The Gender Reveal Paradox
How A Recent Crash Highlights The Current Cognitive Dissonance of Gender
Last week, a tragic incident unfolded in Mexico during a gender reveal party. An airplane that soared over the gathering, trailing a cloud of pink smoke to announce the forthcoming arrival of a baby girl, met a horrifying fate when its wing suddenly detached, resulting in a devastating crash. This unfortunate event serves as a poignant metaphor for the cognitive dissonance that shrouds the topic of gender in our culture.
Two decades ago, the concept of “gender reveal parties” was virtually nonexistent. I can attest to this, as I have two children who are now 22 and 24 years old. Back then, we simply shared the news with close friends and family, letting them know whether we were expecting a boy or a girl. Our celebrations were marked with heartfelt hugs and joyous high fives.
However, in recent years, the internet has been flooded with gender reveal parties, complete with elaborate ways to unveil the baby's gender. Colored cakes, exploding pink or blue golf balls, and even flying planes have become fixtures in these celebrations. It's intriguing because simultaneously, the prevailing narrative in our culture asserts that gender is a fluid, non-binary concept. In fact, the American Medical Association has recommended removing the gender designation (male or female) from all future birth certificates.
The question that emerges is: How can our culture embrace both the celebration of gender and the push to deconstruct it?
Cognitive dissonance, defined as the mental discomfort resulting from perceiving contradictory information, appears to be at play here. It's as though our culture is attempting to have it both ways, and yet, that is an impossible feat. We must confront the fundamental contradiction: either there exists a binary concept of gender at birth, or there does not.
Cognitive dissonance is one of the tools of Satan. He uses it to confuse and divide us. It echoes the practices of the Pharisees in Jesus' day, who professed faith with their words but contradicted it with their actions. Ananias and Sapphira also sought to straddle two worlds, desiring recognition for their contribution to the church while secretly withholding some for themselves (Acts 5:1-11).
In our present culture, the allure of trying to "have it both ways" is undeniable. As Christians, we yearn for acceptance, love, and appreciation in our world, often leading us to compromise on our convictions. Simultaneously, we aspire to uphold the timeless truths of Scripture, which may necessitate speaking out on challenging subjects.
Yet, like our gender-reveal party enthusiasts, we cannot exist in two contradictory realms. We must choose a side. If we believe in and affirm the biological truth that there are two genders (as stated in Genesis 1:27), then we must boldly proclaim it, even in the face of ridicule and insults. This is the only way to address the pervasive cognitive dissonance that surrounds the subject of gender in our culture.
In conclusion, the tragic incident in Mexico serves as a stark reminder of the dissonance that exists within our society regarding the concept of gender. It forces us to reflect on our role in navigating these contradictions and choosing to stand firmly in alignment with our convictions, guided by the unwavering truths of Scripture.