Gender identity. What a complicated subject! Perhaps we can take a fresh (and timeless) look at the gender shelter provided in the Word of God.
Why male and female?
Because God IS family. The Creator. Lady Wisdom. The Son. His children. In Adam and Eve God passed His image to us in so many ways, not the least of which is His eternal oneness – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We call it the “trinity” but in reality it is the oneness of the family of God, which Jesus made available to us as well: “I have made Your name visible to those whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You: Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.” John 17:6-11
Identity: The strength of Adam. “The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.” Genesis 2:8 “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper (completer) suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 Identity: The beauty of Eve. “Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.” Genesis 3:20 “God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28 With the fall of mankind (Genesis 3) both the identity of Adam and of Eve became marred. The story of all succeeding chapters of the God Story reveal our Creator’s plan to bring us back into our true identity as sons and daughters of God Most High.
Identity: The strength of the Bridegroom (Jesus) and the beauty of the Bride of Jesus. “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” Revelation 19:7-9 This defines our reclaimed identity in Jesus. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13
Our gender fulfilled destination. “Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age (heaven) and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” Luke 20:34-36 Adam and Eve’s purpose on the earth was to be fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth. Our mutual purpose for heaven is to contribute/combine our personal stories into the glory of the Living God. “… then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.” (1 Corinthians 15:24) “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” 1 Peter 4:12
Good Advice in Any Day or Age: “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8,9
When a wife experiences the love of being cherished she is secure, cared for, and knows she is second only to God. Her beauty flows from the inside out, and she is a woman of unparalleled beauty, since there will only ever be “one” exactly like her.
When a husband experiences the love of respect he will move mountains for those whom he loves. His strength and authority to provide shelter flows from his pursuit of God’s character traits and his desire for honor.
When sons and daughters grow up in an atmosphere of such love and respect each is prepared to navigate life and to courageously and kindly face the challenges of adapting culture.
To consider: All cultural confusion unfolds from a combination of lost identity, personal selfishness and need for recognition, and the impact of spiritual warfare. When we don’t feel loved or accepted we set new metrics and destinations. We want to belong so we accommodate. This leads to self-destructive and selfish ideologies and strategies that bring bondage rather than the freedom Jesus came to offer us.
Thinking this through with you,
Dave and Burnadette
