•I Corinthians 11:7-16
•Concerning Gender
•7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
(I Corinthians 11:7-12, ESV)
•13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
(I Corinthians 11:13-16, ESV)
•Main Point
•Certain Corinthians believe that there are to be no distinctions between genders
• Paul argues on the basis of culture, the Old Testament, and nature that there are differences between the genders
• The goal should be to uplift the differences while not stifling them
•Application Points
•Concerning Gender
•It can be easy for us to read into this text
• It seems like the topic at hand has far more to do with a philosophical divide in modern culture
• In the past decade or so there has been a purposeful attack on gender differences especially
• This phenomenon of transgenderism makes little sense to older generations who were more influenced by modernist thought
• Contrast this with postmodern thought…we invent reality
• Those growing up today do not necessarily believe that the outer world really exists
• Whatever is inside has far more value than whatever may be on the outside
•
•Application Points
•Concerning Gender (2)
•Because they invent reality it must mean that whatever is on the outside should be changed in order to fit the inside
•If they feel, or think, they are a different gender then they must be because who knows someone better than themselves?
• If the outside does not determine the inside…if the inside has higher value than the outside…then why change the outside at all?
• By seeking to change outside appearances it implies that there is a connection between physical sex and gender
•Application Points
•Concerning Gender (3)
•There seems to be the view that gender essentialism does not exist
• Those who are transgendered are claiming to identify as a particular gender
• If gender essentialism does not exist then why identify as male or female at all?
• There is also an argument that gender itself is merely a social construct
•Application Points
•Concerning Gender (4)
•Isn’t it just as possible that transgenderism is nothing more than a social construct?
• The difference is that those who hold a classical view on gender affirm that ones physical body is associated with gender and therefore can be empirically verified
•With transgenderism, however, gender cannot be verified
•Application Points
•Concerning Gender (5)
•There are those who are being encouraged to change their gender
•It stems from what they know (epistemology) and what they believe to be true
• Another issue is that there has been an incredible push to destroy any concept of differences in genders
• Much of feminism stems from a kind of libertarian freedom found in Rousseau
•This kind of freedom does not lead to a greater new world
• It devolves into a greater need for power since power and freedom often go hand in hand
• We have a rise of deviances which rival Marquis De Sade who found his ultimate freedom in the domination of others
•Application Points
•Concerning Gender (6)
•There are many Christians who have also been led astray by such interpretations and understandings
• There becomes a lack of distinction between man and woman
• One can understand why this has happened
• Whereas a man would do one thing and have less of a punishment than a woman who would do the same
• Whereas men would suppress women
• Whereas various abuses occurred at the hands of unrighteous men
•Application Points
•Concerning Gender (7)
•If we utilize the imagery Paul has used when it comes to the head
• Who can be surprised if the body would say “Enough!” and cut off its own head for the sake of freedom?
• The problem, of course, is that by cutting off the head the rest of the body cannot survive either
• Men and women, husbands and wives, both have an equal and proper place
• But to let that lead to a lack of distinction would be taking a good point and turning it on its head
•Application Points
•Concerning Gender (8)
•How can we both affirm the concept that there are two genders, male and female, while at the same time recognizing they are equal in value
•How can we affirm the differences yet not fall into the cultural trap that one is more significant than another?
• How can we uplift men and women to do the same things…but not the same way?
• We have a responsibility to live not according to our own concepts of freedom and liberty but according to the good order which God has established
• Two genders exist and both are mutually exclusive yet necessary for the other
•Application Points
•Concerning Gender (9)
•We are to remind ourselves and each other that the differences between men and women are not meant to lead us to a value system
• Both genders are equally necessary for the glory of God
• Christ offers us the greatest understanding of this
• Christ is God, and is therefore of equal value in being God
• Yet we know in His personhood he is distinct from the Father
• This distinction does not negate Christ, or make Him any less valuable as God
• Men and women are of equal value in being humans
•Application Points
•Concerning Gender (10)
•All the evidence is before us
•Physically, biologically, theologically, culturally, historically
• All these things show there is a distinction
• It is in Christ the differences are lifted up as good and for the glory of God
• Gender and gender equality are going to continue to lead to debates and discussions
• Let us hold fast to the truth of the Scriptures and to the order in which God has set according to His purposes and design
• Let us rejoice knowing we are not the exact same, but that there are distinctions which we both need from each other
•Application Points
•The Gospel of Christ
•Origins
•Where it begins
•Fall
•What went wrong
•Redemption
•How it is fixed
•Glorification
•Where it at leads
For more information on these topics, please consider the following articles.
Evangelical Philosophical Society paper on Transgenderism
William Lane Craig:
“What Should I Do about My Transgender Boyfriend?” | Reasonable Faith
Nancy Pearcey
Love Thy Body
