upon all of us today. For it would seem that where there is more darkness, God shines even more of His light. So it is my sincere hope that all people suffering with gender confusion will be enlightened, and that this transgender trend will swiftly come to an end. I think that many of these young people eventually do see the light, but unfortunately it usually happens only after they get the surgery. Hopefully more young lives will be delivered from this devastating deception before they take the hormone blocking drugs, and go through with the genital mutilation. Maybe by giving Christ a chance there will be more of a chance that today's youth can transcend transgender.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
